As the Vice President of AI at SmarterTravel, you will play a pivotal role in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to revolutionize the travel industry. Your leadership will guide cross-functional teams in developing AI-driven solutions that enhance user experiences and unlock new possibilities. The ideal candidate boasts a profound understanding of AI technologies, exceptional leadership acumen, and a fervent drive to transform the travel landscape through data-driven insights.

Job Duties: 

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, data analysts, and customer service to orchestrate the development and implementation of AI-driven features and solutions.

• Define the AI strategy and roadmap, harmonizing them with business objectives and user requirements to yield impactful outcomes.

• Explore and evaluate cutting-edge AI technologies, frameworks, and tools, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of industry trends.

• Supervise the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models for tasks like personalization, recommendation, and predictive analytics.

• Identify AI opportunities in collaboration with stakeholders, enhancing operational efficiency, customer engagement, and business expansion.

• Lead cross-functional teams in driving A/B testing, hypothesis validation, and iteration cycles to refine AI models continuously.

• Present AI insights and findings to non-technical stakeholders, exerting influence on decision-making and fostering AI adoption across the organization.

• Adhere to AI ethics and guarantee that AI solutions adhere to data privacy and regulatory requisites.

Required Education, Training, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field; Master's degree or PhD preferred.

• [1]+ years of experience in AI, machine learning, and data science, with a proven track record of leading AI-driven projects.

• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, R, or similar for developing and deploying AI models.

• Experience with AI libraries and frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.

• Solid understanding of AI concepts, including natural language processing, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and more.

• Previous experience in leading and managing teams, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.

• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex challenges and develop AI-based solutions.

• Effective communication skills to present technical concepts to diverse audiences and influence decision-making.

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and experience working in cross-functional teams.

• A passion for staying updated with AI advancements, ethics, and best practices.

• Previous experience in the travel industry is a plus, but not required.

SmarterTravel’s Leadership Principles

• Take Big Swings - Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders strive to spend their time exclusively on what’s important, and they shed the rest. They seek out the highest return on their team’s time and effort.

• Data-Driven - Leaders work backward from the solution to generate plans. They use data to be sure their time and effort are always leveraged at the most impactful work. They admit when they are wrong and use the data to eliminate their blind spots.

• Make Moonshine - Leaders create value from spare and under-utilized parts. They’re resourceful and tenacious. They expect and require innovation and invention from their teams, and they find ways to simplify. They are situationally aware; they look for good ideas from anywhere.

• Insist on the Highest Standards - Leaders keep the standards relentlessly high. They demand high-quality products, services, and processes because they deliver high-quality products, services, and processes. Leaders solve root problems and ensure that when problems get fixed, they stay fixed.

• Bias for Action - Leaders run everywhere they go. Many decisions and actions are reversible and don’t need extensive study. Leaders value calculated risk-taking because they know that in business, speed wins.

• Have Integrity; Earn Trust - Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. They are vocally self-critical, even when doing so is difficult or embarrassing. Leaders are not arrogant. They benchmark themselves against the best and identify their gaps.

• Hire and Develop the Best - Leaders raise the bar with every hire and promotion. They want to work with other leaders. They recognize exceptional talent and enthusiastically propel them throughout the organization. Leaders are serious about their role in coaching others.

• Ownership - Leaders think long-term and don’t sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They own all the inputs to their business. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team.

• Disagree and Commit - Leaders respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or awkward. They have conviction; they do not compromise in the name of social niceties. Once a decision is reached, they commit wholly.

• Dive Deep - Leaders operate at once with immense perspective and granular detail. No task is beneath them. They audit frequently, and they are skeptical when metrics and anecdotes differ.

• Deliver Results - Leaders focus their time on the key drivers for their business. They pursue them obsessively to deliver results with the right quality and in a timely fashion. They rise to the occasion and never compromise.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to thisfication.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.  Other duties may be assigned.  The Company reserves the right to revise the functions and duties of the job or to require that additional or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments).