AI COE

Job Summary

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Build and steward an operating model for AI adoption across businesses and functions
• Develop and execute a comprehensive AI strategy that aligns with business objectives
• Drive the development of AI-powered products and services that deliver measurable business value
• Partner with digital leaders across business units to identify and prioritize AI opportunities
• Create frameworks for evaluating, prioritizing, and scaling AI initiatives

Collaboration & Partnership Management

• Work closely with legal, privacy, and security teams to ensure responsible AI implementation
• Collaborate with our technology teams to connect data, infrastructure, platforms, and integrations
• Partner with transformation teams to identify and execute process transformation opportunities enabled by AI
• Leverage native AI capabilities within existing enterprise platforms (ERP, CRM, data lakes) while ensuring interoperability
• Manage relationships with external partner network to source capacity, services, and accelerators
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between business units and technical teams

Knowledge Management & Scaling

• Capture and document successful AI practices, lessons learned, and best practices
• Establish and scale AI development standards, reusable frameworks, and best practices across business units and technical teams
• Create systems for sharing knowledge and preventing duplication of efforts across business units
• Develop benchmarking data and performance metrics for AI initiatives
• Establish processes for scaling proven approaches across the organization

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Engage with business leaders to understand their productivity and growth challenges
• Translate complex AI concepts into business value propositions for various stakeholders
• Develop compelling narratives and presentations to secure buy-in and support
• Provide subject matter expertise and guidance on AI opportunities and implementations

Operational Excellence

• Establish governance frameworks for AI projects and initiatives
• Create standardized processes for AI project lifecycle management
• Develop training programs and resources to build AI literacy across the organization
• Monitor and measure success of AI initiatives against business objectives

Required Qualifications

Experience & Background

• Ten or more (10+) years of experience leading data, AI, machine learning, or analytics teams
• Proven track record of building and scaling AI/ML solutions in enterprise environments
• Significant experience in digital transformation initiatives and process reengineering
• Experience working in cross-functional roles with business and technical stakeholders
• Background in establishing and operating centers of excellence or similar centralized functions
• Demonstrated success in driving organizational change through technology-enabled process transformation
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Business, or a related quantitative field

Technical Expertise

• Deep understanding of AI/ML technologies, platforms, and implementation approaches
• Experience with data architecture, infrastructure, and integration challenges
• Knowledge of AI governance, ethics, and responsible AI practices
• Familiarity with enterprise technology ecosystems and digital transformation
• Proven experience working with large commercial enterprise platforms (ERP, CRM, enterprise data lakes, etc.)
• Expertise in leveraging native AI/ML capabilities within enterprise platforms in an interoperable manner
• Understanding of API integration, data orchestration, and platform-to-platform connectivity

Leadership & Communication Skills

• Strong product mindset with ability to define and deliver value-driven solutions
• Excellent communication and storytelling abilities
• Proven ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all organizational levels
• Experience advising senior executives and boards on AI strategy, with the ability to translate complex concepts into actionable business decisions

Industry Knowledge

• Understanding of manufacturing, CPG, or related industries preferred
• Experience with regulatory and compliance requirements in global organizations
• Knowledge of innovation processes and product development lifecycles

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree (e.g., MBA, MS in AI/ML) or equivalent professional experience is strongly preferred.
• Consulting or advisory experience in AI/digital transformation
• Experience with flavors, fragrances, ingredients, or biosciences industries
• Track record of successful large-scale organizational change management
• Experience with global, multi-business unit organizations

Success Metrics

• Success in this role will be measured by:
• Acceleration of AI adoption across business units
• Reduction in duplicated efforts and improved resource efficiency
• Measurable business impact from scaled AI initiatives
• Stakeholder satisfaction and engagement scores
• Development of reusable frameworks and best practices

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more