Univar USA Inc

Director, AI Transformation

Univar USA Inc • $180K — $210K *
Downers Grove, IL 60516In-Person
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA or quantitative field) preferred.
  • 10+ years in finance transformation, value realization, AI, or digital program management.
  • Demonstrated ability to certify financial value and build business cases.
  • Strong knowledge of governance and responsible AI practices.
  • Successful track record in shaping high-value opportunities into scoped projects.
  • Experience in vendor and contract management in a technology or consulting environment.
  • Executive communication skills, comfortable presenting to C-level executives.

Responsibilities

  • Own the value scorecard for realized savings and cash impact across AI initiatives.
  • Run finance-verified benefits processes to certify project value at each stage gate.
  • Partner with teams to convert high-value use cases into scoped transformation projects.
  • Build charters outlining expected impacts and success metrics for projects.
  • Serve on the core decision team for technology investment recommendations.
  • Ensure projects clear governance and security reviews before scaling.
  • Manage vendor relationships and maintain visibility over scope and cost.

Benefits

  • Health, vision, and dental insurance available.
  • 401k matching for retirement plans.
  • Flexible time off for work-life balance.
  • Targeted annual company bonus as reward for contributions.
  • Annual salary reviews for compensation adjustments.
Full Job Description
Director, AI Transformation:

The Director, AI Transformation leads the value and governance engine that turns enterprise AI initiatives into verified, measurable financial impact. Reporting to the Senior Director, Transformation, this role owns day-to-day accountability and sign-off for value certification and AI governance across the portfolio.

The role sits between the company's value delivery and technology enablement organizations. It ensures that every initiative with verified financial value is shaped into a deliverable project, properly governed, and made enterprise-ready before it scales, so technology investment stays tied to proven business value and promising ideas convert into measured results.

This is a high-impact role that delivers through existing AI, data, engineering, and IT teams. Univar Solutions is backed by Apollo, and this role supports execution of the company's enterprise value creation plan.

What You'll Do:

Value Attribution & Benefits Certification
  • Own the value scorecard as the single source of truth for realized savings and EBITDA and cash impact across the AI portfolio.
  • Run the finance-verified benefits process and provide go/no-go value certification at each stage gate, the authority that determines whether an initiative may scale.
  • Set and maintain KPI and value-attribution methodology in partnership with Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), ensuring every claimed dollar is underwritten by Finance before scaling.
  • Produce actual-versus-target value reporting for monthly transformation reviews and executive and investor reporting cycles.


Shaping High-Value Use Cases into Projects and Charters
  • Partner with the AI intake and delivery function to convert prioritized, high-value use cases into scoped transformation projects.
  • Build enterprise-grade charters covering problem statement, value levers, expected dollar impact, success metrics, and 30/60/90-day milestones.
  • Translate current-state processes, observations, and pain points into clearly scoped opportunities that deliver measurable value.
  • Sequence and resource the resulting project portfolio so value is delivered on schedule.


Investment Decision Support: Buy, Build, or Blend
  • Own the value and cost analysis underpinning buy, build, or blend technology decisions, building the financial case behind each recommendation.
  • Serve on the core decision team that validates recommendations before they advance to executive leadership.
  • Ground every recommendation in certified value and a credible cost basis.


Governance Readiness & Value Clearance
  • Serve as the value sign-off in the enterprise go/no-go deployment decision, confirming ROI, hard-EBITDA impact, and cost-per-outcome measures are validated before any initiative deploys or scales.
  • Ensure every initiative in the AI portfolio clears its required governance, security, legal, and privacy reviews before scaling, working within the enterprise governance framework rather than duplicating it.
  • Partner with Data Governance, the Center of Excellence, Legal, and Security to drive open risk and readiness items to closure early, so initiatives are not blocked late in the lifecycle.
  • Escalate items requiring executive sponsor or CIO decision rights, and maintain clear visibility into which initiatives are cleared, conditioned, or held.


Cross-Team Coordination and Enterprise Readiness
  • Serve as the day-to-day liaison to the AI Center of Excellence and AI engineering teams to avoid duplication and drive reuse of platforms, models, and automation frameworks.
  • Own the enterprise-readiness criteria that gate broad rollout once a pilot clears its value gate, including hardening, integration, enterprise data, and post-launch stabilization.
  • Manage clean handoffs across the lifecycle, from framing to pilot to scale-up and stabilization to steady-state business ownership.
  • Ensure solutions transition to full business unit ownership within the target window, embedded in standard operating procedures and performance metrics.


