Physical AI Operations Leader Innovation & Data Office Associate Director EY GDS

Portfolio:

Applied Innovation Innovation & Data Office

Rank:

Associate Director

Sub Portfolio:

Next Frontier

Reports to (Job Title and name):

GDS ES Growth & Innovation Lead

Role title:

Physical AI Operations Leader

About the Next Frontier:

Applied Innovations Next Frontier focuses on emerging technologies including Physical AI Quantum Computing and Next-Generation AI amongst others. This initiative translates advanced capabilities into measurable outcomes helping clients and EY teams improve decision-making strengthen resilience and unlock new opportunities through technology-driven solutions.

About the Delivery Team:

The Next Frontier team is led by Rodrigo Madanes Global Next Frontier Tech/AI Leader.

Position Summary:

The Operations Leader for Next Frontier manages operations for a diverse technology program covering Quantum Physical AI and NextGen AI (this list may evolve in future). This role drives governance goalsetting portfolio management and milestone reporting while translating leadership priorities into actionable plans and managing all operational matters endtoend including executive updates hiring support and compliance.

Essential Responsibilities of the Job:

• Operational cadence governance & compliance: Lead the full operating rhythm for Next Frontier including goal setting quarterly planning roadmap reviews and structured governance processeswhile ensuring adherence to required controls standards and compliance expectations.
• Leadership priority translation & executive support: Serve as the connective tissue between senior leadership and pillar teams by translating strategic priorities into actionable operational plans and provide decisionready executive materials summaries scenarios (including budget scenarios) and operational insights to guide leadership decisionmaking.
• Crosspillar alignment & team utilization: Coordinate technical leaders to ensure cohesive prioritization efficient staffing and aligned sequencing of workstreams that support Next Frontiers unified mission.
• PMO Ownership & Reporting: Lead consistent insightdriven PMO reporting across the program and collaborate with Finance to track budgets monitor forecasts and variances and provide transparent financial visibility to leadership.

Analytical/Decision Making Responsibilities:

• Priority alignment: Evaluate proposed initiatives and ongoing workstreams in the context of leaderships strategic objectives recommending sequencing and focus adjustments to maintain alignment.
• Risk identification & mitigation: Surface operational and execution risks earlyespecially those affecting crosspillar sequencingand drive transparent mitigation plans within governance forums.
• Insights synthesis: Translate technical signals from pillar teams into clear insights and options for leadership enabling fast wellinformed decisions.

Knowledge and Skills Requirements:

• Operational excellence: Mastery of goal setting portfolio management and crossfunctional governance standards used to run multipillar technology programs.
• Leadership alignment capability: Strong ability to absorb strategic direction sense executive priorities and translate them into actionable operational guidance for pillar teams.
• Frontier technology literacy: Familiarity with Quantum Physical AI and NextGen AI sufficient to interpret progress understand dependencies and engage effectively with technical leaders.
• Executive communication: Excellence in distilling complex program details into crisp insightdriven reports and decision materials.
• Crossfunctional facilitation: Strong influence alignmentbuilding and issueresolution skills across multidisciplinary teams.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelors degree with 10 years in program delivery / operations leadership or similar roles supporting complex technology portfolios.
• Executive stakeholder presence.
• Demonstrated experience running OKR/Goal frameworks governance cycles and crosspillar operating structures.
• Familiarity with innovation process; experience coordinating or supporting advanced technology domains.
• Proven history translating leadership priorities into structured operational plans and execution frameworks.

Note:

This job description is intended as a guide to reflect the principal functions of the job. However it is not an all-inclusive listing of the required job functions and functions may vary depending on the geographic location of the job and/or the manager. Further the job description is subject to change at the discretion of management.