AI Business Strategy & Operations Intern
The Role
You'll work directly with senior leadership to accelerate AI adoption across the agency in a hands-on, builder-focused role. This isn't research — you'll ship tools that account teams, media operators, and clients use in their day-to-day work.
What You'll Do
- AI enablement across the agency. Coach teams on AI-assisted workflows that compress execution time. Build a reusable library of prompts, templates, and playbooks for media, creative, analytics, and account teams.
- Hands-on AI tool training. Design and run training sessions on modern AI coding and automation tools. Ship small tools and scripts that team members can run themselves.
- Automation enablement. Identify repetitive workflows on account teams, prototype automations, help bring them into daily use, and measure time saved.
- AI in client engagements. Scope and help build purpose-built AI tools that integrate into client workstreams alongside account leads — for example, competitive intelligence sweeps, creative QA, or vertical benchmarking.
- Dashboards & reporting. Build dashboards across the agency — team performance views, client-facing reporting, and operations views for leadership.
- Internal trainings & operations. Support company-wide AI training initiatives and day-to-day operations, helping refine and improve the program over time.
- AI & tool research. Research and test new AI tools and platforms. Identify what could move the business forward, then help pitch, scope, and pilot the most promising ones.
What You'll Get
- Direct exposure to how an AI-forward agency builds tools and pitches clients
- Hands-on experience building AI-powered systems that paying clients actually use
- Mentorship from senior agency leadership
- A portfolio of shipped automations, tools, and dashboards you can point to
What We're Looking For
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Business, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Marketing, or a related field
- Genuine curiosity about AI tools and how they can change the way work gets done — you use them already and want to go deeper, not just dabble
- Comfort picking up new tools quickly and experimenting without a lot of hand-holding
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to explain a technical idea to a non-technical teammate
- Highly organized and self-directed — able to manage several small projects at once and follow through without heavy oversight
- Collaborative, low-ego approach to working across teams with different priorities and levels of AI fluency
- Some exposure to scripting, light coding, or workflow automation is a plus, but not required — we care more about your ability to learn than your current skill set
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, still-figuring-it-out environment where the role will evolve as the program matures
Skills Required
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Business, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Marketing, or a related field
- Genuine curiosity about AI tools and their practical applications
- Ability to learn new tools quickly and experiment independently
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including explaining technical concepts to nontechnical teammates
- Highly organized and self-directed, with the ability to manage multiple projects
- Collaborative, low-ego approach to cross-functional work
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Exposure to scripting, light coding, or workflow automation
Direct Agents Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Direct Agents and has not been reviewed or approved by Direct Agents.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is positioned as relatively expansive, including PTO that scales by level/tenure, separate sick/safe leave, a paid birthday day, volunteering time, and seasonal schedule perks like Summer Fridays. Company-wide closure days such as Wellness Reset Days and quarterly self-care days are also described as part of the time-off approach.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical/dental/vision and mental health benefits are described, including access to services like One Medical, Talkspace, KindBody, and Health Advocate. Employer-verified listings also include items like mental health care, supplemental life insurance, and FSA.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is described in job-posting benefits language, with maternity/paternity leave also appearing in employer-verified benefit listings. This indicates at least some formal family-leave coverage within the overall benefits package.
Direct Agents Insights
What We Do
Direct Agents is an independent, minority-owned digital marketing agency that specializes in performance-driven customer acquisition solutions. Founded by first-generation immigrants, Direct Agents celebrates its 19th year in business this year. Our agency goes beyond the standard marketing toolbox through innovation in Paid Media, Enterprise SEO, Strategy, Amazon, Creative, Inclusive Marketing Strategy, Analytics, & Paid Social. Direct Agents is built to help clients achieve success through a diverse and passionate group of experts based in NYC, LA, and beyond. We’re breaking the industry mold and leading with a diverse mindset. Here at Direct Agents, diversity isn’t just a buzzword, it’s in our DNA. • 5x Winner of Crain’s Best Places to Work (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018) • 42% Diversity • 57% Female / Male ratio • ‘WoDA’ is Direct Agents’ women powered employee resource group which works to pave the path to leadership for all women through monthly workshops • ‘State of the World’ helps provide an open forum to discuss the social movements of our time and how we can have an impact on them • Team and company-wide bonding events (ask us about our puppy breaks!) • Opportunities to get involved with the community through mentorship and pro bono marketing services • A work family that is as committed to its work as it is to having fun Our culture offers more than just happy hours; we're fueled by excellence, collaboration, and growth opportunities. At Direct Agents, you are empowered to create your own career journey through cross-channel learning opportunities and mentorship. If you’re looking for a new role with space to directly influence the business and company culture, visit our Careers page and apply to become a “Shaper of Change!” To learn more about our services visit www.directagents.com or email [email protected].
