--- title: 'Director, Digital Consulting | Industry AI at Trace3' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-digital-consulting-industry-ai-trace3-united-states-snd73wkvk42v' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-12' --- # Director, Digital Consulting | Industry AI at Trace3 - **Company:** Trace3 - **Location:** United States - **Compensation:** $190k–$230k - **Posted:** 2026-09-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/trace3/jobs/8171518 ## Job description Who is Trace3? Trace3 is a leading Transformative IT Authority, providing unique technology solutions and consulting services to our clients. Equipped with elite engineering and dynamic innovation, we empower IT executives and their organizations to achieve competitive advantage through a process of Integrate, Automate, Innovate. Our culture at Trace3 embodies the spirit of a startup with the advantage of a scalable business. Employees can grow their career and have fun while doing it! Trace3 is headquartered in Irvine, California. We employ more than 1,200 people all over the United States. Our major field office locations include Denver, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Lexington, Los Angeles, Louisville, Texas, San Francisco. Ready to discover the possibilities that live in technology? Come Join Us! Street-Smart - Thriving in Dynamic Times We are flexible and resilient in a fast-changing environment. We continuously innovate and drive constructive change while keeping a focus on the “big picture.” We exercise sound business judgment in making high-quality decisions in a timely and cost-effective manner. We are highly creative and can dig deep within ourselves to find positive solutions to different problems. Juice - The “Stuff” it takes to be a Needle Mover We get things done and drive results. We lead without a title, empowering others through a can-do attitude. We look forward to the goal, mentally mapping out every checkpoint on the pathway to success, and visualizing what the final destination looks and feels like. Teamwork - Humble, Hungry and Smart We are humble individuals who understand how our job impacts the company's mission. We treat others with respect, admit mistakes, give credit where it’s due and demonstrate transparency. We “bring the weather” by exhibiting positive leadership and solution-focused thinking. We hug people in their trials, struggles, and failures – not just their success. We appreciate the individuality of the people around us. ## ABOUT THE ROLE: The Director, Industry AI leads Trace3’s AI agenda for one priority vertical, such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Government, Manufacturing, or Retail. The Director is accountable for the vertical AI point of view, pattern detection, accelerator development, and AI opportunity shaping across anchor accounts in that industry, while partnering with account leads and regional account leaders who retain primary responsibility for the broader client relationship and account program. For two to three assigned anchor accounts, the Director serves as the senior Industry AI lead within the Digital Account Lead model, maintaining proximity to client needs, executive AI priorities, pursuit shaping, delivery health, and value realization. Across the remaining anchor accounts in the vertical, the Director shapes AI agendas, frames value, identifies repeatable patterns, and feeds those patterns into accelerators and products that Trace3 can own and sell. ## WHAT YOU'LL DO: - Own AI growth, executive AI relationships, engagement health, delivery quality, escalation management, value realization, and reference ability for assigned anchor accounts, in partnership with the broader account and delivery teams. - Own the AI agenda and point of view for one priority vertical across all Trace3 anchor accounts in that industry. - Lead in depth on two to three assigned anchor accounts, covering executive AI engagement, roadmap development, and value framing. - Own one secondary cross-vertical capability theme, apply it across all verticals, and feed pattern insight back to the Industry AI team efforts. - Build and develop vertical-specific offerings, solution and product accelerators, frameworks, and reference architectures that achieve field adoption. - Translate AI architecture and technology decisions into business cases, roadmaps, and executive investment decisions. - Originate, qualify, shape, and advance qualified AI and multi-domain pursuits, and expand AI entry points into broader transformation programs. Vertical AI Leadership - Own the vertical AI narrative, connecting industry priorities, regulatory context, agentic use cases, and Trace3’s right-to-win into a credible, sequenced roadmap. - Maintain account intelligence for the vertical at portfolio level, including stakeholder and initiative maps, AI maturity, and whitespace mapped to Trace3 product lines across the anchor accounts in the industry. - Develop vertical narratives, executive-ready points of view, and thought leadership that differentiate Trace3 in the assigned industry. Digital Account Lead Core Accountabilities - Build and maintain the account strategy, executive relationship plan, stakeholder and initiative maps, engagement history, account roadmap, opportunity priorities, and cross-domain expansion thesis. - Originate, qualify, shape, and advance pursuits that align to client priorities, Trace3's right-to-win, and available delivery capabilities. - Orchestrate account, sales, domain, practice, business-unit, partner, and delivery leaders around