The Sr. Manager, Applied AI is responsible for leading the identification, development, and deployment of AI-enabled solutions across the enterprise. This role operates at the intersection of business operations, technology, and innovation, with a primary focus on applying AI to boost growth, improve revenue and efficiency, reduce cost, and enhance decision-making across key functions.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The Sr. Manager will act as both a builder and a leader, directly designing and implementing AI-powered workflows while guiding the development of a small, high-impact team. The role partners closely with executive leadership and functional teams across Operations, Clinical, Finance, Compliance, and HR to translate business challenges into practical, scalable AI solutions.

This position is not focused on research or model development. Instead, it is centered on pragmatic application of AI tools, automation, and system integrations to drive measurable business outcomes.

Principal Responsibilities:

AI Opportunity Identification & Prioritization

• Conduct structured discovery across business functions to identify high-impact AI and automation opportunities

• Develop and maintain a prioritized backlog of initiatives based on business value, effort, and risk

• Build business cases that connect AI solutions to measurable outcomes such as cost savings, efficiency gains, and risk reduction

• Partner with executive stakeholders to align priorities with organizational goals

Solution Design & Hands-On Delivery

• Design, build, and deploy AI-enabled workflows, including prompt-based solutions, re-usable AI skills, automation pipelines, and system integrations

• Act as a primary builder for initial solutions, developing proofs of concept and scaling successful implementations

• Evaluate and select appropriate tools and platforms based on business needs and organizational scale

• Integrate AI solutions with enterprise systems such as ATS platforms, Workday, CRM systems, and other operational tools

• Rapidly prototype, test, and iterate on solutions to deliver value quickly

Applied AI Execution & Scaling

• Lead execution of AI initiatives from concept through deployment and adoption

• Establish repeatable frameworks for deploying AI solutions across functions

• Identify opportunities to standardize and scale successful use cases

• Ensure solutions are maintainable, scalable, and aligned with business workflows

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Establish and maintain governance frameworks for AI usage, including data privacy, compliance, and auditability

• Ensure AI solutions meet regulatory and internal policy requirements, particularly in a healthcare and compliance-driven environment

• Partner with Legal and Compliance teams to define acceptable use policies and risk mitigation strategies

• Ensure outputs are explainable, defensible, and aligned with business and regulatory expectations

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnership

• Partner with leaders across Operations, Clinical, Finance, HR, and Compliance to understand business challenges and co-develop solutions

• Translate complex technical concepts into clear, business-relevant insights and recommendations

• Communicate progress, outcomes, and ROI of AI initiatives to executive leadership

• Drive alignment between business needs and technology capabilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage and mentor a small team of AI practitioners, starting with one direct report and scaling as ROI is demonstrated

• Foster a hands-on, builder-oriented team culture focused on delivery and impact

• Support skill development in AI tools, automation, and process design

• Participate in hiring and team expansion as the function grows

Adoption, Training & Change Management

• Drive adoption of AI solutions through training, enablement, and stakeholder engagement

• Develop documentation, guides, and best practices to support sustained usage

• Establish feedback loops to continuously improve solutions and user experience

• Ensure solutions are effectively embedded into day-to-day operations

Education and Certifications:

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field

• Preferred: Advanced degree or relevant certifications in AI, analytics, or technology

Required Experience:

• 5–10 years of experience in business operations, consulting, enterprise technology, or related roles with a focus on process improvement and technology adoption

• Demonstrated experience building and deploying AI-enabled solutions in a business environment

• Experience designing and implementing automation workflows, integrations, or system-based solutions

• Ability to operate independently and own the full lifecycle of solutions from discovery through deployment and measurement

• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect technical solutions to financial and operational outcomes

• Experience working in small to mid-sized organizations with limited resources and high ownership expectations

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience working with senior leadership

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in healthcare, staffing, or other regulated industries

• Background in consulting or transformation roles

• Experience with AI tools and platforms such as LLM-based tools, Copilot, OpenAI APIs, or workflow automation platforms

• Familiarity with enterprise systems such as ATS platforms, CRM systems, or Workday

• Working knowledge of APIs, integrations, and data workflows

• Experience with data analysis tools such as SQL, Excel, or BI platforms

Success Metrics:

• Identification and delivery of high-impact AI use cases with measurable ROI

• Reduction in manual processes and operational inefficiencies

• Adoption and sustained usage of AI-enabled workflows across the organization

• Speed and effectiveness of solution delivery from concept to production

• Establishment of scalable frameworks for AI implementation

• Development and growth of a high-performing Applied AI team

Location:

This role is hybrid for candidates located within a reasonable commuting distance to our Edmond, OK or Frisco, TX offices. Candidates outside a reasonable distance from either office are eligible for a fully remote arrangement.

Compensation:

• The expected base salary range for this position is $145,000 to $162,000 annually. The final compensation offered will be determined based on a number of factors, including but not limited to skills, qualifications, experience, and location.