AI Specialist VBP

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* This position is contingent upon contract award*

Virginia Beach, VA (Onsite or Hybrid depending on department policy).

The City of Virginia Beach is seeking a skilled and forward-thinking AI Specialist to support the development, deployment, and maintenance of artificial intelligence solutions that enhance municipal operations and public service delivery. This role focuses on applying AI technologies - such as machine learning, natural language processing, predictive analytics, and intelligent automation to solve operational challenges, improve efficiency, and support data driven decision making across city departments.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with a commitment to ethical, transparent, and responsible AI use in the public sector.

AI Solution Development & Implementation.

• Design, develop, and deploy AI models, tools, and applications that support city operations.
• Build machine learning pipelines, NLP models, and predictive analytics solutions using structured and unstructured data.
• Support the integration of AI capabilities into existing enterprise systems, workflows, and cloud platforms.
• Conduct model testing, validation, and performance tuning to ensure accuracy and reliability.

• Analyze datasets to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for AI enabled improvements.
• Prepare, clean, and transform data for model training and evaluation.
• Collaborate with data owners to ensure data quality, accessibility, and compliance with city policies.

• Monitor AI systems in production, retrain models as needed, and maintain documentation for transparency and auditability.
• Troubleshoot AI related issues and coordinate resolution with IT teams and vendors.
• Provide technical support and training to staff using AI tools and applications.

• Ensure all AI solutions comply with city policies, cybersecurity standards, and ethical guidelines
• Support responsible AI practices, including fairness, transparency, explainability, and human oversight.
• Collaborate with city departments to identify use cases, gather requirements, and translate operational needs into AI solutions.
• Participate in cross departmental AI initiatives, innovation projects, and modernization efforts.

• Must be a US citizen.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field; OR 4 or more years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• 2-5+ years of experience in AI/ML development, data science, or advanced analytics.
• Proficiency with Python, SQL, and AI/ML frameworks (e.g., Tensor Flow, PyTorch, Scikit learn).
• Experience with data modeling, feature engineering, and model evaluation techniques.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with responsible AI principles and data governance practices.
• Successful background and drug screening check.

• Experience working in local government, public sector IT, or civic tech environments.
• Knowledge of municipal operations, public service workflows, or government data systems.
• Experience with cloud-based AI services (Azure AI, AWS AI, Google Cloud AI).
• Familiarity with workflow automation, RPA tools, or AI enabled service platforms.
• Certifications in AI/ML, data engineering, cloud technologies, or analytics.

• Analytical and Critical Thinking
• Technical Problem Solving
• Ethical and Responsible AI Awareness
• Public Service Orientation & Accountability

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The majority of the time is spent in an office setting.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance, vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

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