Director, Artificial Intelligence

Requisition ID: 108968

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People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.

We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $40 to $42 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.

American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Position Information

Salary Range: $128,540 - $204,860

The base salary range represents a good faith salary range for this position. This position is eligible for annual incentive pay and has the opportunity for continued salary growth. If you are hired at American Water your base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as market, geography, skills, education and/or experience. At American Water, we are committed to pay equity. In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more!

American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!

Primary Role

The Director, Artificial Intelligence is a strategic leadership role responsible for creating and managing enterprise-wide AI initiatives. This role champions the effective use of technology and data as a strategic asset, driving innovation through AI, GenAI, Agentic AI and Machine Learning to optimize operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and drive innovation within the utility sector. This role teaches and guides first while aligning data and AI strategies with business and technology objectives, fostering a data-driven culture, and ensuring ethical, compliant, and impactful deployment of AI technologies across the organization to support the company’s focus of delivering high-quality, safe, and reliable water and wastewater services.

Key Accountabilities

- Teach and lead, all levels of the business, AI tools and techniques

- Develop and execute the organization’s AI strategy, ensuring high-quality, secure, and accessible data assets.

- Lead the deployment of AI and machine learning solutions to enhance business processes, products, and services.

- Break down silos to promote literacy / fluency across the organization and help establish responsibility and ownership for data quality and security

- Drive innovation by identifying opportunities for AI to create and drive value.

- Collaborate with executive leadership to integrate data and AI initiatives into overall business strategy.

- Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing data and AI team.

- Design and develop data an AI organization and operating model, including but not limited to center of excellence (CoE) constructs

- Manage relationships with external partners, vendors, standards bodies and research institutions to stay at the forefront of AI advancements.

- Monitor and evaluate emerging data and AI technologies and methodologies for potential adoption.

- Ensure ethical AI practices, addressing bias, transparency, and accountability.

- Contribute to and lead the delivery of business and technology transformation programs

- Develop and manage data KPIs/OKRs and lead monthly reviews with executive leadership to align on value and future needs

- Report on data and AI initiatives’ performance, impact, and ROI to stakeholders

Knowledge/Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Role Specific:

- Strong expertise in AI, GenAI, machine learning, deep learning, and related technologies.

- Deep understanding of data pipelines, management, architecture, and governance frameworks.

- Knowledge of data privacy laws, regulations in the utilities industry, and ethical AI principles.

- Familiarity with cloud data platforms, big data technologies, and analytics tools.

- Awareness of industry standards, trends and emerging AI innovations.

- Understanding of utilities business operations and strategic planning

- Experience with multi-functional, multi-phase transformation programs

- Strong cross-functional leadership

- Presents data in an organized manner

- Ability to develop a strategy and set a vision, and be seen as a thought leader

- Confident in presenting to the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Directors as well as leaders across all business units

Self-Management

- Delegates to team members well

- Entrepreneurial spirit

- Strong adherence to deadlines and commitments

- Willing to hold others accountable who are not in line of reporting

- Strategic thinker

Skills:

- Strategic thinking and vision setting.

- Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business language.

- Good presentation skills engaging a variety of audiences from the frontlines to the ELT.

- Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

- Ethical judgment and integrity in AI deployment.

- Project management expertise with a focus on large-scale enterprise initiatives.

- Innovation mindset with a continuous learning approach.

- Highest personal and professional integrity and strong work ethic.

- Ability to articulate vision of transformation efforts and a sense of mission.

- Demonstrated ability to manage adversity and challenging situations.

- Ability to manage senior relationships across all the Business and Functional areas.

- Effectiveness in building trust, respect, and cooperation among teams.

Experience/Education

- Proven experience (15+ years) in data management, analytics, and AI development. - Demonstrated success (5+ years) in leading cross-functional teams and managing large-scale data and AI projects.

- Experience in developing and implementing enterprise-wide data strategies.

- Track record of deploying AI solutions that deliver measurable business value.

- Experience working with regulatory compliance related to data and AI.

- Experience working with technology ecosystem vendors (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google, Snowflake, Databricks, others)

- SAP experience is a plus.

- Prior experience in utilities or understanding of the utilities industry is preferred.

Education:

- Master’s or Doctorate degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or related fields.

- Additional certifications in Data Management, AI, or related areas (e.g., Certified Data Management Professional, AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty).

Certifications & Licenses

Certified Data Management Professional

Travel Requirements

As necessary

Work Environment

Primarily in an office environment

Competencies

Drives Safety Culture

Drives Vision & Purpose

Strategic & Learning Agility

Political & Organizational Savvy

Builds Effective Teams & Network

Situational Adaptability

Persuades

Join American Water...We Keep Life Flowing™

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.