Full-Time

Vice President of AI Services

Toptal

Toptal

5,001-10,000 employees

Marketplace connecting businesses to top freelancers

No salary listed

Remote in USA

Remote

Bachelor's, Master's, MBA, PhD

Category
Business & Strategy (1)
Required Skills
ServiceNow
Machine Learning

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Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree is required.
  • 10+ years of IT services experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within a managed service provider, systems integrator, or IT consulting firm.
  • Proven track record of building or scaling an ITSM or AI-focused practice within an MSP or professional services organization.
  • Hands-on expertise with ServiceNow — ITSM Pro, ITOM, Virtual Agent, or Now Assist — at an architect or delivery leadership level.
  • Deep, applied knowledge of ITIL v4 frameworks; ITIL Managing Professional or Strategic Leader certification strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience applying AI, automation, or ML within ITSM or IT Operations environments for enterprise clients.
  • Experience engaging and influencing C-suite stakeholders, including presenting investment cases and managing executive relationships.
  • P&L management experience with accountability for practice revenue, margin, and utilization targets.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly growing company and handle a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a diverse array of contacts.
  • You must be a world-class individual contributor to thrive at Toptal. You will not be here just to tell other people what to do.
Responsibilities
  • Own the vision, strategy, and P&L for the AI Services practice, establishing it as a differentiated, revenue-generating offering within our MSP portfolio.
  • Develop repeatable service offerings and delivery frameworks that apply AI to ITIL processes — including Incident Management, Problem Management, Change Enablement, Service Request, and Knowledge Management — across a diverse client base.
  • Define pricing models, packaging, and go-to-market strategy for AI-enabled ITSM services in collaboration with Sales and Marketing.
  • Build internal IP: playbooks, accelerators, and pre-configured AI assets on ServiceNow that reduce time-to-value for clients.
  • Serve as the executive-level AI advisor to key clients, engaging C-suite and IT leadership stakeholders to assess maturity, identify opportunities, and co-create AI-driven ITSM roadmaps.
  • Lead discovery workshops and maturity assessments to baseline clients’ current ITSM and AI capabilities.
  • Present business cases and ROI models for AI investments to client executives, translating technical capabilities into tangible outcomes (e.g., MTTR reduction, ticket deflection rates, cost avoidance).
  • Maintain trusted advisor relationships across a portfolio of accounts, ensuring client satisfaction and identifying expansion opportunities.
  • Oversee the architecture and delivery of ServiceNow AI solutions for clients: Now Assist, Virtual Agent, Predictive Intelligence, ITOM AIOps, NLU, and generative AI integrations. Govern integrations between ServiceNow and external AI platforms (e.g., Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, Anthropic) to extend client capabilities.
  • Establish delivery standards and quality assurance processes to ensure consistent, best-practice implementation across all client engagements.
  • Drive adoption of AI-powered ServiceNow features that measurably reduce client operational burden and improve end-user experience.
  • Apply deep ITIL v4 expertise to ensure AI augments and elevates client service management processes rather than introducing risk or technical debt.
  • Champion a shift-left philosophy through AI-driven self-service, knowledge deflection, and automated resolution for clients.
  • Establish governance and measurement frameworks (KPIs, SLAs, OLAs) for AI-enhanced ITSM processes delivered to clients.
  • Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team of AI architects, ServiceNow practitioners, and ITSM consultants.
  • Establish career paths and capability-building programs to grow AI and ITSM expertise across the broader services organization.
  • Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, encouraging the team to test and adopt emerging AI capabilities.
  • Lead by example for your team and exercise discretion and independent judgment.
  • Manage and deepen the company’s relationship with ServiceNow as a partner, including ISV/reseller programs and co-sell opportunities.
  • Evaluate and manage relationships with complementary AI and AIOps vendors to enrich the client solutions portfolio.
  • Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and ServiceNow communities as a thought leader in AI-powered ITSM.
  • Onboard and integrate into Toptal; meet your colleagues.
  • Learn about Toptal’s history, culture, and vision, with a focus on the state of our industry, the Future of Work, and the core messages important to Toptal.
  • Shadow critical teams throughout the organization to learn Toptal’s core operations and capabilities.
  • Deepen your understanding of the current client portfolio and internal capabilities.
  • Establish relationships with key clients and the ServiceNow partner team.
  • Define the AI Services practice roadmap and initial service offerings.
  • Identify, scope, and land your first client AI-ITSM engagement.
  • Finaliz[e] the repeatable delivery playbooks.
  • Measurable client outcomes (ticket deflection, MTTR improvement) will be documented and used in new business development.
  • Grow and operate a profitable AI Services practice.
  • Continue to grow the revenue line.
  • Ensure the practice is recognized externally as a differentiator in the company’s MSP positioning.
Desired Qualifications
  • ServiceNow Certified Implementation Specialist (CIS-ITSM) or higher-level ServiceNow partner certification.
  • Familiarity with LLMs, generative AI APIs (OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic), and prompt engineering in enterprise contexts.
  • Experience with AIOps platforms (Moogsoft, BigPanda, Dynatrace) and their integration with ServiceNow.
  • Background in solution architecture for multi-tenant or multi-client MSP environments.
  • MBA or advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
  • Active presence in the ServiceNow partner ecosystem or ITSM industry community.

Toptal is a global freelance marketplace that connects businesses with vetted professionals in software engineering, design, finance, project management, and product management. It works by screening applicants and accepting a small fraction (about the top 3%), then matching clients with freelancers through flexible engagement models such as managed delivery, consulting, or full-team placements. Clients pay a premium on top of freelancers’ rates, and Toptal earns revenue from this markup. The company emphasizes remote, distributed talent sourcing, allowing it to fill client needs from anywhere in the world. Its goal is to provide reliable, high-quality on-demand expertise to startups and enterprises alike, enabling teams to scale quickly without geographic constraints.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

Seed

Total Funding

$1.4M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2010

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • June 2026 QO Collective acquisition expands management-consulting access for enterprise clients.
  • May 2026 Adeva acquisition adds vetted developers, architects, and consultants for mission-critical projects.
  • Recent client-notified integrations suggest active demand for Toptal’s premium, fast-matching workforce model.

What critics are saying

  • Andela litigation and Bloomberg defamation fights consume management attention through 2026.
  • Acquisition-heavy growth signals weaker organic differentiation against Upwork, Andela, and nearshore rivals.
  • If clients treat Toptal as commoditized outsourcing, premium margins erode quickly by 2027.

What makes Toptal unique

  • QO Collective and Adeva acquisitions deepen Toptal’s consulting and IT delivery moat in 2026.
  • Toptal’s rigorous vetting and premium pricing still signal higher-quality talent than open marketplaces.
  • A fully remote operating model lets Toptal source specialized freelancers across global timezones.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Remote Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

-1%
AppSumo
Jul 15th, 2026
Payoneer review: the ultimate guide to global payments and cross-border transfers.

