Retail Manufacturing AI Specialist

Straive; New Jersey; On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Straive, a global data analytics and AI solutions leader, seeks an AI Specialist for Retail Manufacturing in New Jersey. The role focuses on identifying and driving high-value AI/GenAI interventions across facilities, engaging stakeholders in the USA and Japan to translate business challenges into scalable solutions.

You will guide roadmap development, pilots, and adoption strategies. Ideal candidates bring 8–12+ years in manufacturing operations or AI-led transformation, with strong expertise

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years in manufacturing operations or AI-led transformation.
• Experience with AI, GenAI, computer vision, predictive analytics.
• Able to engage senior operational stakeholders.
• Knowledge of industrial IoT and IT/OT environments.
• Willing to travel USA/Japan; Japanese language a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assess facilities, workflows, maintenance, utilities and supply chain to identify inefficiencies.
• Identify and prioritize AI/GenAI use cases in predictive maintenance, quality control, energy optimization, productivity and automation.
• Develop business cases with ROI, complexity and impact.
• Roadmap AI transformation, pilot prioritization, and collaborate on design/implementation.
• Engage plant leadership, operations, engineering, IT/OT across USA and Japan to drive adoption.

Skills

AI & GenAI

Industrial IoT

IT/OT

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-cultural

Travel readiness

Job description

Straive is a global leader in enterprise-grade data analytics and AI solutions, committed to empowering businesses across various industries with cutting-edge technology and expert insights. Backed by EQT, a top private equity firm, we are uniquely positioned to drive innovation through significant investments and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Our core focus is on delivering advanced Data Analytics & AI Solutions. By combining sophisticated technology with subject matter expertise, we deliver material impact on our clients' topline and streamline their operations. We specialize in providing tailored solutions across financial services, CPG, legal, pharma, life sciences, retail and logistics, helping them build robust data analytics and AI capabilities.

With a client base spanning 30 countries, Straive's strategically located teams operate from eight countries and is headquartered in Singapore. This global presence enables us to offer localized expertise with a worldwide perspective.

Join Straive to be part of a dynamic team at the forefront of data analytics and AI innovation. Here, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to transformative projects, supported by significant investments and an entrepreneurial drive fueled by our partnership with EQT.

Job Role: Retail Manufacturing AI Specialist

Job Type: FTE

Location: New Jersey

Role Overview

Seeking an AI specialist with strong domain expertise in retail manufacturing and facility operations to identify, prioritize, and drive high-value AI/GenAI interventions. The role requires the ability to engage operational and technology stakeholders across the USA and Japan, translating business challenges into scalable AI solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Assessment: Evaluate manufacturing facilities, production workflows, maintenance, utilities, and supply chain operations to identify inefficiencies.
• AI Opportunity Identification: Discover and prioritize AI/GenAI use cases across predictive maintenance, quality control, energy optimization, workforce productivity, and process automation.
• Business Case Development: Quantify potential benefits, ROI, implementation complexity, and operational impact of AI interventions.
• Solution Roadmapping: Define AI transformation roadmaps, prioritize pilots, and collaborate with technology teams on solution design and implementation.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with plant leadership, operations, engineering, and IT/OT teams across the USA and Japan to drive alignment and adoption.

Expected Outcomes

• AI Opportunity Portfolio: Develop a prioritized inventory of high-impact AI use cases across facilities.
• Quantified Business Value: Establish measurable ROI, cost‑saving opportunities, and productivity improvement targets.
• Execution Roadmap: Deliver actionable AI implementation roadmaps with clear milestones, dependencies, and ownership.
• Pilot-to-Scale Enablement: Identify and support AI pilots with measurable operational KPIs and scalable deployment potential.
• Operational Transformation: Drive improvements in equipment uptime, production efficiency, product quality, energy consumption, and operational costs.

Required Experience & Skills

• 8–12+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, industrial transformation, or AI‑led operational consulting.
• Strong understanding of facility operations, manufacturing processes, industrial IoT, and IT/OT environments.
• Practical knowledge of AI, GenAI, computer vision, predictive analytics, and intelligent automation.
• Experience developing AI business cases and engaging senior operational stakeholders.
• Ability to operate effectively across USA and Japan, including cross‑cultural communication and international travel. Japanese language proficiency is an advantage.

This job description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all responsibilities, duties, or activities that are required. Responsibilities, duties, and/or activities may change, or new ones may be added at any time with or without notice.

“Straive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation.

We are an inclusive organization and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.”