Manager, AI & Automation

Position Overview a.k.a. Brands is seeking an AI & Automation Manager to scale the strategic implementation, technical execution, and organizational adoption of AI and automation technologies across our enterprise. This is a manager-level role reporting to the CIO, combining hands-on development and engineering with platform scaling and team building. We have established a foundation and executive commitment to AI/automation as a strategic lever. What we need now is the architect and change agent to scale from pilots to portfolio-wide impact. You will personally drive implementations ranging from proof-of-concepts to production deployments, while simultaneously building a virtual team of AI/Automation specialists across our brands (Princess Polly, Culture Kings, Petal & Pup, mnml). You will define and build out the platform governance, training ecosystem, and organizational structures -setting standards that work across a global, multi-brand operation. This is a unique inflection moment: we have vendor relationships, budget, and executive sponsorship in place. You will architect and build the playbooks, training programs, governance frameworks, and specialist teams that allow AI/automation to become business-as-usual across our enterprise. This is hands-on execution meets organizational scale - a rare opportunity to build something that compounds over years. Key Responsibilities Hands-On Technical Execution (50% of time) Design, develop, and deploy AI/automation implementations across merchandising, marketing, supply chain, retail, and operations; balance quick wins with strategic platform projects Build and iterate proof-of-concepts using Claude Code, n8n, OpenAI, and other tools; evaluate technical feasibility, cost trade-offs, and ROI before scaling Write production code (Python, JavaScript) and review implementation code from team members and partners Architecture and integration: APIs, webhooks, data pipelines, error handling, logging, deployment patterns, and cost optimization Capture and codify what works; build reusable templates, patterns, and decision frameworks that scale across brands Virtual Team Building & Enablement (30% of time) Build and lead a virtual team of AI/Automation specialists across brands Develop and deliver hands-on training programs (workshops, documentation, office hours, certifications) to enable teams to adopt and extend AI tools independently Mentor individual contributors and managers on AI/automation best practices; identify emerging talent and mobilize them to high-impact projects Create and curate AI/Automation communities of practice across the organization; foster peer learning, code sharing, and idea-sharing Set up internal learning infrastructure: wikis, Slack channels, documentation standards, mentorship programs Platform Governance & Strategy (15% of time) Design and operationalize the AI/Automation platform strategy, architecture, and governance framework (building on existing vendor relationships) Manage vendor relationships with Claude/Anthropic, n8n, OpenAI, and emerging vendors; optimize licensing, feature fit, and cost Establish standards for AI ethics, responsible use, data privacy, and risk management; develop governance policies that scale across brands Define success metrics, ROI frameworks, and dashboards; track and communicate impact to leadership and the board Prioritize roadmap: balance quick wins with strategic platform investments; make resource allocation recommendations Change Leadership & Organizational Impact (5% of time) Be the visible change agent and champion for AI adoption; evangelize opportunities and de-risk concerns across the organization Communicate with C-suite and boards on AI strategy, roadmap, and business impact; influence portfolio-level decisions Monitor AI/automation industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging best practices; recommend new tools and methodologies Work with CFO/Finance to forecast AI/automation spend, optimize platform costs, and track ROI Required Qualifications 4-6 years hands-on experience building, deploying, or scaling AI/ML applications or automation tools; demonstrated ability to operate at increasing levels of complexity Proven ability to write and ship production code in Python, JavaScript, or similar; comfortable in full-stack implementation and code review Hands-on proficiency with one or more AI platforms (Claude API, ChatGPT/OpenAI API, or other LLMs); shipped at least one project in production Solid understanding of workflow automation platforms (n8n, Zapier, Make, or similar); experience with API integrations and building multi-step workflows Track record of enabling others, mentoring, documenting, or creating internal tools that scale beyond your own work Experience managing vendor relationships, evaluating SaaS platforms, or negotiating contracts (at any level) Ability to translate between technical detail and business impact; comfort presenting to executives and cross-functional leaders Strong project management and bias-toward-execution; thrives in ambiguous environments with competing priorities Excellent written and verbal communication; creates playbooks, documentation, and training materials Preferred Qualifications Direct experience with Claude, Claude Code, Claude API, or Anthropic products E-commerce, retail, supply chain, or logistics technology background; understands operational complexity at scale First manager or team lead experience; hired, mentored, or grown early-stage technical teams Data warehousing (Snowflake) or analytics platform experience Built internal tools, platforms, or playbooks that became org-wide standards Open source contributions or community participation in AI/automation spaces