Head of AI

Toronto, Montreal, California 

Sagard Overview:

Sagard is a multi-strategy alternative asset manager with professionals located in North America, Europe and the Middle East. Sagard invests across three asset classes: Equity (including Venture Capital, Growth Equity, and Private Equity), Credit and Real Estate. The firm has grown exponentially to over US$25B AUM and 300 team members since 2016.

Sagard’s entrepreneurial DNA is palpable across our entire team and is a platform built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Sagard aims to generate attractive returns by matching investment opportunities with flexible capital solutions and pairing entrepreneurs with teams with deep industry knowledge. Sagard develops long-term partnerships and empowers the growth of its investments through a unique global network of portfolio companies, limited partners, advisors, and other valued relationships.  

Sagard is a UN PRI signatory and strives to measure and assess the social and economic impact it has on the people and businesses within our network and our society as a whole.

Position Overview: 

At Sagard, we offer more than just financial returns. Our value proposition focuses on providing strategic business benefits to both investors and portfolio companies. The Sagard AI Team has four main goals: 

1. Work with Sagard’s LPs by providing thought leadership, maintaining an AI community and advising on their AI strategy;
2. Develop Sagard’s credibility as a sector-focused AI investor, working closely with investment teams;
3. Work closely with our portfolio companies to develop their AI strategy and implementation;
4. Build and integrate leading AI systems and partnerships for Sagard.

We collaborate closely with business, strategy, and technology leaders in major financial services companies and fintechs across North America and Europe. Our role is to offer advice, insights, and introductions around AI technology, providing the guidance and tools to help their businesses to succeed.

To further this mission, we seek a Head of Sagard’s AI Team. This is an integral role to lead Sagard’s AI strategy & team. Join us in making a significant impact on the success of our LPs and portfolio companies.

You’ll be responsible for: 

• Leading development and implementation of Sagard’s AI strategy;
• Actively engaging with LPs across Sagard to share latest AI news and developments;
• Leading working sessions with LPs to advise on their AI strategy and brainstorm AI use cases;
• Developing and maintain relationships with leading AI Labs to identify collaboration opportunities;
• Contributing technical expertise on AI during due diligence to Sagard investment teams across strategies;
• Working with CTOs of portfolio companies to advise on their AI strategy and implementing AI-enabled features to their products;
• Leading integration of AI across Sagard’s internal operations to increase efficiency;
• Keeping a pulse on latest technological breakthroughs in AI and support sourcing of AI investment opportunities;

Qualifications:

• Over 10 years experience in a high impact environment within financial services, Fintech, private equity, asset management, or similar industries;
• Experience leading executive-level conversations with investors, thinking about their problems beyond technical problems;
• Experience launching and building AI-focused companies or products;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
• Availability to travel regularly across major tech hubs in the US and Canada.

Our ideal candidate

• Entrepreneurial: Self-starter, able to operate quickly with lean resources; a passion for investing.
• Rigorous: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; organized and outstanding attention to detail; a high degree of accuracy in a fast-paced, results-oriented workplace; hard-working.
• Proactive and innovative: Thrives in a dynamic working environment; curious, eager to learn about and contribute to a wide variety of topics; suggests new ideas and new ways of working.
• Collaborative: Inclusive operating style coupled with a hands-on, results-oriented attitude.
• Authentic: Demonstrates humility, openness, integrity, and inclusiveness.

Sagard is an equal opportunity employer, which values diversity in the workplace. We are therefore happy to accommodate any individual. If you require accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process,  please contact the People & Culture team to make your needs known in advance.

We welcome all applications and wish to thank all candidates for their interest in applying for this position.  However, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.