AI Strategy Associate

AI Strategy Associate
Research & Development Team
Full-Time
Boston, MA
The Opportunity
As an AI Strategy Associate within the Research & Development (R&D) team, you will play a central role in developing and continuously refining MassMutual's AI and emerging technology strategy with senior business stakeholders. You will also drive the realization of that strategy by working with colleagues to define and continuously refine the approach through which cross-functional teams will execute on enterprise-wide "lighthouse programs" (i.e., opportunities for deep and focused impact leveraging emerging technology) tied to MassMutual's top strategic business priorities. In addition, you will lead the creation of content (i.e., slide decks, bespoke analyses, etc.) for meetings with our Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team, and other senior stakeholders to update them on program progress and/or answer strategic questions related to these efforts. You'll serve as a champion of the R&D organization's capabilities and work with your colleagues to deliver breakthrough products, services, and technologies that leverage these emerging technologies to deliver step-change impact on how MassMutual achieves its most important strategic objectives.
The Team
The Research & Development (R&D) team within the Enterprise Technology Experience (ETX) organization is responsible for developing and deploying automation, AI (traditional, generative, and agentic), and other emerging technologies and trends (e.g., health and wellness offerings) to deliver transformative impact to MassMutual customers, financial professionals, and employees. Given all of MassMutual's technical delivery capabilities within these emerging technology domains sit within R&D, the team has recently been in "growth mode" with a particular focus on building out our technical talent in generative and agentic AI and our strategy and transformation talent as part of a newly established "Strategy & Partnerships" team.
The recently established Strategy & Partnerships team within R&D is responsible for partnering with the most senior leaders across MassMutual to develop a holistic strategy for deploying our R&D capabilities toward the most impactful business outcomes and strategic priorities across the enterprise.
The Strategy & Partnerships team is comprised of a team of Product Owners that are aligned to MassMutual business areas and a central Program Leadership office responsible for defining the overall transformation approach and strategy. This role would be part of the Program Leadership office and report into the Head of AI Strategy.
Culturally, we look for individuals with a strong inclination for learning and from a variety of backgrounds who challenge each other openly, regardless of level or role on the team. We operate using a top-down, hypothesis-driven problem-solving approach grounded in strong conceptual thinking / problem structuring skills and deep data analysis. We embrace diversity in all of its forms, require respect, expect consistent delivery of high-quality products and look to have fun.
The Impact
MassMutual, and our industry at-large, are at a pivotal time as emerging technology such as generative and agentic AI are fundamentally transforming how we operate and deliver value to our customers, financial professionals, and employees. This role offers the opportunity to play a central role in that transformation and to shape how MassMutual leverages AI and other emerging technologies to deliver on its key business outcomes and strategy at the highest levels.
As an AI Strategy Associate, you will be at the center of defining the overall transformation approach and strategy for our cross-enterprise efforts and be partnering day-to-day with the Head of AI Strategy and other senior stakeholders across the business and technology teams to deliver impact at-scale through the deployment of AI (and broader emerging technologies). If we are successful, we will not only be transforming MassMutual; we will also be transforming and setting an example for the rest of our industry.
Responsibilities

• Work alongside experienced strategy and transformation leaders to define and continuously refine our transformation approach and strategy for delivering on the highest impact, most strategically important cross-enterprise efforts that leverage AI and other emerging technologies

• Lead content creation (i.e., slide decks, bespoke analyses, etc.) for meetings with our Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team, and other senior stakeholders to update them on program progress and/or answer strategic questions related to our efforts

• Bring structure to ambiguous problems and take action to solve them

• Demonstrate autonomy in performing research on technology, competitive, market, and consumer trends and conducting financial analysis necessary to inform decision-making, using quantitative and qualitative approaches

• Synthesize complex information to create compelling and influential narratives with clear takeaways and recommendations

• Create client-facing deliverables that are simple, powerful, and data-driven

• Communicate in a structured manner with conviction, clarity, and a bias for action

• Work collaboratively with a diverse team to come up with the best solution and move MassMutual leaders to action

• Establish trust-based relationships with MassMutual stakeholders and business partners to better serve their lines of business, functions, and the enterprise as a whole

• Foster intellectual curiosity and creative thinking in stakeholders, business partners and colleagues

• Navigate ambiguity to resolve problems and deliver results which likely have significant enterprise-wide impact, beyond the R&D and ETX organizations

• Further develop your leadership style, leveraging your own passions, strengths, and personal values

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree

• 2+ years of experience in management consulting or a corporate strategy rotational program with a strong track record of successful delivery

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Investment/Business or an analytical field such as Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, or Computer Science

• 5+ years of experience in driving strategy setting, operating model design, and technology focused frontline transformation within financial services

• Experience working collaboratively in a team as well as cross-functionally to create an inclusive environment with people at all levels of an organization

• Experience breaking down problems in a structured manner, analyzing complex data, prioritizing analyses, and quickly discerning what is most important to draw out insights and implications

• Experience analyzing complex financial, industry, and technology trend data and drawing out insights and implications that demonstrate "next level thinking" which go beyond surface-level observations

• Experience in creating simple, powerful, and data-driven communications and effectively use creative storytelling to influence senior leaders and help their decision-making

• Experience in building enduring, trust based and high-impact relationships with clients and other colleagues

• Experience within the life insurance or broader financial services industry

• Experience with emerging technologies and trends such as AI, quantum computing, blockchain / tokenization, longevity revolution / health and wellness trends

• Experience working in an agile work environment

• Resilient and adaptable approach to getting the work done and skilled in applying judgment to balance process compliance with achievement of business objectives

• Strong organizational skills and detail orientation

• Outcome oriented with the ability to dynamically switch between drilling down into process details and pulling up to understand the big picture as needed

• Ability to communicate objectives, plans, status and results clearly to executive audiences

• Strong leadership skills and ability to influence without authority

What to Expect as Part of MassMutual and the Team

• Regular meetings with the Research & Development leadership team

• Focused one-on-one meetings with your manager

• Networking opportunities including access to Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, African American, women, LGBTQIA+, veteran and disability-focused Business Resource Groups

• Access to learning content on Degreed and other informational platforms

• Your ethics and integrity will be valued by a company with a strong and stable ethical business with industry leading pay and benefits

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MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply.
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Salary Range: $110,400-$144,900