Payoneer review: the ultimate guide to global payments and cross-border transfers. Struggling with high wire fees and slow international transfers? Discover how Payoneer simplifies cross-border payments, provides multi-currency accounts, and helps freelancers and businesses scale globally. The modern digital economy has completely erased geographical barriers. Today, a developer in Vietnam can write code for a startup in San Francisco, an e-commerce seller in London can source products from manufacturers in Shenzhen, and a freelancer in Buenos Aires can provide design assets to a marketing agency in Sydney. However, while talent and markets have gone global, traditional banking infrastructure has largely remained local and sluggish. For decades, international money transfers have been defined by extortionate currency exchange markups, hidden intermediary bank fees, and processing times that stretch across multiple business days. Payoneer was built to solve this exact structural failure. By establishing a localized global banking network in the cloud, Payoneer bridges the gap between international clients and local beneficiaries. In this review, AppsuMore examine how Payoneer's ecosystem operates, how it addresses the primary friction points of cross-border trade, and whether it is the right financial partner for your business or freelance career. The friction of traditional cross-border banking. If you have ever attempted to receive a wire transfer from a foreign client using a traditional brick-and-mortar bank, you are likely familiar with the frustration: * The Intermediary Fee Maze: A standard international wire often passes through two or three intermediary banks before reaching your account. Each bank takes a cut, meaning the amount that arrives is mysteriously lower than what your client sent. * Unfavorable Exchange Rates: Traditional banks routinely slap a 3% to 5% markup on mid-market exchange rates, quietly draining a significant percentage of your earnings. * Slow Settlement Times: International wire transfers can take anywhere from 3 to 7 business days to clear, creating cash flow bottlenecks for freelancers and growing businesses. How Payoneer streamlines global payments. Payoneer bypasses the traditional SWIFT wire network by operating its own closed-loop financial infrastructure. Instead of sending money across international borders every time a transaction occurs, Payoneer maintains local receiving accounts in major financial hubs (such as the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, and Singapore). 1. The Power of "Virtual Receiving Accounts" When you open a Payoneer account, you are issued local receiving accounts in major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, JPY, etc.). * How it works for a freelancer: If you have a client in the United States, they can pay you via a local ACH transfer or US bank wire directly into your US Payoneer receiving account. To your client, it looks like paying a domestic contractor. To you, the funds land in your account quickly and without international wire fees. 2. Tailored Solutions for Freelancers and Marketplaces Payoneer has deep native integrations with the world's largest freelance marketplaces and remote work platforms, including Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal. Instead of waiting days for platform payouts, you can route your earnings instantly into Payoneer, where you can then withdraw them to your local bank account in your local currency. 3. Business-to-Business (B2B) Billing Service For digital agencies, consultants, and productized service providers, Payoneer allows you to issue professional digital invoices directly to international clients. Clients can pay these invoices securely via credit card, local bank transfer, or direct debit, making the payment experience as frictionless for them as paying a local vendor. Security and compliance: can you trust Payoneer? When dealing with cross-border finance, security is paramount. Payoneer is a regulated financial services company that adheres to strict international compliance standards. * Regulatory Compliance: Payoneer is a Licensed Money Transmitter in the United States and is regulated under relevant electronic money regulations in the European Union and the UK. * Data Protection: The platform utilizes advanced encryption protocols, two-factor authentication (2FA), and rigorous fraud-monitoring algorithms to ensure that your funds and personal information remain secure against unauthorized access. Evaluating the cost structure. Transparency in pricing is one of Payoneer's primary selling points, though users must understand how the fees apply to their specific workflow: * Receiving Funds: Receiving funds from another Payoneer user is typically free. Receiving funds via local bank transfers (like US ACH) is often free or very low cost. * Withdrawing to Local Banks: When you transfer funds from your Payoneer balance to your local bank account, Payoneer applies a competitive currency conversion fee (which is generally much lower than traditional bank markups). * Card Fees: If you order and use the Payoneer physical or virtual Mastercard for business expenses, standard maintenance or ATM withdrawal fees may apply. Frequently asked questions (faqs). What is a Payoneer receiving account? A Payoneer receiving account is a virtual bank account issued in major global currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.) in your name. It allows you to receive local payments from clients or marketplaces abroad as if you had a physical bank account in that country. How long do withdrawals take with Payoneer? Withdrawing funds from your Payoneer balance to your local bank account typically takes anywhere from a few hours to 2 business days, depending on your local banking infrastructure and the currency involved. Can I use Payoneer to pay my own international contractors or suppliers? Yes. Payoneer features a "Make a Payment" service that allows you to send funds directly from your Payoneer balance to another Payoneer user anywhere in the world for free, or to a global bank account for a low fee. Does Payoneer provide a debit card? Yes, eligible users can order a Payoneer Mastercard, which allows you to spend your multi-currency balance online, in stores, or at ATMs worldwide wherever Mastercard is accepted. Are there any sign-up bonuses available? Payoneer frequently runs referral and sign-up promotions for new users who hit specific receiving thresholds. Checking their official sign-up channels or partner links is the best way to see active promotional offers. Conclusion: take command of your cross-border finance. The global economy offers endless opportunities for remote workers, freelancers, and businesses, but those opportunities should not be choked out by antiquated, expensive banking systems. Payoneer replaces the friction of international wires with a streamlined, multi-currency ecosystem designed for the modern borderless professional. By minimizing conversion markups, accelerating transfer times, and providing secure local receiving accounts, Payoneer empowers you to treat the entire world as your local market. Ready to streamline your cross-border finances? Sign up for Payoneer today and take control of your global revenue.

