Director, Innovation (AI Focused)

Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Project Management, Communications, Information Systems, or a related field.
  • 5-8 years in project coordination, operations support, innovation, process improvement, or similar role.
  • Experience executing AI solutions in a professional setting.
  • Hands-on knowledge of modern AI tools and data-driven systems.
  • Strong prioritization skills focused on ROI and business outcomes.
  • Clear communicator of complex technical concepts.
  • Ability to thrive in ambiguous, autonomous environments.

Responsibilities

  • Deliver 3-5 AI initiatives with measurable time or cost savings.
  • Advance an existing agentic workflow project.
  • Identify and execute additional high-impact AI projects for back-office efficiency.
  • Manage a prioritized pipeline of AI opportunities considering ROI and feasibility.
  • Establish streamlined processes in ServiceNow with IT.
  • Drive AI literacy and capability-building in partnership with L&D.
  • Build relationships across units and simplify AI concepts for non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Industry-leading performance-based bonus program.
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
  • Traditional and Roth 401k options.
  • Tuition reimbursement for employees.
  • Children's scholarship program up to $28,000 per child.
  • 1-month paid sabbatical after every five years of service, with $5,000 travel support.
  • 1-week annual paid volunteer leave.
  • 100% charitable match for donations.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Fully paid 12-week maternity leave.
Full Job Description
Are you a big-picture person with a history of implementing high-impact AI solutions in an organization? If the answer is, "Yes!" then we have an exciting, long-term career opportunity for you based in Chicago. You will own the AI roadmap, inherit an existing agentic workflow initiative, and identify additional opportunities focused on back-office efficiency and information management. You'll work closely with Innovation, IT, and business leaders across a distributed, multi-office organization.

A Day in the Life:
  • Deliver 3-5 AI initiatives with measurable time and/or cost savings
  • Inherit and advance an existing agentic workflow project
  • Identify and execute additional high-impact AI projects, primarily focused on back-office efficiency
  • Build and manage a prioritized pipeline of AI opportunities based on ROI and feasibility
  • Establish lightweight intake, prioritization, and delivery processes in ServiceNow (in partnership with IT)
  • Partner with L&D to drive AI literacy, adoption, and internal capability-building
  • Identify and support internal AI champions and create visible proof points
  • Own the AI roadmap and build business cases that address cost, risk, and return
  • Build strong relationships across business units and translate AI concepts for non-technical stakeholders

Necessary Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree required in Business, Project Management, Communications, Information Systems, or a related field
  • 5-8 years of experience in project coordination, operations support, innovation, process improvement, operational efficiency, or a similar execution focused role
  • Proven ability to execute and deliver AI solutions
  • Hands-on experience with modern AI tools, automation, or data-driven systems
  • Strong business judgment and ROI-driven prioritization skills
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences
  • Comfortable working autonomously in ambiguous environments
  • Relationship-oriented with a collaborative, pragmatic mindset

What We Can Offer You:

We are dedicated to the well-being of our associates and are proud to be consistently recognized as a Best Place to Work. Our compensation and benefits package not only supports our associates and their families but benefits local communities and communities around the world.
  • Industry-leading performance-based bonus program
  • ESOP
  • Traditional and Roth 401k
  • Tuition reimbursement for associates
  • Scholarship for associates' children up to $28,000 per child
  • 1-month paid sabbatical after every five years of employment, plus $5,000 for travel
  • 1-week paid volunteer leave each year
  • 100% charitable match
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
  • 100% paid 12-week maternity leave

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