Job Summary
The COE Lead is a senior, multi-dimensional leader responsible for building and scaling the organization's Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence and Operations. This individual is equally comfortable architecting AI-driven solutions, coaching and developing teams, and streamlining operational delivery. They are a credible thought leader who earns trust by doing — not just directing — and who sets the standard for technical and professional excellence across the organization.
Responsibilities
- AI Strategy & Innovation
- Define and own the AI vision and roadmap for the COE, aligning it with organizational priorities and emerging market trends.
- Lead the evaluation, adoption, and scaling of AI/ML frameworks, LLMs, and automation tools across practice areas.
- Drive proof-of-concept and pilot projects, personally contributing to architecture and design where needed.
- Stay at the forefront of AI advancements and translate them into actionable, business-relevant initiatives.
- Thought Leadership
- Act as the internal and external face of AI and operational innovation — publishing insights, presenting at forums, and representing the organization in industry conversations.
- Establish and promote best practices, frameworks, and standards that elevate the quality of delivery across teams.
- Mentor senior practitioners and serve as a go-to resource for complex, ambiguous challenges.
- Lead by example: remain hands-on, engaged, and visible — credibility comes from practice, not position.
- People Leadership
- Build, develop, and retain a high-performing team of AI practitioners, engineers, and operations professionals.
- Foster a culture of psychological safety, continuous learning, and ownership within the COE.
- Conduct regular performance conversations, provide structured coaching, and create clear growth pathways for team members.
- Champion diversity, inclusion, and equitable practices in hiring, development, and team dynamics.
- Operations & Delivery
- Oversee COE operations including resource allocation, capacity planning, delivery governance, and quality assurance.
- Define KPIs and OKRs for the COE and ensure consistent reporting to senior stakeholders.
- Identify and eliminate delivery bottlenecks, institutionalizing processes that scale effectively.
- Collaborate with business units, clients, and cross-functional leaders to ensure COE outcomes are impactful and measurable.
- Stakeholder Management
- Engage with C-suite and senior client stakeholders to co-develop AI and transformation strategies.
- Translate complex technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives for non-technical audiences.
- Build and sustain trusted relationships across the business that enable the COE to operate with influence and authority.
