Director, AI & Automation Strategy & Delivery

Sonepar USA; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonepar USA is seeking a Director of Artificial Intelligence & Automation to lead North America’s AI and automation delivery and to implement the enterprise AI strategy. The role oversees design, development, deployment, operation, and continuous improvement of scalable AI and automation solutions that drive measurable business impact.

You will partner with AI Product Management, Data & Analytics, Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, and application teams to ensure secure, reliable AI

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in information technology, software engineering, AI engineering, automation, data and analytics, digital platforms, or related technology disciplines.
• 5+ years leading enterprise-scale AI, automation, analytics, technology delivery, digital product engineering, or platform teams in complex organizations.
• 5+ years of project and program leadership experience utilizing Agile, DevOps, and modern software delivery methodologies.
• Experience with enterprise data governance, cybersecurity, privacy, and risk management practices.
• Proven track record deploying production-grade AI, automation, workflow, analytics, or software solutions that deliver measurable business value.
• Experience establishing engineering standards, delivery methodologies, DevOps/MLOps practices, testing frameworks, monitoring capabilities, and support models.
• Demonstrated success leading technical teams, managing vendors, and coordinating cross-functional delivery across architecture, data, security, infrastructure, and application teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of Sonepar's enterprise AI and automation portfolio, ensuring approved initiatives are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives.
• Drive successful deployment of Generative AI, machine learning, automation, and intelligent workflow solutions that generate measurable business impact.
• Establish delivery plans, resource requirements, and success metrics for AI and automation initiatives.
• Monitor value realization, adoption, performance, and operational outcomes across the portfolio.
• Establish and lead AI Engineering, Automation Engineering, DevOps/MLOps, testing, release management, monitoring, and production support capabilities.
• Ensure enterprise AI solutions are scalable, secure, reliable, and operationally sustainable.
• Implement engineering best practices that support consistent deployment, monitoring, maintenance, and continuous improvement of AI-powered solutions.
• Develop operational readiness standards for production-grade AI and automation applications.
• Define and govern enterprise AI delivery standards, architecture patterns, reusable components, development frameworks, and implementation methodologies.
• Establish standards for prompt engineering, AI agents, integration patterns, automation frameworks, documentation, and solution delivery.
• Partner with Enterprise Architecture teams to ensure consistency, scalability, interoperability, and alignment with technology roadmaps.
• Promote reuse and standardization to accelerate delivery and reduce technical complexity.
• Drive continuous enhancement of AI delivery practices, development methodologies, testing disciplines, deployment strategies, and operational monitoring capabilities.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies, tools, platforms, and industry trends to identify opportunities that enhance business performance.
• Establish processes for measuring solution performance, adoption, business value, and operational effectiveness.
• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of AI engineers, automation engineers, solution architects, technical specialists, and delivery partners.
• Create a culture focused on accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Mentor and coach associates while developing future technical leaders and delivery capabilities.
• Manage external vendors, systems integrators, and strategic partners to ensure successful delivery outcomes.
• Implement Responsible AI practices, model governance, security controls, privacy requirements, and compliance standards across the AI lifecycle.
• Partner with Cybersecurity, Legal, Risk Management, Compliance, Data Governance, and Enterprise Architecture teams to mitigate operational and regulatory risks.
• Ensure AI solutions align with enterprise governance standards and ethical AI principles.
• Maintain oversight of model performance, lifecycle management, and operational controls.

Skills

AI leadership

Enterprise AI

Delivery leadership

Agile / DevOps

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Azure AI / OpenAI

DevOps/MLOps

Python

ML tooling

Job description

Sonepar USA is seeking a Director of Artificial Intelligence & Automation to lead North America’s AI and automation delivery and to implement the enterprise AI strategy. The role oversees design, development, deployment, operation, and continuous improvement of scalable AI and automation solutions that drive measurable business impact.

You will partner with AI Product Management, Data & Analytics, Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, and application teams to ensure secure, reliable AI