Senior Director, Data & AI

Ready To Go Further?

Saia is a different kind of logistics and transportation company. We do things the right way. You‘ll see it in our commitment to our people, customers, and community. You‘ll feel it in the support you get on day one – from leadership and from your team. A job with Saia is packed with opportunity – from learning new skills and advancing to competitive compensation and great benefits. It's all here and it’s exactly what going further is all about.

Position Summary

Provides strategic leadership for the development and execution of enterprise data and artificial intelligence architecture strategy by establishing technology standards, governance, and modern data platforms that enable scalable analytics and AI capabilities. Oversees modernization of enterprise data environments and implementation of cloud-based technologies that support operational efficiency, business growth, and informed decision-making.

Major Tasks and Responsibilities

• Develops and executes enterprise data and AI architecture strategy by establishing standards for data ingestion, transformation, semantic modeling, data products, governance, and AI-ready architecture across the enterprise.
• Leads the design, implementation, and modernization of enterprise data platforms by overseeing migration from legacy enterprise data warehouse environments to a Microsoft Fabric-based lakehouse while ensuring data integrity, scalability, and business continuity.
• Establishes enterprise data governance practices by defining standards for data quality, lineage, stewardship, master data management, metadata, business glossary, and protection of sensitive information.
• Partners with business and technology leaders to identify, prioritize, and deliver enterprise data, analytics, and AI solutions that align with strategic objectives while ensuring secure, scalable, and reliable technology architecture.
• Leads enterprise integration and modernization initiatives by evaluating legacy applications, defining integration architecture standards, and supporting APIs, event-driven architecture, EDI, and other enterprise integration technologies.
• Builds, develops, and leads high-performing data engineering, platform engineering, governance, and modernization teams by providing strategic direction, coaching, resource planning, performance management, and vendor oversight.
• Manages department budgets and vendor relationships, develops technology roadmaps, and evaluates emerging technologies to recommend innovative solutions that improve business capabilities and operational efficiency.
• Establishes performance metrics and governance processes to measure platform health, technology effectiveness, project delivery, and the business value of enterprise data and AI investments.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, data science, engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in data architecture, analytics, engineering, enterprise architecture, or information technology, including leadership experience at the director level.
• Experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale cloud data platforms, lakehouse architectures, enterprise data governance frameworks, AI-enabled data solutions, Microsoft Fabric, Azure data services, and enterprise integration technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical organizations, influence executive stakeholders, manage complex modernization initiatives, and translate technology investments into measurable business value.
• Enterprise integration architecture — API management, event streaming, EDI, and iPaaS platforms.
• Data governance tooling — Purview, Alation, or equivalent — implemented and enforced, not just documented.
• AI platform integration — experience connecting data platforms to AI/ML and GenAI platforms at enterprise scale.
• Experience in transportation, logistics, supply chain, or other complex operational environments preferred.

Work Conditions and Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while working at a computer or desk.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, handling documents, and operating office equipment.
• Occasional lifting/carrying of office materials/boxes up to 25 lbs.
• Adequate vision and hearing (with or without correction) to read, prepare, and communicate information.
• Occasional movement, bending, and reaching as needed to perform office tasks or attend meetings.
• Some travel may be required, including overnight travel.

Benefits

At Saia, your success is our success! That’s why we work hard to provide you with what you need to build an awesome career. We are committed to rewarding superior employee performance so that when you work hard, your achievements won’t go unnoticed. 

Make Your Move

At Saia, our people are the reason we’ve been successful for over a century in the industry. Together, we’ve created a positive culture that’s driven by our core values – like dignity and respect, a customer-first approach, safety and more. With hundreds of terminals across the country and growing, we’re always looking for more collaborative and motivated individuals to join our team. So, if you’re ready to put your career on a solid path, let’s go further.

Saia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.