The Rise of AI GM Strategy Roles — And Why Pricing Them Is Tricky

These roles sit somewhere between strategy chief, data translator, and transformation architect. They’re shaping the AI agenda from the inside, not just implementing projects from the sidelines. And right now, figuring out what they should be paid is one of the tougher assignments in recruitment.

Salaries are inconsistent because the market is still catching up. Traditional Strategy Manager roles average around $150K–$170K in major cities, while General Managers sit closer to $160K–$200K depending on scale. But when you add AI expertise, cross‑functional leadership, and change‑management chops, compensation easily climbs into the $220K–$280K range — and sometimes higher where AI is central to business growth.

The challenge is that few of these roles exist yet in truly mature form. Most hiring right now is experimental: fractional appointments, contract roles, or hybrid consultancy‑style partnerships. It makes sense — businesses want strategic traction and capability fast, but they’re cautious about committing to permanent headcount before the ROI is proven.

What I’m seeing across the Melbourne recruitment market is that these AI strategy leaders aren’t defined by job titles but by outcomes. They translate vision into delivery, help executives understand risk, and make the unknown a little less intimidating. That unique blend of technical awareness and business pragmatism is exactly why they’re so valuable — and so hard to benchmark.

If the last year taught us anything, it’s that AI leadership won’t follow traditional salary bands. It’ll follow impact. And that makes sense — because when you’re steering a business through something this new, pricing the role is as much art as it is science.