Associate Director, AI Product

Optus is an Australian telecommunications company, delivering more than 11 million services to our customers every day across mobile, broadband and digital solutions.
 

The AI Centre Of Excellence is looking for an Associate Director of AI Products, to lead a portfolio of AI initiatives focused on building enterprise-grade AI products.

Reporting to the Director of AI Products, you'll lead a cross-functional squad to discover and deliver new products and services in either our IT & Networks or Empowered Employee Portfolios.

What you'll do

As an Associate Director of AI Products, you will:

• Lead a portfolio of AI products or a complex initiative, setting the strategic direction across multiple quarters.
• Shape and drive product strategies, aligning with Optus' vision to become an AI Native Telco and delivering enterprise-wide impact.
• Lead the end-to-end product lifecycle, from early-stage discovery and design through to build, experimentation, and scaled delivery - ensuring every product is grounded in user insight and delivers measurable value
• Influence executive stakeholders and cross-functional leaders, aligning on investment priorities, product roadmaps, and capability development.
• Embed Responsible AI principles, governance, and compliance into product design and operations, ensuring ethical and secure AI delivery.
• Drive adoption and growth strategies, partnering with change and business teams to maximise product impact and user engagement.
• Establish and monitor portfolio-level performance metrics, using data and experimentation to inform strategic decisions and optimise outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional orchestration, removing blockers, managing dependencies, and ensuring timely, high-quality delivery across squads.
• Coach and develop product managers and squads, scaling product craft and fostering a high-performance, inclusive team culture.

What you'll bring

We're looking for a visionary product leader who thrives in complexity and is passionate about building what's next.

Must-haves:

• 5-7+ years in product management, with 2+ years in a leadership role overseeing AI or data-driven products.
• Proven success in leading product portfolios from ideation to scaled delivery.
• Strong experience in user research, customer-first design, and agile product development.
• Deep understanding of AI technologies, including agentic development.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and strategic thinking skills.
• Experience influencing across matrixed organisations and driving alignment at executive levels.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience in Telco network operations, enterprise platforms, or employee-facing digital products.

The good stuff….

• Competitive remuneration and employee discounts. Make life easier (and more affordable) with $80 monthly credit and 25% off Optus products and unique shopping discounts with our retail partners.
• Flexible working arrangements with opportunities to work three days in the office, two days remote or home.
• Vibrant and collaborative office campus that includes cafes, convenience store, chill out zones, GP, post office, gym and on-site childcare centre.
• Competitive leave policies, including additional 'Connected' days to focus on culture, family, health, community, or whatever's important to you.
• We support growing families with inclusive, carer-neutral paid Parental Leave of up to 16 weeks.
• Direct your own development and build future-ready skills with Optus U's industry-focused micro-credentials, developed with La Trobe and Macquarie Universities.
• Build meaningful connections through employee-led networks and diversity initiatives including Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network and Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+).
• Put your wellbeing first with free access to counselling and support services, 24/7 — in-person, by phone, SMS, or video.
• Free Optus bus from Macquarie University Metro Station (every 6-8 minutes); morning and afternoon.

At Optus, we are strengthened by others and that means valuing diversity and saying 'yes' to embracing individual differences. We are committed to ensuring that our application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals from diverse gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, individuals with a disability, individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who may have served in the armed forces or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also want to do our best to make our recruitment process inclusive. If you require any adjustments or accessibility support to participate fairly and equitably in the recruitment process, please email or call We're here to help. When you contact us, please advise your preferred method of contact, and we will be in touch within 48 hours.

For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit