Director of AI Transformation

PartsBadger changes the way people and companies source their custom manufactured parts. We believe in a do-whatever-it-takes attitude to get the job done. We accept the feedback of others and take ownership of our actions. If you are open-minded and ready to be a part of something bigger than yourself with a winning team, continue reading…, PartsBadger is seeking a Director of AI Transformation to lead the strategy and execution of artificial intelligence adoption across our entire organization. This is not a theoretical role - you will be in the trenches with every department, understanding how they work, identifying where AI creates real value, and driving implementation from concept to live deployment.

You will serve as the bridge between our business operations and our software development team, ensuring that the tools we build and adopt actually solve the problems our people face every day. This position reports to the VP of IT.

If you are energized by change, thrive at the intersection of technology and operations, and know how to bring skeptical people along on a journey - this role was built for you.

Work Environment

PartsBadger is a relaxed, casual work environment located in Cedarburg, WI. We are ITAR registered and hold AS9100 and ISO9001:2015 certifications. Our 15,000 sq. ft. facility blends office and production space. We offer fully stocked snack/beverage rooms, free daily lunches, and a 5-hole disc golf course. We continue to develop our space for idea generation and collaborative work., Day to Day

• Embed yourself across all departments - Shop/Production, Sales & Marketing, Engineering/CAM, Finance, and Operations - to deeply understand their workflows, pain points, and opportunities
• Stay current on emerging AI technologies and evaluate their relevance to our business
• Champion a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement
• Lead evaluation, selection, and deployment of AI tools and platforms across the business
• Act as the product lead on behalf of departments to shepherd deployments.

Management

• Translate departmental needs into actionable technical requirements
• Define requirements, set priorities, and ensure solutions are built or integrated to spec
• Oversee testing, rollout, and iteration of AI-powered tools and workflows
• Develop documentation, training, and support materials for each deployment
• Manage change across the organization, driving buy-in at every level
• Report AI program status, wins, and risks directly to VP of IT and executive leadership

Strategic

• Help develop and own the company-wide AI adoption roadmap, aligned with PartsBadger’s growth goals

• 5+ years of experience in deploying technology within departments.
• Demonstrated experience deploying AI or automation solutions in a business environment
• Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts, LLMs, automation tools, and data workflows
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into plain language for non-technical stakeholders
• Proven track record of cross-functional collaboration and influencing without direct authority
• Strong understanding of business functions including, HR, finance, sales, supply chain, production, shipping, etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong project management skills - able to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Adaptable, fast-moving, and comfortable with ambiguity
• Independent problem solver with a bias toward action, * Experience in a manufacturing or industrial operations environment
• Familiarity with ERP, CRM, CAM, or MES systems
• Experience working directly with software development teams
• Background in data science, analytics, or business intelligence
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field

Pulled from the full job description

• Opportunities for advancement, This position is structured to allow for advancement in a variety of areas with flexibility to try new things and challenge your mental boundaries. PartsBadger understands the value of our team and we work hard to nurture creativity and engagement.