Director of AI

Socket.dev; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Plan

Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Training & Development

Onsite Gym

Kitchen

Job summary

Mark III Construction seeks a strategic AI Director to lead enterprise-wide AI and automation efforts across construction, MEP, service, manufacturing, and finance. This role chairs the AI Committee, defines governance, and partners with leaders to identify high-value use cases, pilot solutions, and scale successful AI initiatives.

The position emphasizes strategy, transformation, and cross-functional collaboration, with close coordination with IT for security and data access.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in AI, automation, technology, digital transformation, data analytics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide AI, automation, or technology transformation initiatives.
• Experience developing business cases and measuring ROI, cost savings, productivity improvements, and other business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a company-wide AI strategy and roadmap aligned to business goals.
• Chair the AI Committee with cross-functional representation across business units.
• Enforce AI governance policies including data privacy and vendor risk.
• Own the build-vs-buy-vs-partner decision framework for AI tools and vendors.
• Partner with IT on data security and infrastructure needs for AI tools.
• Report AI initiative status and ROI to CFO and executives.

Skills

AI strategy

Governance

Cross-functional leadership

Vendor management

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field

Job description

**This is NOT a REMOTE OR HYBRID position**

The Director of AI is a strategic leadership role responsible for identifying, evaluating, and driving the adoption of artificial intelligence and automation technologies across Mark III Construction's business functions — including MEP Construction, Service, Manufacturing, Virtual Construction (VDC), Business Development, Estimating, and Finance.

This role chairs the company's AI Committee, sets AI strategy and governance, and partners with departmental leaders to identify high-value use cases, pilot solutions, and scale what works. This is a strategy and transformation role, distinct from IT infrastructure and support, though close coordination with IT is required for security, data access, and technical implementation.

This position will be responsible for the AI responsibilities for all operations. We also will be hiring a Vice President of Technology for M3 Components, LLC. The AI Director will have authority for the full enterprise, but the Vice President of Technology will responsible solely for the technology of M3 Components, LLC.

Who we are:

Mark III is a full-service construction company comprised of three complementary business units: M3 MEP, M3 Service, and M3 Components. We support projects from initial concept through long-term maintenance, with specialized expertise in healthcare, higher education, industrial, life science, and technology markets.

Mission:

Leading the Evolution of Construction

Vision:

Exposing the World to a New Way to Build

Core Values:

• Teamwork
• Excellence
• Perseverance
• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement

Key Responsibilities

AI Strategy & Governance

• Develop and maintain a company-wide AI strategy and roadmap aligned to business goals
• Chair the AI Committee, with cross-functional representation from MEP, Service, Manufacturing, VDC, Business Development, Estimating, and Finance
• Enforce AI governance policies: acceptable use, data privacy, vendor risk, and model/tool approval process
• Own the build-vs-buy-vs-partner decision framework for AI tools and vendors

Cross-Functional Use Case Development

• Work directly with department leaders to identify pain points and high-ROI AI/automation opportunities (e.g., estimating takeoffs, VDC clash detection, prefab optimization, service dispatch, AR/collections forecasting, proposal generation)
• Prioritize use cases based on impact, feasibility, and cost
• Run structured pilots with clear success and failure criteria before scaling

Implementation & Change Management

• Lead deployment of approved AI tools and workflows in partnership with IT (technical execution) and department champions (adoption)
• Build training programs and internal documentation to drive adoption and reduce shadow-IT / unsanctioned tool use
• Manage change resistance — often the hardest part of AI rollouts in a field-heavy, non-union trades organization

Vendor & Technology Evaluation

• Evaluate emerging AI vendors and tools relevant to construction, MEP, manufacturing, and finance
• Manage AI-related vendor contracts, licensing, and budget in coordination with Finance and Procurement
• Maintain awareness of competitive and industry AI adoption trends in construction technology

Risk, Compliance & Data

• Partner with the IT Support Manager on data security, access controls, and infrastructure needs for AI tools
• Ensure AI tool usage complies with client contracts, data confidentiality obligations, and regulatory considerations (e.g., data center and medical client sensitivity)
• Monitor and mitigate risks around AI hallucination or errors in customer-facing or safety-related outputs

Executive Reporting

• Report AI initiative status, ROI, and roadmap to the CFO and executive leadership on a regular cadence
• Translate technical AI capability into business-language value propositions for non-technical stakeholders
• Document amount saved or cost saved from AI strategies implemented and will develop a scorecard indicating how we are winning by utilizing AI strategies.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in AI, automation, technology, digital transformation, data analytics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide AI, automation, or technology transformation initiatives.
• Experience identifying business problems and translating them into practical AI or automation solutions.
• Experience working across multiple business functions and influencing leaders without direct authority.
• Experience evaluating, selecting, implementing, and managing technology vendors and AI solutions.
• Experience developing business cases and measuring ROI, cost savings, productivity improvements, and other business outcomes.

AI & Technology Knowledge

• Strong understanding of current AI technologies, including generative AI, machine learning, automation, AI-enabled business applications, and emerging AI tools.
• Ability to evaluate AI technologies based on business value, feasibility, security, cost, risk, and scalability.
• Understanding of AI governance, data privacy, information security, vendor risk, and responsible AI practices.
• Ability to understand technical concepts and translate them into practical business applications for non-technical leaders.
• Familiarity with AI applications within construction, MEP, manufacturing, VDC, estimating, service, business development, or finance is highly desirable.

Leadership & Business Skills

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a company-wide AI strategy and roadmap.
• Strong project and change-management skills, including the ability to drive adoption among employees with varying levels of technical proficiency.
• Ability to lead cross-functional committees, working groups, pilots, and implementation teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate AI strategy and value to executive leadership.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize initiatives based on business impact, feasibility, cost, and risk.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and move initiatives from concept through implementation and measurable results.
• Strong vendor negotiation, contract, licensing, and budget-management skills.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Ability to sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time.
• Ability to regularly use a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other standard office technology.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout office, manufacturing, and project environments.
• Ability to occasionally travel to company offices, manufacturing facilities, project sites, and other business locations.
• Ability to safely navigate typical office, manufacturing, and construction environments, including uneven surfaces and active work areas when required.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials, equipment, or supplies weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance and work the hours necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Training & Development
• Onsite Gym and kitchen

Salary Range $130,000 - $140,000 DOE also eligible to participate in Mark III Annual Bonus Plan

"Mark III Construction and its affiliated companies is an equal opportunity employer regardless of race, color, caste, sex, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, marital status, genetic information, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, protected veteran or military status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law."