Hiring for AI in Marketing: 5 Roles CMOs Are Building into Their Teams

AI has proven once again that it’s no longer just a tool—it’s becoming part of the team. As marketing budgets stabilize and pressure to do more with less continues, CMOs are investing not just in AI platforms, but in the talent that can wield them strategically. The challenge? The typical marketing org chart wasn’t initially built for this.

From prompt engineers to AI content strategists, new hybrid roles are emerging that blend creative thinking with technical fluency. And for leaders who want to stay competitive, building (or reshaping) the right team has never been more urgent.

In this article, StratDev outlines the key AI-related marketing roles CMOs are hiring for in 2025, how org structures are evolving, and what marketing teams should do today to stay ahead.

Why AI Demands a New Kind of Team

According to McKinsey’s 2024 State of AI report, over 60% of marketing leaders expect AI to fundamentally change how their teams are structured within two years. That change is already underway. Using AI tools without the right strategy, talent, or oversight often results in wasted spend and off-brand outputs.

AI doesn’t just automate work. It redefines it. Tasks once siloed across content, ops, and analytics now require cross-functional fluency, especially as AI systems become embedded in the campaign lifecycle, from ideation to execution.

The Key Roles CMOs Are Prioritizing in 2025

#1: AI Content Strategist

Think: the new editorial director. This person manages how AI is used to plan, create, and scale content while maintaining brand voice, compliance, and quality standards. 

Responsibilities may include:

• Designing prompt workflows for content teams
• Creating AI style guides and QA checklists
• Testing tools like Jasper, Copy.ai, or Notion AI for brand fit

Why it matters: Without someone like an AI Content Strategist to own how AI touches content, you risk inconsistency, confusion, and missed efficiency gains.

#2: Prompt Engineer or Generative AI Specialist

This role is often misunderstood, but it’s a critical one. A prompt engineer crafts, tests, and optimizes the language that powers AI-generated outputs across copy, visuals, and even video.

Responsibilities may include:

• Writing and iterating on prompt templates
• Training non-technical staff to write better prompts
• Evaluating AI tools for tone, accuracy, and ROI

Why it matters: Better prompts mean better outcomes. Thus, prompt fluency is now a multiplier, and a role like this one amplifies such.

#3: AI-Driven Data & Insights Analyst

This isn’t your standard marketing analyst. This role owns the data that feeds personalization engines, AI performance tracking, and campaign optimization tools.

Responsibilities may include:

• Prepping and cleaning data inputs for AI platforms
• Building dashboards that track AI content/testing effectiveness
• Feeding insights back to creative, ops, and media teams

Why it matters: AI without clean, relevant data = expensive guesswork.

#4: AI Workflow Product Manager or Marketing Ops Lead

This role connects the dots between people, processes, and platforms. They ensure tools are integrated, campaigns are efficient, and teams aren’t duplicating work.

Responsibilities may include:

• Designing AI-assisted workflows (content, media, CRM)
• Vetting and implementing tools across teams
• Measuring tool utilization and operational ROI

Why it matters: Without this role, AI systems become one-off tools rather than scalable infrastructure.

#5: AI QA & Brand Safety Specialist

AI isn’t perfect. And in brand-sensitive or regulated industries, one misfire can be costly. This role reviews outputs, flags risks, and maintains ethical guidelines.

Responsibilities may include:

• Creating AI content review protocols
• Auditing generated visuals, copy, and customer-facing materials
• Monitoring for bias, hallucination, or legal issues

Why it matters: One unchecked AI mistake can create backlash, erode trust, or trigger compliance issues.

Should You Upskill, Hire, or Partner?

It’s understood that not every company needs five new hires. In fact, most don’t. But every CMO needs a plan for how AI responsibilities are distributed. Here’s how most are approaching it:

• Upskill: Train existing staff in tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, Midjourney, and analytics platforms.
• Hire: Bring in specialists where internal gaps are too wide or too technical.
• Partner: Collaborate with AI-savvy agencies (like StratDev) to launch faster and scale responsibly.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, AI isn’t just reshaping what marketing does, it’s redefining who does it.

At StratDev, we’re keen to help teams bridge the gap between AI ambition and execution. Whether you’re building a team from scratch or augmenting your existing structure, we bring the strategy, systems, and hands-on support to help you move fast and stay smart.

If you're building toward an AI-ready future, we’d love to help you get there—with clarity and confidence.