Vendor and Partner Management
  • Own operational vendor relationship management across the AI portfolio, including scoping, statements of work, pilot terms, and commercial follow-through.
  • Maintain a single, current view of vendor scope, cost, and status across the program.
  • Partner with Legal, Procurement, and Security on contract review, data terms, and threat scanning for third-party AI tooling.
  • Surface cost-versus-value exposure on vendor engagements early, such as pilot cost escalations, so they reach value and budget owners before commitment.


What You'll Need:
  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA or a quantitative field) preferred.
  • 10+ years in finance transformation, value realization, transformation, or AI and digital program management, including direct ownership of benefits tracking or business-case certification.
  • Demonstrated ability to certify financial value, including building and defending value cases and underwriting savings with Finance.
  • Strong command of governance, accountability frameworks, risk and controls, and responsible-AI or data-governance practices.
  • Track record turning prioritized opportunities into scoped projects and enterprise-grade charters.
  • Experience coordinating across IT, data, and centers of excellence without direct reporting authority, leading through influence.
  • Vendor and contract management experience, including statements of work, pilots, and master agreements, in a technology or consulting context.
  • Executive-grade communication and data storytelling, with comfort presenting value and risk to C-level executives and investors.
  • Experience in a private-equity-backed transformation or value creation environment.
  • Working fluency with enterprise AI and data platforms and the economics of scaling AI from pilot to production.
  • Chemical distribution, industrial distribution, or comparable B2B sector exposure.
  • CPA, MBA, or equivalent analytical credential.


Where You'll Work:

This is a hybrid role based out of our headquarters in Downers Grove, IL.

Pay & Benefits:
  • The salary range is $180,000 - $210,000. This role is also eligible for incentive pay.
  • The specific salary offered to a candidate may be motivated by a variety of factors including the candidate's meaningful experience, education, training, certifications, qualifications, and work location.
  • Available employee benefits include health, vision, and dental. We also provide 401k matching for retirement and flexible time off.


What You Can Expect:
  • Strong work/life flexibility
  • To be surrounded by an inclusive team who is collaborative and committed to the achievement of the company
  • To be rewarded for your contributions with a targeted annual company bonus and annual salary reviews
  • Competitive pay and benefits

About Univar USA Inc

Univar Solutions sells acids, additives, modifiers, chelants, enzymes, essential chemicals, ingredients, oleochemicals, oxides, peroxides, polymers, resins, process aids, silicates, silicones, sodium, solvents, surfactants, and more.

Univar USA Inc Careers

Join the dynamic team at Univar USA Inc, a leading distributor of chemicals and ingredients, and be part of a company that thrives on innovation, leadership, and diversity. At Univar, we are committed to providing unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and development in an environment that values each individual’s contribution.

Work You’ll Do

At Univar USA Inc, you will collaborate with some of the industry's most knowledgeable minds to help drive progress in various sectors through our expertise in chemical and ingredient distribution. Our commitment to innovation and sustainability makes us a unique leader in the marketplace, where technology and expertise create solutions that advance our customers' ambitions.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

Univar USA Inc is not just a company; it's a community where you can build a career. With a culture that fosters diversity and inclusion, we believe in empowering our employees to achieve their full potential. Whether you are looking for job opportunities, internships, or leadership roles, Univar offers a path to success.

Innovative Work

Engage in work that matters with a team that values bold ideas and proactive solutions. Our employees are encouraged to lead projects that redefine industry standards and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Career Development

Future-proof your career at Univar USA Inc with continuous learning and development opportunities. From diversity training to leadership workshops, we provide the tools and resources necessary for career advancement and personal growth. Our robust benefits package supports the well-being of our team members and their families, ensuring a rewarding work-life balance.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, Univar offers a range of employment options to match your skills and interests. Explore positions in sales, logistics, research, and more. Our internships provide a fantastic opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience and develop essential industry skills.

Be Part of a Great Team

Join a team where collaboration and networking are at the heart of our operations. At Univar, you are part of a global network of professionals dedicated to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Stay Connected

- **Search Univar Jobs**: Discover open positions that align with your career goals. We are always on the lookout for passionate, curious, and innovative team players. - **Keep Up to Date**: Stay informed with the latest company news, career tips, and industry insights—all from the people who work here. - **Job Alert Emails**: Customize your subscription to receive job alerts and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Univar USA Inc. Join Univar USA Inc and be part of a company where your career can thrive in an environment of respect, integrity, and endless possibilities.
Learn more about Univar USA Inc
Size
9,450 employees
Market Cap
$5.2 billion
Industry
Business Services
Net Income
$52.9 million
Founded
1924
5 Year Trend
+3.4%
Revenue
$8.2 billion
NASDAQ
UNVR
* Ladders Estimates

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