Managing Director - Artificial Intelligence

Hines•Houston, TX

About The Position

When you join Hines, you will embark on a career journey fueled by vision and guided by leaders who set the standards of our industry. Our legacy is rooted in innovation and excellence, earning us a spot on Fast Company’s esteemed annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024. Discover endless opportunities to grow and make your mark at Hines. The AI Officer will be responsible for the overall AI strategy and implementation across the organization. This role will work closely with stakeholders to identify opportunities for AI-driven innovation, develop comprehensive AI strategies, and oversee the execution of AI initiatives. The AI Officer will ensure the firm remains at the forefront of AI advancements while adhering to ethical standards in AI deployment.

Requirements

Degree in computer science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related field is preferred.
Ten or more years in a senior technical leadership role.
Proven track record of successfully leading AI initiatives and projects in a corporate setting.
Experience in building and managing high-performing AI teams.
Deep understanding of AI technologies.
Hands-on experience with modern data platforms and data products (e.g., Databricks, data lakes/lakehouses) to support AI, analytics, and data science initiatives.
Experience with big data technologies and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to influence and drive change across the organization.
Knowledge of AI ethics and governance.
Familiarity with industry-specific AI applications and use cases.
Strong business acumen and understanding of how AI can drive business value.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Develop and articulate the company’s AI vision and strategy in alignment with business goals.
Identify AI opportunities across various business functions and develop strategic plans to leverage AI for competitive advantage.
Collaborate with committees and other senior leaders to integrate AI into the firm’s overall strategic plan.
AI Implementation: Oversee the end-to-end implementation of AI projects, from ideation to deployment.
Ensure that AI solutions are scalable, robust, and aligned with the company’s technological infrastructure.
Drive the adoption of AI technologies to optimize processes, enhance customer experience, and create new revenue streams.
Team Leadership: Reshape and lead the firm’s AI task force to align with the new strategic vision.
Build and lead a high-performing AI team.
Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and ethical AI practices within the team.
Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to team members.
AI Data Strategy: Define and lead the AI data strategy to ensure high-quality, reusable data assets for AI and machine learning use cases.
Build and operate AI-ready data platforms and data products (e.g., Databricks, Data Lakes and Lakehouse architectures) that support model training, inference, and experimentation at scale.
Partner closely with data and research teams to ensure AI data solutions scale across the organization, enable reuse, and avoid creating silos across teams and functions.
Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with department heads to understand their needs and develop AI solutions that address specific business challenges.
Communicate AI strategies and initiatives to internal and external stakeholders.
Promote a firm-wide understanding of AI capabilities and limitations.
AI Governance and Ethics: Establish governance frameworks to ensure responsible and ethical AI usage, in partnership with Legal and Compliance departments to align with organizational policies and applicable laws.
Develop policies and procedures to manage AI risks, including data privacy, bias, and transparency, in coordination with Legal and Compliance departments to ensure adherence to regulatory and organizational standards.
Stay abreast of regulatory developments related to AI and ensure compliance with all relevant laws and standards.
Research and Development: Keep the firm at the cutting edge of AI advancements by fostering partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and AI communities.
Oversee the development of proprietary AI technologies and intellectual property.
Monitor AI trends and emerging technologies to inform the firm’s AI strategy and serve as an ambassador for the firm’s AI initiatives in the market.