AIM Group
Jun 26th, 2026
Toptal acquires management consulting network QO Collective

Toptal acquires management consulting network QO Collective June 26, 2026 by Bill Boorman

PR Newswire
Jun 18th, 2026
Toptal Announces the Acquisition of QO Collective

/PRNewswire/ -- Toptal, the world's largest fully remote workforce, recently announced the acquisition of QO Collective. QO Collective is a global management...

PR Newswire
May 26th, 2026
Toptal acquires Adeva to expand global IT talent network and consulting capabilities

Toptal, the world's largest fully remote workforce, has acquired Adeva, a global IT talent network connecting enterprises with vetted developers, architects and technology consultants. The acquisition strengthens Toptal's position in talent and consulting services whilst expanding its network through Adeva's community of IT professionals. Both companies apply rigorous vetting standards emphasising functional expertise and advanced software engineering capabilities. Adeva's clients, ranging from leading companies to startups, have responded positively to the acquisition, citing strong strategic fit between the organisations. Toptal CEO Taso Du Val said the acquisition deepens the expertise, scale and delivery capacity offered to clients globally. Adeva CEO Katerina Trajchevska highlighted Toptal's global infrastructure and enterprise reach as significant opportunities for existing clients. Founded in 2010, Toptal has served over 25,000 clients across 140 countries.

HighCircl
Apr 28th, 2026
Toptal vs Upwork: which is better for hiring senior developers?

