AI Innovation Specialist

Job Overview

At Lakeshirts, we build AI‑driven solutions to streamline operations and improve quality. This AI Innovation Specialist role identifies, tests, and pilots AI opportunities across the business.

Reporting to the IT manager, the specialist works across departments to transform ideas into practical AI solutions.

• Research, evaluate, and pilot emerging AI tools and technologies relevant to Lakeshirts’ business operations.
• Identify opportunities where AI can reduce manual effort, improve quality, or accelerate output in partnership with department teams.
• Design and run structured AI pilots, document results, and present clear recommendations to the IT manager.
• Build and test AI prompts, workflows, and automation scripts to validate concepts before broader rollout.
• Partner with the IT manager to prioritize AI initiatives and communicate progress to leadership.
• Stay up to date on new and existing AI tools, models, and best practices and bring relevant insights back to the team.
• Support team members across the organization in understanding and effectively using new AI tools.
• Collaborate with departments and teams to understand their work and explore where AI fits in existing processes.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the company’s value of Team.

• 1+ years of experience working with AI tools, automation platforms, or emerging technology in a business setting.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate, test, and clearly communicate the value of new technologies.
• Strong analytical thinking, able to spot inefficiency and frame an AI solution without over complicating it.
• Hands‑on experience with AI platforms, prompt engineering, or automation tools (no Computer Science degree required).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to present findings to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Curious and collaborative, comfortable working alongside different teams to generate ideas and create lean processes.
• Manufacturing, operations, or apparel industry experience is a plus.

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Salary range: $50,000–$70,000 per year based on experience. Additional benefits include health, dental, vision, short‑term and long‑term disability, critical illness coverage; 401(k) retirement plan; up to 22 paid days off in the first year; flexible work schedules; and an onsite cafeteria with subsidized breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

• Must be able to see, hear, read, write, and adapt to a variety of tasks.
• Requires analytical, decision‑making, and multiple‑priority handling abilities.
• Physical demands:
  None beyond standard office work; occasional light lifting (up to 25 lbs.) may be required.