VP of Data Analytics & AI

MRA Search; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

MRA Search seeks a Vice President of Data, Analytics & AI to lead enterprise data strategy across operations, finance, and commercial functions. This executive will transform data into actionable insights, shape a roadmap for AI adoption, and drive measurable financial results.

You will collaborate with C-suite leaders, build a high-performing team, establish governance, and create executive dashboards that track KPIs and ROI across the organization.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in data, analytics, AI, or related disciplines.
• Proven executive leadership building enterprise analytics/AI strategy.
• Strong understanding of AI, ML, generative AI, predictive modeling, data science, BI, and automation.
• Proven ability to translate analytics into measurable business and financial results.
• Experience in large-scale service environments (aviation, transport, hospitality, or similar) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the company's enterprise data, analytics and artificial intelligence strategy.
• Establish a multi-year AI roadmap focused on measurable improvements in productivity, profitability, customer service, and operational performance.
• Identify and prioritize high-value AI and advanced analytics opportunities throughout the organization.
• Lead predictive analytics initiatives involving workforce planning, scheduling, forecasting, airport and station performance, safety, customer service, and financial performance.
• Develop AI-enabled solutions that improve decision-making and automate manual or repetitive business processes.
• Build scalable capabilities in machine learning, generative AI, predictive analytics, data science, and business intelligence.
• Partner with operational leadership to translate complex data into practical recommendations that improve frontline execution.
• Create executive dashboards, KPIs, and analytical tools that provide leadership with timely visibility into business performance.
• Establish governance around enterprise data, AI models, data quality, security, privacy, and responsible AI usage.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies, platforms, vendors, and strategic partnerships.
• Build and lead a high-performing team across analytics, data science, AI, and related disciplines.
• Develop a culture where leaders use data and analytics to make business decisions.
• Quantify the financial impact and ROI of major analytics and AI initiatives.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership regarding emerging AI capabilities.

Job description

Job Title

Vice President, Data, Analytics & AI

Company Size

Approximately $3.2 billion in annual revenue

Position Overview

Our client who is a $3.2 Billion PE owned company is seeking a highly strategic and innovative Vice President of Data, Analytics & AI to lead the company's enterprise-wide data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics strategy. This executive will be responsible for transforming the company's extensive operational and commercial data into actionable insights, improved decision-making, greater operational efficiency, and measurable financial results. This hands-on VP will establish and execute a comprehensive AI and analytics roadmap, identifying opportunities to deploy predictive analytics, machine learning, generative AI, automation, and business intelligence across the organization.

Working closely with executive leadership and leaders across Operations, Finance, Commercial, Technology, Human Resources, and other functions, this individual will help position data and AI as strategic capabilities throughout the company.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the company's enterprise-wide data, analytics and artificial intelligence strategy.
• Establish a multi-year AI roadmap focused on measurable improvements in productivity, profitability, customer service, and operational performance.
• Identify and prioritize high-value AI and advanced analytics opportunities throughout the organization.
• Lead predictive modeling and analytics initiatives involving workforce planning, labor optimization, scheduling, forecasting, airport and station performance, safety, customer service, and financial performance.
• Develop AI-enabled solutions that improve decision‑making and automate manual or repetitive business processes.
• Build scalable capabilities in machine learning, generative AI, predictive analytics, data science, and business intelligence.
• Partner closely with operational leadership to translate complex data into practical recommendations that improve frontline execution.
• Create executive dashboards, KPIs, and analytical tools that provide leadership with timely visibility into business performance.
• Establish appropriate governance around enterprise data, AI models, data quality, security, privacy, and responsible AI usage.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies, platforms, vendors, and strategic partnerships.
• Build, develop, and lead a high‑performing team across analytics, data science, AI, and related disciplines.
• Develop a culture in which leaders throughout the organization routinely use data and analytics to make business decisions.
• Quantify the financial impact and ROI of major analytics and AI initiatives.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership regarding emerging AI capabilities and their potential impact on our client's business.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in data, analytics, artificial intelligence, technology, strategy, or related disciplines, including significant executive leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience building and executing an enterprise analytics and/or AI strategy within a large, complex organization.
• Strong understanding of AI, machine learning, generative AI, predictive modeling, data science, business intelligence, and automation.
• Proven ability to translate advanced technology and analytics into measurable business and financial results.
• Experience using analytics to improve labor‑intensive, operationally complex businesses strongly preferred.
• Experience in aviation, transportation, logistics, hospitality, field services, or another large‑scale service environment is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success building and leading high‑performing analytics and data teams.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with senior executives, operational leaders, technical teams, and other stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in analytics, data science, computer science, engineering, mathematics, business, or a related field preferred.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will combine deep analytics and AI expertise with strong commercial and operational business judgment. Our client is not simply looking for a technologist; the company is seeking an executive who understands how to apply data and AI to real‑world business problems and generate measurable improvements in revenue, margin, productivity, customer experience, and operational performance.

This individual will be comfortable moving between the boardroom and the operational environment and will have the ability to turn emerging AI capabilities into practical solutions that create meaningful enterprise value.