Business Planning & Operations Lead, Retail AI/ML

Apple • Austin, TX

3d

About The Position

The Business Planning & Operations Lead for Retail AI/ML plays a central role in helping the organization scale its machine learning strategy and execution across Apple’s Retail (online and in-store) ecosystem. This leader operates as a strategic partner to senior engineering and product leadership, ensuring that the Retail AI/ML organization has the planning frameworks, operational discipline, and cross-functional alignment needed to deliver high-impact innovation. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, operations, and organizational leadership. You will help translate long-term AI/ML vision into clear roadmaps, structured planning cycles, and measurable outcomes while ensuring the organization has the capacity, processes, and coordination required to execute effectively. A core part of the role is building trusted relationships across a highly technical organization. You will work closely with leaders across machine learning research, applied ML engineering, data platforms, infrastructure, and product teams to align priorities, manage dependencies, and remove operational friction. Success requires the ability to influence without authority, navigate complex organizational dynamics, and bring teams together around shared goals. You will also lead the development and evolution of the operating model for the AI/ML organization, including strategic planning, agile capacity planning, investment prioritization, and executive reporting. This includes establishing planning cadences, defining success metrics, and ensuring leadership has clear visibility into progress, tradeoffs, and resource allocation across initiatives. Additionally, the role requires strong executive communication and storytelling capabilities. You will synthesize complex technical, operational, and strategic inputs into clear narratives that support leadership decision-making and organizational alignment. This includes preparing executive briefings, developing strategic frameworks, and communicating progress and risks to senior stakeholders. Ultimately, this role is about enabling the Retail AI/ML organization to move faster, operate more effectively, and scale its impact, ensuring that strategy, resources, and execution remain tightly aligned as machine learning capabilities expand across Apple’s products and services.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in transformation initiatives, change management, or management consulting.
• Proven track record of successfully leading and managing large-scale transformation initiatives.
• Experience with various change management methodologies
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field is required
• Analyst background required

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated passion for driving positive change and improving organizational performance.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of the digital/e-commerce landscape and evolving technology
• Proven ability to influence and persuade stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills to achieve positive outcomes.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level