This is a Associate Director, AI Product (IT & Security) role with Optus based in NSW, AU Optus Role Seniority - director More about the Associate Director, AI Product (IT & Security) role at Optus Optus is an Australian telecommunications company, delivering more than 11 million services to our customers every day across mobile, broadband, and digital solutions. Optus is undergoing a bold transformation to become an AI Native Telco, reimagining how it delivers value to customers by redesigning products, processes, and technologies. This journey leverages AI to empower employees, optimize IT and network operations, and unlock new levels of efficiency, insight, and customer experience. The AI Centre of Excellence seeks an Associate Director of AI Products to lead a portfolio of enterprise-grade AI initiatives. Reporting to the Director of AI Products, this role will guide cross-functional squads in discovering and delivering innovative products and services within IT & Security portfolios, driving strategic impact and shaping the future of AI at Optus. What You’ll Be Doing Lead the way by setting the vision and strategy for a portfolio of AI products, driving innovation that shapes the future of Optus. Own the journey from discovery to delivery design, build, experiment, and scale AI products and solutions that make a real impact for our customers and people. Influence at the top, partnering with senior leaders to align priorities, secure investment, and steer product roadmaps. Lead cross-functional orchestration, carefully managing dependencies, and ensuring timely, high-quality delivery across squads. Champion Responsible AI, embedding ethical, secure, and compliant practices into every product you deliver. Drive adoption and growth, working with change and business teams to maximise engagement and deliver measurable value. Inspire and develop talent, coaching product managers and squads to build craft, remove blockers, and foster a high-performance, inclusive culture. What makes you perfect for the role? Proven product leadership with 5 years in product management, including 2 years leading AI or data-driven products. Demonstrated ability to take technical products from ideation through to scaled delivery, with focus on enterprise solutions Strong experience in user research, design thinking, and agile product development. Deep understanding of Cloud and AI technologies, including complex agentic development. Exceptional stakeholder management, strategic thinking, and ability to align at executive levels. Skilled at influencing across matrixed organisations and driving collaboration. Optus is a place where we let you do you. We offer a range of benefits including: 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. 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. 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 AccessibleRecruitment@optus.com.au or call 1800 309 170. 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 https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity. The Optus Talent Acquisition team are taking a break over the holidays from 22nd December 2025 and we will return from 5th January 2026. We will begin to review applications upon our return. Before we jump into the responsibilities of the role. No matter what you come in knowing, you’ll be learning new things all the time and the Optus team will be there to support your growth. Please consider applying even if you don't meet 100% of what’s outlined Key Responsibilities Setting vision and strategy Managing product journey Championing Responsible AI Key Strengths Product leadership User research and design thinking Stakeholder management ☁️ Cloud and AI technologies Influencing skills ⚡ Agile product development Why Optus is partnering with Hatch on this role. Hatch exists to level the playing field for people as they discover a career that’s right for them. So when you apply you have the chance to show more than just your resume. A Final Note: This is a role with Optus not with Hatch.