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Intellibus

Director, AI Practice & Transformation / Retail BU Lead (Lead)

Hybrid

Phoenix, United states

Senior

Freelance

03-03-2026

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Skills

Communication Leadership Data Engineering Problem-solving Decision-making Presentation Skills Architecture Software Architecture Merchandising cloud platforms Analytics

Job Specifications

We are seeking a Director – AI & Data Strategy (Retail Transformation) to lead executive-level AI initiatives and build a scalable retail delivery practice for Intellibus.

This role sits at the intersection of:

Retail business strategy
AI & data platforms
Engineering execution

You will partner directly with CIO, CTO, CDO, and business executives, translate strategy into executable programs, and oversee delivery across multiple squads covering:

AI experimentation
Data foundations
Engineering modernization

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone equally comfortable in the boardroom and deep in delivery planning and technical reviews.

What We Are Specifically Looking For

We are targeting leaders with experience in:

Brick-and-mortar retail, grocery, or omnichannel enterprises
Merchandising and supply chain platforms
Store operations and POS ecosystems
Retail data platforms and analytics
AI applied to operational decision-making

Ideal backgrounds include companies such as:

Large grocery chains, big-box retailers, or retail technology divisions where technology had to coexist with real-world operations.

Retail transformation experience is mandatory.

Key Responsibilities:

Executive Leadership & Strategy

Serve as the primary Intellibus partner to the client’s Executive Leadership Team.
Translate business priorities into a prioritized portfolio of AI and data initiatives.
Lead executive AI roadmap reviews and value realization discussions.
Ensure all initiatives align with governance, compliance, and ethical AI standards.
Act as a trusted advisor balancing ambition with technical and operational reality.

Program Direction & Delivery Oversight

Own delivery across three core workstreams
AI pilots and rapid experimentation
Data foundations and integration platforms
Engineering excellence and modernization
Coordinate ~20–30 engineers, data scientists, and delivery leads
Manage execution plans, sprint cadence, and dependency resolution
Track KPIs including productivity, cycle time, and business impact
Ensure integration across AI, data, and engineering initiatives

Technical & Operational Leadership

Provide architectural oversight for AI and data platforms
Guide AI problem framing, experimentation design, and success metrics
Advise on cloud platforms, MLOps, and data engineering practices
Understand retail systems (POS, loyalty, merchandising, supply chain) and how AI enhances them
Review and approve major technical deliverables

Team & Practice Leadership

Build and scale Intellibus’ Retail AI delivery practice
Mentor squad leads and technical managers
Standardize methodologies across AI, data, and engineering teams
Partner with internal operations to scale delivery globally
Represent Intellibus’ standards of engineering excellence and ethical AI

Governance, Reporting & Value Realization

Establish operating cadence:
Weekly squad syncs
Bi-weekly sprint reviews
Monthly executive checkpoints
Deliver executive dashboards quantifying ROI and operational impact
Publish quarterly AI practice updates and roadmap adjustments
Drive continuous improvement across delivery and governance

Required Qualifications

12–20 years in technology, AI, data, or digital transformation
5+ years in executive-facing leadership or consulting roles
Direct retail, grocery, or supply chain domain experience (mandatory)
Strong understanding of:
AI/ML systems and experimentation
Data engineering and analytics platforms
Cloud and modern software architecture
Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams (20–30+)
Executive communication and influence skills
Consulting or systems integration background strongly preferred
Based in or near Phoenix, AZ (hybrid presence required)

Interview Process

15-minute introductory video call with a member of our team
Proctored GQ assessment and slide presentation exercise to evaluate problem-solving and presentation skills
Leadership and Executive interviews (panel or individual sessions, as needed)
Offer decision and onboarding

If you are interested in contacting us, please apply, and our team will reach out to you within the hour.

About the Company

We are a team of passionate software engineers and entrepreneurs. We love to solve challenging problems efficiently. We advise Board Members and C Level Executives of some of the Largest Financial Institutions on all things Technology from Cloud Computing to Artificial Intelligence. Recognition -- Top 3 Best Tech in DC, 2016 -- Tech Ovation Semifinalist, 2017 -- Moxie Awards Semifinalist, 2018 -- New Award -- To be Announced Aug 15, 2023 We have evaluated companies and services like Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, Microsof... Know more