Director of AI

Job Title: Director of AI 

Summary 

Ken Garff Automotive Group is looking for a passionate, curious, humble, and hungry Director of AI to join and help grow Ken Garff’s Data, Analytics, and AI capabilities. Ken Garff truly lives the motto of “We hear you”. This motto applies to all we do within our corporate and regional teams. 

The Director of AI will be responsible for guiding the organization’s strategy and hands-on implementation of artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency, enable data-driven decision-making, and improve customer experience.  This role partners with business leaders to identify high-value opportunities for AI and translates those opportunities into actionable initiatives. The Director of AI oversees the development of AI-enabled solutions, guides the design of AI workflows and orchestration, and ensures initiatives deliver measurable business impact. This leader manages a small team of AI specialists and collaborates closely with engineering and data teams to integrate AI capabilities into enterprise systems while establishing best practices for responsible and effective AI deployment. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

· Define and execute the organization’s AI strategy aligned with business objectives. 

· Identify opportunities to apply AI and advanced analytics to improve business processes, operational efficiency, and decision-making. 

· Partner with business & technical leaders to map workflows and translate operational challenges into AI-enabled solutions. 

· Lead the design of AI orchestration strategies that integrate models, data, and enterprise systems. 

· Manage and prioritize the AI project roadmap, ensuring initiatives deliver measurable business value. 

· Provide leadership and oversight for the AI team, including platform engineering, AI applications, and data science functions. 

· Collaborate with engineering leadership and data engineering teams to ensure scalable and secure AI infrastructure. 

· Establish best practices for responsible AI use, model governance, and performance monitoring. 

· Oversee evaluation frameworks to measure AI system accuracy, reliability, and business impact. 

· Work with external partners and consulting firms to establish and evolve the company’s AI architecture. 

· Communicate AI strategy, progress, and results to executive leadership and stakeholders. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed here are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Applicants must be 18 years or older and be authorized to work in the U.S., have a valid driver license and professional appearance. 

All employees must adhere to the below Company Values: 

Respect: Above everything else 
Integrity: Do the right thing 
Growth: One step at a time 
Humility: Actions speak louder than words 
Teamwork: Stronger together 

Other Required Attributes 

• Attitude – Demonstrate a positive “can do” attitude; show curiosity and eagerness to learn; be coachable; be “solution-minded” rather than “problem-minded.” 
• Work Ethic – Dependable, responsible, detail-oriented, and willing to put in the effort to learn new skills and technologies. 
• Oral Communication – Communicate clearly with team members; listen actively; ask thoughtful questions; respond well to feedback. 
• Written Communication – Write clearly and informatively; able to document technical work and explain concepts at a basic level. 
• Professionalism – Approach others with respect and humility; accept responsibility for learning and improvement; follow through on commitments. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

· Strong understanding of modern AI technologies including machine learning, large language models (LLMs), and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). 

· Experience designing or leading AI-enabled solutions in enterprise environments. 

· Knowledge of AI system architecture, data platforms, and model lifecycle management. 

· Familiarity with AI orchestration frameworks and multi-model workflows. 

· Understanding of data engineering concepts including pipelines, warehouses, and data governance. 

· Strong business process analysis and problem-solving skills. 

· Experience leading cross-functional technical teams and managing complex technology initiatives. 

· Ability to translate technical capabilities into business value and strategic outcomes. 

· Strong communication and stakeholder management skills. 

· Knowledge of responsible AI practices including model evaluation, risk management, security, and ethical AI deployment. 

Required Education and Experience 

· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred. 

· 10+ years of experience in technology, data science, artificial intelligence, or related disciplines. 

· 5+ years of leadership experience managing technical teams or cross-functional technology initiatives. 

· Demonstrated experience identifying and implementing AI or advanced analytics solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes. 

· Experience translating business processes into technical solutions involving machine learning, automation, or AI-enabled systems. 

· Deep understanding in modern AI technologies including large language models, machine learning workflows, and AI orchestration concepts. 

· Experience working with engineering teams and enterprise data platforms in a production environment. 

· Experience managing vendor relationships or collaborating with external consulting partners is preferred. 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer