Senior Director II, A-2-A

Circana•,

2d•$170,000 - $190,000•Remote

About The Position

Circana is a leading provider of technology, AI, and data solutions for consumer packaged goods companies, manufacturers, and retailers. Our predictive analytics and Liquid Data® platform help clients measure market share, uncover consumer behavior, and drive growth—powered by six decades of expertise and an expansive, high-quality data set. At Circana, we are fueled by our passion for continuous learning and growth, we seek and share feedback freely, and we celebrate victories both big and small in an environment that is flexible and accommodating to our work and personal lives. We’re a global company dedicated to fostering inclusivity and belonging. We value and celebrate the unique experiences, cultures, and viewpoints that each individual brings. By embracing a wide range of backgrounds, skills, expertise, and beyond, we create a stronger, more innovative environment for our employees, clients, and communities. With us, you can always bring your full self to work. Join our inclusive, committed team to be a challenger, own outcomes, and stay curious together. Circana is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. This prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Circana. Learn more at www.circana.com. Role Overview Circana is seeking a Lead for Agent‑to‑Agent (A‑2‑A) Technology to lead the vision, strategy, and architecture for next‑generation AI agent interoperability. This role is accountable for enabling secure, scalable, and seamless collaboration between client‑side AI agents (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Gemini) and Circana’s internal AI ecosystem. As a senior platform leader, the A‑2‑A Lead will define how autonomous and semi‑autonomous agents discover, authenticate, communicate, and transact across enterprise boundaries. Operating at the intersection of AI platform engineering, SaaS integration, and client value creation, this role will shape Circana’s leadership in emerging standards such as Agent Protocol Architecture (APA), Agent‑to‑Agent (A‑2‑A) frameworks, and Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Requirements

15+ years of experience in enterprise SaaS, platform engineering, AI systems, or distributed architectures
7+ years in senior leadership roles (Director, VP, or equivalent) with responsibility for platform strategy and delivery
Deep expertise in AI agent architectures, orchestration frameworks, and LLM-powered systems
Hands-on experience with multi-agent systems, A‑2‑A communication models, and context-sharing protocols (e.g., MCP)
Proven ability to operate at both strategic and technical levels, influencing architecture and execution

Nice To Haves

Experience integrating with major AI ecosystems (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude)
Background in data-intensive, analytics-driven SaaS environments
Experience contributing to or influencing industry standards and open protocols
Strong executive presence with demonstrated success in client-facing and partner-facing roles

Responsibilities

Define and deliver Circana’s enterprise A‑2‑A strategy aligned with business priorities and client needs
Establish Circana as a leader in agent-based collaboration and AI-driven platform ecosystems
Partner cross-functionally (Product, Engineering, Security, Legal, and Client Leadership) to drive adoption and value realization
Own and evolve the reference architecture for A‑2‑A communication across internal and external systems
Lead design and implementation of emerging protocols and standards, including APA, MCP, and A‑2‑A communication frameworks
Ensure robust security, identity management, authorization, policy enforcement, and observability across agent interactions
Enable integration between client-owned AI agents and Circana’s AI platforms
Define APIs, schemas, agent contracts, and governance models for cross-enterprise interoperability
Collaborate with hyperscalers and strategic partners to shape and influence evolving A‑2‑A standards
Build, lead, and scale a high-performing team of platform leaders, architects, and engineers
Establish governance for agent lifecycle management, compliance, risk mitigation, and ethical AI usage
Serve as an executive thought leader in client engagements, industry forums, and partner ecosystems