Director, Artificial Intelligence (AI) (Virtual, US, 99999)

The Director, Artificial Intelligence, will own and deliver the division s AI-driven value creation agenda. This leader is accountable for identifying, prioritizing, deploying, and scaling AI initiatives that drive measurable revenue growth, margin expansion, productivity improvement, and compliance strength. This is a business leadership role that uses AI as a lever - not a technical specialist role. HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT: • Financial Impact Ownership • Deliver defined annual AI-driven EBITDA improvement targets. • Build and manage a prioritized AI value portfolio aligned with division strategy. • Allocate AI-related investment within approved capital envelope based on ROI and risk. • Present AI value creation progress during division operating reviews. • Kill, pivot, or scale initiatives based on measurable performance thresholds. • Growth & Commercial Enablement • Identify AI-enabled revenue growth opportunities (pricing optimization, product differentiation, service models, installed base monetization). • Partner with commercial and product leaders to embed AI into customer-facing workflows. • Support development of AI-enabled products and digital service offerings. • Operational Margin Expansion • Lead deployment of AI-enabled workflow automation and process redesign across operations and SG&A. • Reduce cycle time, scrap, rework, inventory, and administrative inefficiencies. • Standardize and scale proven AI use cases across business units. • Ensure AI adoption translates into sustained operating discipline. • Governance, Risk & Compliance • Ensure all AI initiatives comply with enterprise AI governance, cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory standards. • Monitor AI solution reliability, performance, and risk exposure. • Serve as the division escalation point for AI-related risk and compliance matters. • Align divisional initiatives with broader enterprise architecture and platform strategy. • Organizational Capability & Adoption • Build AI literacy across division leadership, managers, and high-potential talent. • Translate AI concepts into practical operating behaviors for commercial, operations, and functional teams. • Establish adoption standards and accountability mechanisms tied to measurable outcomes. • Develop a network of functional AI champions within the division. • Embed AI-enabled decision-making into operating rhythms (forecasting, pricing reviews, production planning, customer engagement). • External Partnerships & Vendor Leverage • Identify and evaluate external AI technology partners aligned with divisional value priorities. • Structure pilots and commercial agreements to accelerate time-to-value while minimizing risk. • Define performance expectations and scalability requirements tied to business outcomes. • Rationalize vendor landscape to avoid redundant platforms and fragmented solutions. • Ensure third-party tools integrate with enterprise governance and architectural standards. SUCCESS METRICS: • Sustained, measurable EBITDA contribution from AI initiatives. • Embedded AI-enabled workflows across commercial and operational functions. • Increased adoption rate across teams. • Replicable use cases scaled across business units. • Reduced operational friction and improved compliance discipline. • Contribution to Enterprise AI roadmap. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: This role requires a business operator with strong digital fluency. Required Experience • 7+ years in business leadership, operations, product management, analytics, or technology-enabled transformation • Demonstrated ownership of financial outcomes (revenue growth, cost reduction, margin expansion) • Experience prioritizing investments and managing tradeoffs under capital constraints • Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence senior stakeholders • Working knowledge of AI, advanced analytics, and modern digital platforms Preferred • Experience deploying AI or advanced analytics solutions in an enterprise setting • Experience working with external technology vendors and negotiating commercial terms • Exposure to industrial, manufacturing, or engineered product environments • Experience operating within enterprise governance frameworks. Deep technical model-building expertise is not required. The leader must understand AI sufficiently to translate capability into business value. OTHER SKILLS & COMPETENCIES: • Strong verbal and written communication skills • Self-starter with strong organizational skills, ability to multitask and attention to detail • Ability to communicate with all levels of management including senior executives • Proven ability to work independently as well as in a team environment TRAVEL: Up to 50% Originally posted on Himalayas