Enterprise Architect and AI & Digital Platforms

Apparel Group; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail and e-commerce company based in the United Arab Emirates is seeking an experienced AI Strategy Lead to define and execute a multi-year AI roadmap. The role involves leading AI initiatives across retail operations and eCommerce platforms, ensuring compliance and ethical AI practices. Candidates should possess a Master’s in a related field and 12-15 years of experience in AI leadership with proven success in delivering AI solutions. The position also focuses on building a high-performing AI team and fostering a culture of innovation.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, or a related field (Ph.D. preferred).
• Minimum 12-15 years of experience in AI, data science, and machine learning leadership roles.
• Proven track record of delivering AI-driven solutions.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a multi-year AI vision and roadmap.
• Lead development of AI models for demand forecasting and dynamic pricing.
• Drive personalization and search optimization for eCommerce platforms.

Skills

AI strategy development

Machine learning

Deep learning

Leadership

Data governance

Stakeholder management

Education

Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related field

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Key responsibilities

1. AI Strategy, Portfolio & Governance

Define and execute a multi-year AI vision and roadmap that delivers measurable impact across retail stores, F&B operations, and E-Commerce platforms.

Prioritize AI initiatives based on ROI, customer experience, and operational efficiency.

Establish governance for responsible AI, data privacy, and compliance across all channels.

Align leadership through an AI steering committee and provide executive-level reporting on adoption and outcomes.

Drive build-vs-buy decisions and vendor partnerships for scalable AI solutions across physical and digital touchpoints.

2. Data & AI Platform Engineering

Develop unified data strategy integrating customer, product, transactional, supply chain, and digital behavior data.

Lead development of AI models for demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, personalization, recommendation engines, fraud detection, and inventory optimization.

Implement experimentation frameworks (A/B testing, uplift modeling) for eCommerce and in-store initiatives.

Ensure model explainability, ethical AI practices, and compliance with data security standards.

3. Product & Technology Integration

Translate AI use cases into productized services integrated with POS, OMS, WMS, ERP, CRM, e-commerce platforms, and mobile apps.

Drive personalization and search optimization for eCommerce, including AI-driven recommendations and dynamic content. Implement computer vision and IoT solutions for retail

Optimize infrastructure for AI workloads, ensuring cost efficiency and scalability across cloud and edge environments.

Champion human-in-the-loop systems for merchandising, operations, and digital experience teams.

4. AI Adoption & Impact Management

Lead adoption of AI solutions across retail, F&B, and E-commerce through structured change management and training programs.

Build and mentor a high-performing AI team covering data science, ML engineering, and analytics.

Elevate AI literacy across leadership and frontline teams; foster a culture of innovation and responsible experimentation.

Track and validate business impact metrics such as conversion rate, AOV, forecast accuracy, food waste reduction, and operational efficiency.

Manage budgets, vendor ecosystems, and risk mitigation for AI initiatives across all channels.

Represent the AI function in executive forums and external partnerships to position the organization as an industry leader.

Qualifications & Skills

Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, or a related field (Ph.D. preferred)

Minimum 12-15 years of experience in AI, data science, and machine learning leadership roles, with at least 5 years in a senior or head position

Proven track record of delivering AI-driven solutions in retail, F&B, and eCommerce environments

Expertise in AI strategy development, portfolio governance, and enterprise-scale implementation

Strong knowledge of machine learning, deep learning, NLP, computer vision, and recommendation systems

Hands-on experience with AI platforms, cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP), and big data technologies

Proficiency in MLOps practices, model lifecycle management, and scalable deployment architectures

Deep understanding of data engineering, data governance, and integration across omnichannel ecosystems Strong business acumen with ability to link AI initiatives to measurable outcomes (conversion, AOV, cost optimization, waste reduction)

Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills with experience influencing at executive level

Excellent communication and presentation skills for articulating AI strategy and impact to non-technical audiences

Ability to build and mentor high-performing AI teams and foster a culture of innovation and ethical AI practices

Certifications in AI/ML, Data Science, Cloud Architecture, or Responsible AI are an advantage.