Senior Director, Innovation – Office of AI & Innovation

Sorry, this job was removed at 07:35 p.m. (UTC) on Monday, Jun 02, 2025
Be an Early Applicant
Folsom, CA, USA
In-Office
eCommerce • Fashion
The Role
About the RoleWe are seeking an accomplished Senior Director, Innovation to lead strategic innovation initiatives across Gap Inc., including our corporate entity and our family of brands. This senior leadership role will drive the strategic vision, execution, and integration of innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to transform our creative, operational, and strategic capabilities. Reporting into the Office of AI & Innovation, you will manage executive relationships, oversee vendor partnerships, define and champion policy and process, and drive impactful innovations from concept to deployment, ensuring alignment with business objectives.What You'll Do

Who You Are

  • A seasoned innovation leader with extensive experience in executive management, product and program leadership, strategy formulation, and advanced technology integration within retail, fashion, media, entertainment, or related industries.

  • Skilled in managing innovation processes including POCs, strategic partnerships, contracting, and vendor management.

  • Experienced in fostering a culture of continuous learning, design thinking, experimentation, and agility.

  • Highly effective at cross-functional leadership, capable of building consensus and alignment among executives, managers, creative teams, and technology providers.

  • A tinkerer at heart, always interested in experimenting and learning on the bleeding edge of technology.

  • Biased for action, pushing on those around you to make progress, even when blocked on all fronts. 

  • Adept at translating complex technological strategies into clear executive-level communications, presentations, and actionable roadmaps.

  • Connected to the venture capital / startup community with existing relationships you can leverage.

  • Passionate about the ethical application of AI and advanced technologies, with strong awareness of innovation governance, policy, and compliance frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Innovation Leadership

  • Lead and manage executive strategy planning sessions, aligning innovation initiatives with Gap Inc.’s strategic goals.

  • Develop executive-level presentations, strategy decks, and status reports, clearly communicating innovation objectives and outcomes.

Innovation Program & Product Management

  • Oversee innovation product development, from ideation and requirements gathering through experimentation and deployment.

  • Manage proofs-of-concept (POCs), experimentation timelines, and evaluation frameworks.

Cross-functional & External Collaboration

  • Conduct alignment meetings with middle management and cross-functional teams to integrate innovation strategies effectively.

  • Attend and contribute to conferences and external education forums, staying abreast of emerging trends.

  • Cultivate strategic relationships with key vendors, partners, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and advisory groups.

Governance & Policy Development

  • In partnership with business partners, develop and enforce policies and governance frameworks guiding the responsible use and deployment of AI and emerging technologies.

  • Manage contracting processes, approvals, and ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory standards.

Capability Building & Education

  • Lead internal educational sessions, workshops, and roadshows to promote a culture of innovation.

  • Design and deliver comprehensive learning programs tailored to various stakeholder groups, ensuring effective adoption of innovations.

Research & Experimentation

  • Direct strategic research initiatives to identify new technology trends and innovative opportunities.

  • Facilitate experimentation time and design thinking sessions to validate new concepts and solutions.

Communications & Change Management

  • Develop robust communication strategies and manage change initiatives to ensure broad adoption and integration of innovations.

  • Provide advisory services, support the development of clear innovation narratives, and promote organizational buy-in.

Who You Are
  • Exceptional strategic planning and executive management capabilities.

  • Demonstrated success in program and product management, particularly around emerging technologies and AI integration.

  • Expertise in design thinking, requirements gathering, experimentation, and prototyping.

  • Strong skills in contract negotiation, vendor management, and partnership cultivation.

  • Advanced communication and executive presentation abilities.

  • Proven ability to drive education initiatives, capability building, and adoption of innovative solutions.

Similar Jobs

CSC Logo CSC

Technical Support

Fintech • Legal Tech • Software • Financial Services • Cybersecurity • Data Privacy
Hybrid
6 Locations
8500 Employees

Micron Technology Logo Micron Technology

Architect

Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Information Technology • Machine Learning
In-Office
San Jose, CA, USA
45000 Employees
208K-364K Annually

Micron Technology Logo Micron Technology

Design Engineer

Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Information Technology • Machine Learning
In-Office
San Jose, CA, USA
45000 Employees
176K-298K Annually

Micron Technology Logo Micron Technology

Design Engineer

Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Information Technology • Machine Learning
In-Office
San Jose, CA, USA
45000 Employees
116K-198K Annually
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
HQ: San Francisco, CA
11,000 Employees
Year Founded: 1969

What We Do

In 1969, Don and Doris Fisher opened the first Gap store on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco. They wanted to make it easier to find a great pair of jeans, and they did. Their denim and records store was a hit, and it grew to become one of the world’s most iconic brands. Today we’re represented in more than 1400 stores in over 40 countries, and online. We have headquarters in New York, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, and, of course, San Francisco. Our unique aesthetic is optimistic cool, elevated American style. Our clothes are crafted with care, with focused attention to thoughtful design. We believe in staying true to our heritage while creating what’s next. Don and Doris Fisher always wanted to “do more than sell clothes.” They wanted to support the people who ran their company, to be active in their communities, and to have a positive impact on the world. Their vision helped transform retail, and we’re still following their lead. We stand for freedom and possibility for all; we champion diverse ideas that transcend generations, geographies and genders.

Similar Companies Hiring

PRIMA Thumbnail
Travel • Software • Marketing Tech • Hospitality • eCommerce
US
15 Employees
Scotch Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence • eCommerce • Fintech • Payments • Retail • Software • Analytics
US
35 Employees
Golden Pet Brands Thumbnail
Digital Media • eCommerce • Information Technology • Marketing Tech • Pet • Retail • Social Media
El Segundo, California
178 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account