Head of AI

Position Title: Head of AI
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Toronto HQ
Requisition ID: 32923
Our Head of AI will lead the strategic design, development, and implementation of AI-driven initiatives to enhance operations, customer experiences, and business decision-making across McCain. This role focuses on leveraging AI including machine learning, Gen AI, and emerging technologies to drive innovation, optimize supply chains, and increase market share.
Key Responsibilities:
AI Strategy & Vision

• Develop and execute a comprehensive AI strategy aligned with the company's business goals.

• Identify emerging AI trends and assess their potential impact on McCain's operations.

• Collaborate with executives to reimagine value chain, process, business capabilities, leveraging Agentic AI and assessing their potential applications within the data product suite and long-term technology roadmaps.

• Identify opportunities to integrate AI into existing value chain to enhance functionality, user experience, and market competitiveness.

Leadership & Team Management

• Build and lead a high-performing AI Product Management team, collaborating with product owners, platform engineers, data engineers, data scientists, functional and domain experts.

• Foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation within the team.

• Mentor and develop junior AI product team members, ensuring technical excellence and professional growth.

• AI Evangelism: be the advocate and evangelist on what is possible with AI.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Support

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including global and regional business functions, engineering, data science, and other technology functions to ensure seamless integration of AI solutions into new and existing systems.

• Engage with external partners, vendors, and academic institutions for cutting-edge AI research and development.

AI Product Development

• Lead the end-to-end AI product development lifecycle, from ideation to launch, ensuring timely delivery and positive ROI.

• Design and deploy AI models and agents to help the organization improve revenue efficiency, new market share across value chains and domains of Agriculture, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Commercial, and corporate functions.

• Create positive digital workforce experience through advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and AI agent recommendation systems.

• Conduct persona research and gather user feedback to identify unmet needs and areas for product and process enhancements, using AI toolkits.

AI Governance

• Ensure all AI initiatives comply with data privacy regulations and ethical standards.

• Establish governance frameworks for AI systems and machine learning models to ensure ethical and responsible use.

• Implement monitoring and validation mechanisms for AI models to maintain accuracy and fairness.

• Collaborate with AI and data science teams to integrate governance practices into the AI lifecycle, from development to deployment.

• Ensure transparency and accountability in AI algorithms and decision-making processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor or master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, or a related field.

• Extensive experience in product management, with a strong focus on AI and machine learning technologies.

• 10+ years of experience in product development in AI and Data products, with 5+ years in a people leadership capacity.

• Proven track record deploying AI solutions within the CPG / retail industry or similar sectors, from concept to market.

• Deep understanding of B2B innovation and R&D, marketing, and consumer behavior / engagement.

• Strong understanding of AI/ML algorithms, frameworks, and tools.

Soft Skills:

• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving capabilities.

• Excellent communication skills for conveying complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

• Proven leadership and team-building abilities.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment.

• Disruptive and growth mindset, yet collaborative with humility and pragmatism.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Define and track KPIs to measure the success and impact of AI initiatives on product performance.

• Successful deployment and adoption of new data products.

• Continuously optimize product features and performance based on data-driven insights and user feedback.

Compensation Package:

• $240,000 CAD annually + bonus eligibility + Long Term Incentive eligibility

The above reflects the target compensation range for the position at the time of posting. Hiring compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education/training, and other organizational needs.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the Global Privacy Policy
Job Family: Information Technology
Division: Global Digital Technology
Department: Global Data and Analytics
Location(s): CA - Canada : Ontario : Toronto
Company: McCain Foods (Canada)