Senior Director, Data and AI

Our digital solutions team is more than a traditional IT organization. We are a team of passionate, collaborative, agile, inventive, customer-centric, results-oriented problem solvers. We are intellectually curious, love advancements in technology and seek to adapt technologies to drive Staples forward. We anticipate the needs of our customers and business partners and deliver reliable, customer-centric technology services.

The Senior Director, Data Product and AI Delivery defines and executes the enterprise strategy, operating model, portfolio, and delivery roadmap for data products, data platforms, artificial intelligence, and data-driven transformation. This leader converts business priorities into scalable, secure, governed, and adopted data and AI solutions that improve decisions, automate work, strengthen customer and partner experiences, and deliver measurable value. The role leads a strategically important, business-critical function through Directors, Senior Managers, and Managers, with accountability for portfolio governance, responsible AI, platform modernization, resource allocation, investment planning, and production delivery.

• Define and execute the enterprise strategy and multi-year roadmap for data products, data platforms, machine learning, generative AI, advanced analytics, and intelligent automation.
• Translate business priorities into product portfolios, investment plans, operating objectives, delivery roadmaps, and measurable outcomes.
• Own the data and AI product lifecycle from intake and prioritization through funding, delivery, adoption, optimization, and retirement.
• Prioritize investments based on strategic alignment, business value, customer impact, feasibility, risk, readiness, and total cost of ownership.
• Translate AI strategy into production-ready applications for Supply Chain, Marketplace, and other business workflows.
• Partner with business, Product, Engineering, Architecture, Security, Legal, Privacy, Risk, and Finance leaders to deliver scalable solutions.
• Establish enterprise standards and operating models for data products, responsible AI, data quality, stewardship, privacy, security, and model governance.
• Guide modernization of cloud data platforms, AI platforms, architecture, integrations, observability, and model operations.
• Monitor portfolio delivery, adoption, reliability, financial performance, risk, and realized business value.
• Develop multi-year investment plans, annual budgets, capacity plans, workforce strategies, and vendor roadmaps.
• Lead strategic vendor selection, contract negotiations, performance management, and remediation.
• Lead Directors, Senior Managers, Managers, product leaders, and multidisciplinary data and AI teams while building an inclusive, accountable, outcome-oriented culture.
• Recruit, coach, develop, and retain leaders, and maintain succession and development strategies for critical leadership and technical roles.

• Strategic leadership with the ability to develop and execute enterprise data and AI strategies.
• Executive communication skills and the ability to translate complex data, AI, technology, investment, and risk topics into clear business terms.
• Stakeholder influence and the ability to build alignment and drive results across functions and leadership levels.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect data and AI investments to measurable business outcomes.
• Change leadership experience and the ability to guide enterprise transformation and sustained adoption.
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex, ambiguous, and high-impact situations.
• Talent leadership with a track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing leadership teams.
• An innovation mindset focused on identifying and scaling practical, responsible data and AI solutions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, Business, Technology Management, or a related field or equivalent work experience.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in data products, data platforms, analytics, artificial intelligence, technology strategy, digital transformation, product management, or a related field.
• 7+ years of formal people management experience.
• 5+ years leading Directors, Senior Managers, or equivalent leaders.
• 5+ years leading enterprise-scale transformation, product portfolio, platform modernization, or AI delivery initiatives.
• Experience leading at least one enterprise transformation or product portfolio spanning three or more business functions, business units, or operating domains.
• Experience owning a multi-year data, AI, platform, or digital product strategy that included objectives, investments, governance, roadmaps, and outcomes.
• Experience delivering at least two production data, analytics, automation, machine learning, or AI capabilities with defined adoption and business outcome measures.
• Experience presenting strategy, investment, portfolio, or risk…