Director of AI & Technology OperationsThe Director of AI & Technology Operations is responsible for driving AI adoption, managing AI-powered platforms, and overseeing the operational delivery of technology initiatives across UFG brands, staff, and franchisees. This role combines structured program management with hands-on AI fluency - translating executive AI vision into deployed capabilities within Microsoft Copilot, Power Apps, Gorilla Dash, RevScale, NetSuite and internal development projects. The Director bridges strategy and execution, ensuring AI initiatives are delivered on time, governed properly, and adopted at scale while reducing hands-on CTO execution dependency.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:AI Strategy & Adoption
- Own and execute UFG's AI adoption roadmap across all brands, identifying high-impact use cases and building structured rollout plans aligned with business priorities.
- Lead the advancement and expansion of Microsoft Copilot across UFG departments - driving adoption, training, prompt engineering best practices, and measurable productivity gains for corporate staff and franchisees.
- Design, build, and deploy Microsoft Power Apps solutions and AI-powered automations that streamline operations for UFG staff and franchise owners.
- Evaluate and integrate emerging AI tools and platforms (LLMs, agentic workflows, automation platforms) into existing UFG systems and processes.
Platform & Product Management
- Serve as the primary AI and technology operations liaison between UFG and Gorilla Dash - coordinating CRM feature development, API integrations, and AI-enhanced capabilities for franchisee-facing systems.
- Collaborate with RevScale on AI-driven sales, marketing, and franchise development tools - ensuring alignment with UFG's brand and operational standards.
- Work directly with UFG's internal Development team to scope, prioritize, and deliver AI-focused features, integrations, and platform enhancements across the tech stack.
- Manage the lifecycle of AI-focused applications - from discovery and MVP through production deployment, user training, and iterative improvement.
Program Management & Execution
- Drive cross-functional delivery of technology initiatives across Development, IT/Security, ERP, Brand Technology, and external vendors using disciplined program management frameworks (PMP/Agile/Scrum).
- Establish operational cadence: sprint planning, dependency tracking, milestone reporting, risk escalation, and executive-ready status updates for AI and tech projects.
- Coordinate multi-team initiatives including platform migrations, enterprise tool rollouts, and vendor integrations with clear timelines and accountability.
- Provide structured executive summaries and AI ROI reporting to the CTO, COO, and executive leadership.
Governance & Vendor Coordination
- Own AI governance frameworks - responsible use policies, data handling standards, and compliance alignment for all AI deployments.
- Lead vendor evaluations, renewals, and performance management for AI and technology partners.
- Act as an operational backup to the CTO on technology operations matters.
COMPETENCIES:- AI Fluency - Practical understanding of LLMs, conversational AI, automation platforms, and enterprise AI deployment.
- Program Leadership - Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives from strategy through execution with measurable outcomes.
- Stakeholder Orchestration - Skilled at aligning cross-functional teams (Dev, IT, ERP, Marketing, Franchise Operations) around shared delivery goals.
- Critical Thinking /Execution - Translates ambiguity into structured plans and drives them to completion.
- Communication - Executive-ready reporting, training facilitation, and franchisee facing communication.
QualificationsQUALIFICATIONS:- 5+ years of experience in technology program management, AI product delivery, or enterprise digital transformation.
- Demonstrated experience deploying AI tools (Copilot, Power Apps, LLM-based products, or similar) in operational business environments.
- Strong understanding of CRM platforms, SaaS product management, and API-driven integrations.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage vendor relationships.
- Experience in franchise, multi-unit, or distributed business environments is a strong plus.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE (PREFERRED):- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- PMP (Project Management Professional) or Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) - strongly preferred. • Microsoft certifications (Power Platform, Azure AI Fundamentals, Copilot) - preferred.
- AI/ML executive education (MIT, Stanford, or equivalent) - a plus.
- Experience with Salesforce, NetSuite, Azure DevOps, or similar enterprise platforms.
Additional InformationOnce you become part of our amazing team of winners you'll enjoy:• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive training to hone your skills at our headquarters
• Employee Development Programs
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance coverage
• Short- and Long-term disability insurance
• Generous time off & paid holidays
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Social gatherings and team building activities
• Leadership workshops for personal development
• Recognition for our top performers
• Philanthropy - a chance to give back to the community
Join us at United Franchise Group - a global leader for entrepreneurs! Apply today! 