one integrated account strategy and client experience. - Maintain sufficient proximity to every active engagement to independently understand delivery health, client sentiment, scope, financial position, major dependencies, risks, solution integrity, and progress toward the business case. - Bring in peer Directors and specialists when another domain is required. On accounts led by another Director, operate as the domain lead within the named Digital Account Lead's account strategy and governance model. AI Architecture and Solution Shaping - Shape AI and agentic solution architectures, including knowledge and domain agents, copilots, AI platforms, data readiness, and governance, tied to business outcomes and enterprise constraints. - Design curated AI operating models, governance MVPs, and responsible AI standards appropriate to the assigned vertical, including risk tiering, human oversight, and data and security controls. - Guide use-case discovery, prioritization, value forecasting, technology selection, and fast-tracked POCs with defined success measures and production-readiness criteria. Value Realization and Solution Fidelity - Confirm that programs delivered by business units stay faithful to the architecture and business case shaped by Industry AI and escalate significant drift. - Return to delivered programs, measure outcomes against the original business case, and feed results into references and accelerator development. ## QUALIFICATIONS & INTERESTS: - Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, Master’s preferred. Equivalent experience considered. - 10+ years in consulting, industry technology leadership, vertical business transformation, or enterprise AI and data roles, with demonstrated client-facing leadership and measurable outcomes. - Deep credibility in at least one Trace3 priority vertical, including its business drivers, regulatory context, and technology landscape. - Applied AI depth across enterprise AI strategy, agentic and GenAI solution design, AI governance, and data readiness, with the judgment to connect architecture to business value. - Demonstrated ability to shape and grow client relationships and pursuits in a consultative capacity. - Track record of building reusable assets from client work, including frameworks, accelerators, and reference architectures, that were adopted by others. - Executive presence and strong communication, including the ability to build investment cases and executive roadmaps that connect AI strategy, governance, implementation, and measurable value. - Experience building vertical GTM offerings, accelerators, or reference architectures that achieved adoption beyond the originating account. - Certifications or credentials in AI, cloud, data, or security platforms relevant to the vertical. - Experience with organizational change management and process redesign on AI-enabled transformation programs. - Prior experience operating in a two-in-a-box or account-team model with sales and delivery partners. - Experience converting AI proofs of concept into production programs using success measures, exit criteria, adoption plans, and value measurement frameworks. Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors, including location, experience, skill set, performance, licensure and certification, and business needs. The range for this position in other geographic locations may differ. Certain positions may also be eligible for variable incentive compensation, such as bonuses or commissions, that is not included in the base salary. Estimated Pay Range $190,000—$230,000 USD The Perks - Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents - 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match, 529 College Savings Plan, Health Savings Account, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability - Competitive Compensation - Training and development programs - Major offices stocked with snacks and beverages - Collaborative and cool culture - Work-life balance and generous paid time off Our Commitment At the core of Trace3's DNA is our people. We are a diverse group of talented individuals who understand the importance of teamwork and demonstrating leadership, character, and passion in all that we do. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to grow. We recognize that embracing diversity drives innovation, improves outcomes, fosters collaboration, boosts teammate satisfaction, and builds a more inclusive culture. As an equal opportunity employer, Trace3 bases all employment decisions based on individual qualifications, merit, and business requirements. We do not engage in discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Any demographic information provided is strictly voluntary, kept confidential in accordance with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations, and will not be used in employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, or mentorship programs. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process or participate in an interview, please email recruiting@trace3.com. ***To all recruitment agencies: Trace3 does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to our careers email addresses, Trace3 employees or any other company location. Trace3 is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs. ## About Trace3 ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Trace3 is a leading Transformative IT Authority that consults on, integrates, and operates solutions across AI, data, security, and cloud to help enterprises embrace emerging technology and drive measurable business value. - **Entity Type**: Private (acquired by Apollo Funds in August 2025; previously backed by H.I.G. Capital) - **Headquarters**: Irvine, California, United States - **Founded**: 2002 - **Founders**: Not publicly named (Joe Quaglia is the CEO per Indeed) ## Core Business - **Primary Industry**: Information Technology & Services (IT Consulting, Systems Integration, Managed Services) - **Target Customers**: Enterprise and Mid-Market organizations across Financial Services, Healthcare, Government (Federal & SLED), and other regulated industries. - **Mission/Purpose**: "All Possibilities Live in Technology" — turning that belief into true business transformation for clients. ## Products & Services Trace3 operates through several key practice areas and a dedicated government arm: - **AI & Data Consulting**: Practical AI enablement (e.g., Copilot for M365), custom AI/ML solutions, data strategy, and analytics. Helps clients start small with AI and scale. - **Cloud Services**: Cloud architecture, migration, hybrid cloud (VCF9), and managed cloud operations. - **Cybersecurity**: Security strategy, architecture, engineering, and managed security services (Splunk delivery, security generalists). - **Modern Infrastructure**: Hybrid cloud architecture, data center modernization, networking. - **Managed Services**: Tier 1-3 support, service desk, and ongoing IT operations management. - **Management Consulting**: Strategic advisory, portfolio management, and business transformation consulting. - **Trace3 Government**: A joint venture with Zivaro (formed 2024) focused on DoD, DOE, and SLED clients with over 120 cleared engineers. - **Innovation Program**: Custom IT research, VC/PE thematic briefings, and access to emerging startups. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company). Acquired by Apollo Funds in August 2025; prior PE round led by H.I.G. Capital in 2017. - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of **$2.85 Billion** (USD) as of the latest available data. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: - **Parent Company**: Apollo Global Management, Inc. - **Previous Investor**: H.I.G. Capital - **Key OEM Partners**: Cisco, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Dell Technologies, Palo Alto Networks, Splunk. - **Growth Signals**: - **Headcount**: 1,064 employees (+4.1% YoY) with 109 active job postings (+186.8% YoY). - **Acquisition Spree**: Acquired Zivaro (2024), Ivoxy (2025), and multiple other firms (Set Solutions, Optio Data, Tail Wind Informatics, Groupware Technology, LaSalle Solutions) to build scale. - **Government Expansion**: Launched Trace3 Government in 2024, targeting classified and mission-critical work. - **Talent Sources**: Heavy recruitment from Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, Dell, and competitors (e360, World Wide Technology, Insight). ## Competitive Advantages - **Vendor Agnostic Stance**: Provides unbiased, agnostic assessments of the technology landscape — a key differentiator from resellers. - **Deep VC/PE Relationships**: "On a first-name basis with major VC firms" — allows clients early access to emerging tech and innovation briefings. - **Scale & Breadth**: 700+ engineers (including 120+ cleared government engineers), national presence, and multiple acquired specialty firms under one roof. - **Government Security Clearances**: Many engineers hold top-secret clearances (DoD, DOE), a high barrier to entry for competitors. - **Proven M&A Integration**: Successfully rolled up 7+ companies to build a comprehensive service portfolio. ## Strategic Focus - **AI as a Core Growth Engine**: "Run with AI" and "Transform with AI" are central themes. Focused on practical, low-risk AI adoption for enterprises. - **Government Sector Expansion**: Trace3 Government is a major growth vector, targeting federal and state contracts. - **M&A Roll-Up**: Continue acquiring niche consultancies to deepen capabilities in data, security, and cloud. - **Managed Services Growth**: Building out a national managed services footprint (Tier 1-3 support centers in multiple cities). ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Described as "the spirit of a startup with the advantage of a scalable business." Core values include Teamwork, Innovation, Consultative approach, and being "Humble, Hungry, & Smart." - **Remote/Hybrid/Office**: Mixed. Many roles are remote (e.g., Cloud Engineers, Solutions Architects), but some are on-site (e.g., Managed Services Engineers in Phoenix, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas). Sales and consulting roles often require regional presence. - **Notable Perks**: - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans - 401(k) retirement plan and 529 college savings plan - HSA, life insurance, and long-term disability - Generous PTO and work-life balance - Stocked kitchens with snacks and beverages - Training and development programs - Competitive compensation packages - **Engineering Culture**: Heavy emphasis on emerging tech (AI, cloud, security). Engineers get exposure to cutting-edge tools and vendor relationships. Many roles require certifications and deep technical expertise. - **CEO Approval Rating**: 51% on Indeed (average for a large consulting firm). ## Sources 1. [trace3.com](https://www.trace3.com/) 2. [trace3.com/careers](https://www.trace3.com/careers) 3. [Greenhouse Job Board](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/trace3) 4. [LinkedIn Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/trace3) 5. 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