Toptal vs Upwork: which is better for hiring senior developers? Toptal and Upwork are not competing for the same buyer. Toptal is a curated network with genuine screening. Upwork is an open marketplace where vetting is your job. The question isn't which is better - it's which fits your situation. Toptal review: what the platform actually delivers. Toptal claims to accept the top 3% of applicants. The screening runs four stages: an English assessment, a timed technical test, a live problem-solving interview, and a test project. The rejection rate they publish is 97%. Based on what EU hiring managers consistently report, the baseline quality is meaningfully higher than most freelance platforms, though "top 3%" should be read as a marketing claim, not an audit finding. Rates reflect that. Senior developers on Toptal run $150-$250/hr, with some specialisms higher. Matching typically happens in 24-48 hours. There's a 2-week trial period: if the match doesn't work, you don't pay. Toptal is US-centric in positioning and client base. EU companies use it, but the talent pool and matching skew toward US-friendly timezones. For EU-regulated products, running engineers through a US-headquartered platform with non-EU developers adds GDPR compliance overhead that isn't there with EU-based alternatives. What Upwork actually offers. Upwork is a marketplace with tens of millions of registered freelancers across every skill level and price point. You post a job, freelancers apply, you evaluate and hire. The advantage is breadth. You can find engineers for almost any stack or timeline. The tradeoff is that vetting is entirely your job. A high Job Success Score filters out some bad actors, but it doesn't tell you whether someone can build what you actually need. Companies that use Upwork well invest significant time in their own screening or run paid test projects before committing to an engagement. Rates span a huge range: junior developers in lower-cost markets quote $15-40/hr, senior developers in Eastern Europe or Latin America $60-100/hr, US-based seniors $100-200/hr. The category "senior developer on Upwork" contains too much variation to be a useful comparison point. Toptal vs Upwork: the core tradeoff. Toptal reduces your vetting work but costs more per hour and limits you to their accepted pool. Upwork gives access to a much larger talent market but transfers all vetting responsibility to you. Neither is designed for EU companies with GDPR-sensitive products. Neither is built for long-term embedded team arrangements where engineers need to build domain knowledge over months. Both are set up around individual placements, not team-scale engagements. When Toptal is worth it. If you need a single specialist quickly, have the budget, and don't want to run a sourcing process yourself, Toptal's model delivers. Matching is fast, the baseline quality is real, and the 2-week trial period limits downside on a bad fit. It's harder to justify at team scale. A 4-person dedicated team at Toptal rates is a significant budget commitment, and the timezone and compliance complications compound as the team grows. When Upwork is worth it. For one-off tasks with clear, evaluable deliverables: an API integration, a code audit, a design prototype. Work where you can judge the output directly and a short-term relationship is the right structure. Also for buyers where Toptal's rates aren't viable and the time cost of Upwork vetting is acceptable. Upwork is poorly suited to building embedded, long-term teams. Freelancers typically work multiple clients at once, which limits the depth of engagement available. What EU companies tend to find missing in both. Companies based in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, or other EU markets typically need engineers who work European hours, GDPR-aligned contracts without additional overhead, and a collaboration model that supports ongoing product development rather than task completion. EU nearshore networks cover this gap. Engineers in Poland, Romania, Portugal, and other EU countries work the same hours as their Western European clients by default. GDPR compliance is built in. Rates for senior engineers run €65-105/hr ($70-115/hr), broadly comparable to Toptal at the senior level, but without the US-centric positioning. For a full list of platforms in this space, see Toptal alternatives, Upwork alternatives, and Lemon.io alternatives for the options most relevant to EU buyers. How HighCircl fits in. HighCircl places senior engineers from 7 EU countries. Vetting happens through peer code review, not standardised tests. Shortlists in 72 hours, no placement fees. EU-based by default: same timezone as your team, GDPR-native, no additional compliance overhead. Frequently asked questions. Is Toptal worth the price for senior developers? For short, high-stakes engagements where you need a specialist fast and budget isn't the constraint, yes. The 2-week trial period limits risk. For long-term team-scale hiring, the rates ($150-250/hr) and US-centric positioning make it harder to justify, especially for EU companies. Can you find reliable senior developers on Upwork? Yes, but it requires significant effort. You'll need to run your own vetting: technical tests, async communication assessments, trial projects. Companies that use Upwork well treat it as a sourcing channel, not a hiring shortcut. How does Toptal's vetting process actually work? Four stages: English proficiency check, timed technical test, live problem-solving interview, and a paid test project. Toptal claims a 97% rejection rate. The result is a smaller, higher-baseline pool, though the vetting focuses heavily on technical correctness and speed rather than engineering judgment or async communication fit. For a broader approach, see evaluating engineers for remote-first teams. Which platform is better for long-term hires? Neither is purpose-built for it. Toptal has no minimum contract, which is flexible but also means developers can move on. Upwork freelancers typically work multiple clients at once. For genuine long-term embedded hires, nearshore networks that place full-time dedicated developers are a better structural fit. Are there better Toptal vs Upwork alternatives for EU companies? Yes. EU nearshore networks like Lemon.io and HighCircl are built specifically for EU companies that need GDPR compliance, European timezone coverage, and senior engineers who integrate as long-term team members rather than task-based freelancers. What do Toptal reviews from EU clients typically say? The quality baseline is consistently rated higher than freelance platforms. The main complaints in Toptal reviews from EU buyers: rates are high ($150-250/hr), the talent pool skews toward US timezones, and GDPR compliance adds friction not present with EU-native alternatives.