Director, AI Transformation, Value & Portfolio

Edwards Lifesciences Gruppe; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 202,000 - 287,000; Full time

Job summary

Edwards Lifesciences seeks an operating leader for the AI organization to translate enterprise priorities into scalable AI capabilities and measurable business outcomes. You will own governance, intake, prioritization, and portfolio review to enable value realization across the AI portfolio.

You will establish frameworks to measure adoption and readiness, build executive visibility, and drive cross-functional collaboration with Product, Science, Engineering, Data, and IT to deliver strategic AI

Qualifications

• 12+ years of leadership experience in enterprise transformation, strategic operations, portfolio management, operating model design, PMO leadership, or technology transformation.
• Experience influencing senior executives and operating effectively in complex matrix organizations.
• Experience building governance, operating models, or transformation capabilities from the ground up.
• Experience preparing executive-level materials and board narratives.

Responsibilities

• Own the evolution of the enterprise AI operating model, including governance structures, intake processes, decision rights, funding mechanisms, and delivery rhythms.
• Establish frameworks for measuring AI adoption, organizational readiness, and capability maturity across functions.
• Drive alignment across Product, Science, Engineering, Data, Evaluation, Governance, IT, and business stakeholders.
• Develop executive and Board-level reporting on portfolio progress, risks, and ranked investment opportunities.
• Maintain a sequenced enterprise AI roadmap aligned to business priorities and organizational readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio management

Operating model design

PMO leadership

Strategic operations

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree

Tools

Clarity

Planview

Job description

Innovation starts from the heart. Our Advanced Innovation & Technology (AI&T) teams harness the imagination, courage, and resourcefulness to think beyond what’s currently possible, and create solutions for patients many years into the future. If you’re an early-stage innovator, then Edwards AI&T team is the place for you to take the next steps in your career. We’ll give you the tools and resources you need to create groundbreaking innovations that shape the future of structural heart technology.How you will make an impact:This role is the operating leader for the AI organization, translating enterprise priorities into scalable AI capabilities, measurable business outcomes, and sustained organizational change. It owns portfolio governance, investment prioritization, AI operating model effectiveness, executive reporting, organizational readiness, adoption tracking, and value realization across the enterprise AI portfolio.Key Responsibilities:Own the evolution of the enterprise AI operating model, including governance structures, intake processes, decision rights, funding mechanisms, and delivery rhythmsEstablish and continuously improve the mechanisms required to scale AI adoption across business functions, and identify the organizational bottlenecks that slow deliveryDrive alignment across Product, Science, Engineering, Data, Evaluation, Governance, IT, and business stakeholdersServe as the operating leader for the AI Center of Excellence and the AI Council, owning intake, agenda, cadence, decision record, and follow-through. AI Engineering & Architecture remains Operating Chair of the COE for technical rulings, and the SVP chairs both bodiesOwn the enterprise AI intake, evaluation, prioritization, and portfolio review process, including the inherited backlogEstablish frameworks for measuring AI adoption, organizational readiness, and capability maturity, and monitor them across business functionsPartner with business leaders to improve change readiness and accelerate adoption, and build executive visibility into enterprise AI maturity over timeDevelop executive and Board-level reporting on portfolio progress, organizational maturity, adoption, risks, dependencies, and ranked investment opportunitiesMaintain a sequenced enterprise AI roadmap aligned to business priorities and to organizational readiness, not only to technical dependencyFacilitate investment and prioritization discussions across competing business demandsIdentify reusable capabilities, common patterns, and cross-functional opportunities that enable enterprise scaleBuild executive narratives that connect AI initiatives to enterprise priorities and strategic objectivesEstablish consistent approaches for defining expected outcomes and measuring progress across AI initiativesEnsure initiatives have clear ownership, success measures, and accountability mechanisms before execution beginsTrack business outcomes, adoption, operational impact, and progress against strategic objectives across the portfolioOwn the Finance partnership for the AI portfolio and the reconciliation of inherited benefit claims, with Role 21 building the underlying baselines and audit trailOther incidental dutiesWhat you'll need (Required):Bachelor's Degree in related field, with 12 years of experience of leadership experience in enterprise transformation, strategic operations, portfolio management, operating model design, PMO leadership, or technology transformation or equivalent work experience based on Edwards criteria -OR- Master's Degree or equivalent in related field, with 10 years of experience of leadership experience in enterprise transformation, strategic operations, portfolio management, operating model design, PMO leadership, or technology transformation or equivalent work experience based on Edwards criteria What else we look for (Preferred):Experience leading large-scale, cross-functional transformation initiatives to a measured outcome, not only to launchExperience influencing senior executives and operating effectively in complex matrix organizationsDemonstrated success building governance, operating models, or transformation capabilities from the ground up rather than inheriting a mature oneExperience preparing executive-level and Board-level materialsExperience taking ownership of an inherited, partially validated portfolio and making it defensibleEnterprise transformation and operating model designPortfolio governance, intake design, and prioritizationOrganizational change and adoption leadership, including capability maturity assessmentStrategic planning and roadmap developmentGovernance framework designProgram leadership across complex, matrixed environmentsExecutive communication and storytelling, including Board-level narrative developmentCross-functional influence without direct authorityStrong analytical and business judgment, including the ability to hold up under an FP&A-level challenge to a benefits case rather than only to produce onePrior transformation or operating-model leadership in a regulated industryExperience building an intake or governance function from scratchFamiliarity with portfolio or PPM tooling (Clarity, Planview, or equivalent)Adhere to all company rules and requirements (e.g., pandemic protocols, Environmental Health & Safety rules) and take adequate control measures in preventing injuries to themselves and others as well as to the protection of environment and prevention of pollution under their span of influence/controlAligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.For California, the base pay range for this position is $202,000 to $287,000 (highly experienced).The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.