Leads the enterprise AI control tower, managing intake, prioritization, funding alignment, portfolio visibility, governance, and value realization. Partners with executives across Finance, Strategy, Technology, Data, Risk, Legal, and business units to evaluate AI opportunities, prevent duplication, track investment outcomes, and recommend portfolio trade-offs. Establishes AI operating models, reporting, KPIs, business cases, and executive decision forums while coordinating centralized and business-unit-owned AI initiatives.
The Director, AI Strategy & Portfolio Management will establish and operate the enterprise control tower for AI demand, prioritization, investment alignment, portfolio visibility, and value realization across Acosta Group. This leader will ensure AI opportunities are captured, assessed, sequenced, funded, and tracked consistently across Transformation programs and BU/function-specific initiatives.
The role supports the AI CoE operating model of central guardrails, federated execution, and portfolio-driven scaling by making sure Acosta Group invests in the highest-value AI opportunities, avoids duplication, and connects AI activity to measurable business outcomes.
Responsibilities- Establish and operate the enterprise AI intake, triage, prioritization, and portfolio management process.
- Create clear prioritization criteria for AI demand, including business value, strategic alignment, feasibility, risk, data readiness, reuse potential, funding needs, and transformation dependency.
- Maintain enterprise visibility into AI initiatives across Transformation programs, corporate functions, and Business Units.
- Partner with Finance, Strategy, Transformation, Technology, and BU leaders to define AI value cases, benefit assumptions, investment asks, and funding alignment.
- Develop and manage AI portfolio reporting, status views, executive dashboards, decision forums, and leadership-ready updates.
- Prevent duplication by identifying opportunities to reuse existing AI solutions, agents, models, accelerators, data products, and technical patterns.
- Establish value tracking practices for AI initiatives, including target value, realized value, adoption indicators, productivity impact, and benefits validation with business owners.
- Coordinate AI portfolio governance with architecture, data, cyber, legal, responsible AI, and risk review processes.
- Support AI CoE engagement with major transformation programs by clarifying what gets built centrally, what is program-funded, and what remains BU-owned.
- Prepare executive recommendations on AI portfolio trade-offs, sequencing, investment priorities, and capability gaps.
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Strategy, Management, Economics, Technology Management, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- Preferred Certifications such as PMP, PgMP, PMI-PBA, SAFe, Lean Portfolio Management, Prosci, Strategy Execution, Product Management, or equivalent.
- 12 or more years of experience in strategy, management consulting, digital transformation, enterprise transformation, portfolio management, program management, business architecture, innovation, or related disciplines.
- 5 or more years of leadership experience driving enterprise strategy, transformation portfolios, technology investment planning, AI strategy, digital programs, or business value realization initiatives.
- Strong understanding of Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, machine learning, agentic AI, copilots, intelligent automation, data and analytics, and emerging technology trends.
- Experience developing enterprise strategies, operating models, transformation roadmaps, investment priorities, and multi-year business capability plans.
- Strong business acumen with demonstrated ability to identify, assess, and prioritize high-value AI and automation opportunities aligned to strategic business objectives.
- Experience building business cases, value realization frameworks, ROI methodologies, funding models, and executive investment recommendations.
- Ability to translate complex business challenges into measurable AI-enabled transformation initiatives with clear outcomes, benefits, and success metrics.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives spanning business units, technology, data, operations, finance, and external partners.
- Experience establishing and monitoring portfolio KPIs, operational metrics, adoption metrics, business outcomes, and strategic performance indicators.
- Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills with the ability to drive consensus across executive leaders, business unit leaders, and technology teams.
- Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and executive communication skills, including the ability to communicate strategic concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Job may require moderate physical effort including lifting materials and equipment weighing less than 15 pounds. This position involves viewing a computer monitor for more than 30% of the time. Personal protective equipment may need to be worn. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Acosta Group is a collective uniting the most trusted retail, marketing, and foodservice agencies—Acosta, ActionLink, CORE Foodservice, CROSSMARK, Mosaic, Premium Retail Services, and Product Connections. Together, we connect consumers with the brands they love through omnichannel selling, merchandising, brand advocacy, and integrated marketing.
We recognize our associates are the foundation of our success. That’s why we prioritize your growth, development, and well-being to help you reach your full potential. With programs designed to support a fulfilling work-life balance, we offer opportunities that fit your lifestyle and ambitions—whether you’re looking for part-time flexibility or full-time career advancement.
Ready for a career path that’s as unique as you? Discover your path at Acosta Group!
Acosta Group is an equal opportunity employer and will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [email protected]. Be sure to include "Applicant Accommodation" in the subject of your email to expedite the request.
Acosta Group believes in good faith that the minimum and maximum annual salary or hourly compensation range for this opportunity is accurate and reasonable at the time of posting.
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