Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Integration & Optimization

Bealls • Bradenton, FL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Bealls, Inc. seeks to redefine the retail experience through AI. The VP of AI Integration & Optimization will lead enterprise-wide adoption and activation of artificial intelligence, bridging business strategy, guest experiences, data science, and technology operations. This leader will build a repeatable Integration & Optimization engine to transform experimentation into scaled high-ROI impact across Stores, Merchandising, Supply Chain, and Digital. This opportunity blends retail experience, strategic transformation leadership and hands-on orchestration. It requires a leader who can connect the art of what’s possible in AI with the discipline of change management, governance, and measurable business outcomes. AI Integration & Optimization is the connective tissue between innovation and impact. This leader ensures that Bealls Inc. teams, whether at corporate or in stores, understand, trust, and harness AI safely and effectively. The VP of AI Integration & Optimization's vision will guide departmental use AI to enhance decisions, enrich associate experiences, and serve guests better every day.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in data, analytics, and digital transformation, including 5+ years leading AI/ML Integration & Optimization or Centers of Excellence in a multi-unit retail or consumer business.
• Proven success driving AI adoption at scale, from ideation to measurable ROI, across distributed field and corporate teams.
• Deep familiarity with GenAI and classical ML use cases under governance, compliance, and disclosure requirements.
• Strong grasp of AI risk frameworks, model explainability, bias mitigation, and vendor due diligence.
• Skilled in organizational change leadership—able to align diverse stakeholders, influence without authority, and translate technical concepts into business narratives.
• Strong industry presence with deep AI peer relationships
• Adept communicator and network builder with VP-to-SVP executive presence; experienced engaging cross-functional leaders in a matrixed organization.
• Familiarity with emerging AI agents, vendor-native integrations, and enterprise adoption lifecycle metrics.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading AI transformation programs at top retail innovators preferred.
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Data Science, or Organizational Transformation strongly preferred.
• Passion for helping teams work smarter, faster, and more creatively through ethical and human-centered AI.
• Experience in tokenization, blockchain, digital currency, crypto, and digital assets would be a plus.

Responsibilities

• Establish a unified AI intake and prioritization process, integrating governance, security, and value case evaluation; publish the first Bealls quarterly AI Roadmap.
• Deliver 3–5 scaled AI wins (examples\: service optimization, assortment planning, workforce forecasting, lease/real-estate insights).
• Stand up AI adoption dashboards and communities of practice, tracking use-case maturity, skill development, and value delivery.
• Work with CFO to create an AI evaluation ROI model
• Work with Security to prioritize identified Risk Framework opportunities.
• Publish the first quarterly AI Governance Roadmap.
• Operationalize AI training programs by function, extending Bealls Inc. AI skills curriculum into department based, hands-on learning tracks.
• Lead AI Integration & Optimization Engine\: Drive the enterprise AI Integration & Optimization operating rhythm, including the AI Council, quarterly business value reviews, and monthly showcases.
• Drive Change Adoption\: Develop and institutionalize playbooks, clinics, and “day-in-the-life” AI patterns that embed new tools into core workstreams.
• Partner Across Functions\: Collaborate with company-wide SVPs and business VPs to translate strategic goals into practical AI initiatives aligned with company practices.
• Vendor & Risk Governance\: Partner with Security, Privacy, Legal, and Procurement to de-risk AI vendors under the Bealls Inc. AI Policy and Responsible AI framework.
• Measure Impact\: Create enterprise-level visibility into adoption, productivity, and value realization through standardized dashboards and quarterly reports.
• Champion Integration & Optimization Culture\: Foster curiosity, inclusion, and learning through internal showcases, cross-functional communities, and partnerships with academia and retail peers.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• We provide weekly pay and comprehensive benefits, health and wellness perks, including paid time off and retirement saving plans because associate well-being is a priority.
• We offer corporate associates the flexibility of hybrid work schedules, with variations by department.

What This Job Offers

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