AI Implementation Lead

Position Summary

AWIP is seeking a hands-on AI Implementation Lead responsible for designing, building, implementing, and scaling Artificial Intelligence solutions across the organization.

This is not primarily a project management role. While stakeholder coordination and vendor management are important, the successful candidate will be expected to personally develop, configure, prototype, test, and deploy AI-powered solutions, working directly with business users to solve operational challenges.

The AI Implementation Lead will take ownership of approved AI initiatives and drive them from concept through production deployment. This includes identifying technical approaches, building proof-of-concepts, developing AI agents and automations, integrating AI capabilities into existing business processes, and ensuring solutions are successfully adopted.

The ideal candidate possesses a combination of business acumen, technical AI expertise, solution architecture skills, and hands-on implementation experience. They are comfortable writing prompts, configuring AI platforms, developing AI agents, integrating systems, automating workflows, and working directly with end users to deliver measurable business value.

This role is intended for a builder and implementer, not solely a project manager or vendor coordinator.

Key Responsibilities

AI Solution Design, Development & Implementation

• Design, build, configure, test, and deploy AI-powered business solutions.
• Develop AI agents, copilots, automations, workflows, and integrations that solve real business problems.
• Build proof-of-concepts and minimum viable products (MVPs) to rapidly validate AI opportunities.
• Translate business requirements into technical AI solutions and implementation roadmaps.
• Configure and customize AI platforms, automation platforms, and low-code/no-code technologies where appropriate.
• Work directly with data sources, APIs, business systems, and enterprise platforms to integrate AI capabilities.
• Troubleshoot, optimize, and continuously improve AI solutions after deployment.
• Establish technical standards, best practices, and reusable AI components that can be leveraged across the organization.

AI Project Execution & Delivery

• Take ownership of approved AI initiatives from discovery through deployment.
• Develop implementation plans, milestones, and delivery schedules.
• Coordinate execution across business stakeholders, IT, vendors, consultants, and external partners.
• Ensure delivery remains aligned with business objectives, security requirements, compliance standards, and budget expectations.
• Remove technical and organizational barriers that could impact successful implementation.
• Drive solutions through deployment, adoption, measurement, and continuous improvement.

Business & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner directly with business leaders to identify AI use cases and opportunities.
• Gather requirements and convert business problems into practical AI solutions.
• Lead workshops, discovery sessions, pilot programs, testing activities, and solution demonstrations.
• Communicate technical concepts in a way that business users can understand.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders throughout development and implementation.

Vendor & Consultant Management

• Manage relationships with software vendors, consultants, and implementation partners when external support is required.
• Evaluate third-party solutions and determine build-versus-buy recommendations.
• Ensure external resources supplement internal capabilities rather than replace ownership of solution delivery.
• Hold vendors accountable for deliverables, timelines, and outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience designing, building, and deploying AI, automation, or software solutions.
• Hands-on experience developing AI agents, copilots, automations, workflows, or AI-enabled business applications.
• Experience working with Large Language Models (LLMs), prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), AI agents, or related AI technologies.
• Ability to rapidly prototype and implement AI solutions with minimal supervision.
• Experience integrating systems, APIs, databases, and enterprise applications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Demonstrated ability to independently deliver technical solutions from concept through production deployment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI, OpenAI, Microsoft Power Platform, Power Automate, Power Apps, and Microsoft 365 technologies.
• Experience developing custom AI solutions, intelligent automations, chatbots, virtual assistants, or knowledge-management solutions.
• Familiarity with Python, JavaScript, REST APIs, data integration, or other technical development tools.
• Experience building AI agents that interact with ERP, CRM, document management, reporting, or operational systems.
• Understanding of AI governance, responsible AI, security, compliance, and enterprise architecture principles.
• Experience leading AI adoption initiatives within manufacturing, operations, supply chain, customer service, or corporate functions.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role is measured by the ability to consistently turn business opportunities into deployed AI solutions that deliver measurable value.

The AI Implementation Lead is expected to:

• Personally build and deploy AI solutions that solve real business problems.
• Deliver working AI agents, automations, copilots, and integrations that are actively used by the business.
• Reduce dependency on external consultants and implementation partners through internal expertise.
• Accelerate AI adoption across the organization through hands-on execution.
• Drive measurable improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality, decision-making, and employee experience.
• Ensure AI investments generate tangible business outcomes and return on investment.

The primary objective of this position is not to manage AI projects. It is to successfully design, build, implement, and scale AI solutions that create business value for AWIP.