Director of AI Strategy and Enablement

Who You Are

You are passionate about helping students achieve their educational goals. You thrive in a competitive and collaborative team environment. You are comfortable working remotely and have experience collaborating with others in a virtual environment. You possess a strong attention to detail.

The Director of AI Strategy and Enablement leads the organization's enterprise AI strategy and establishes and operates the AI Center of Excellence. The role provides centralized leadership for AI governance, adoption, enablement, and value realization. This position partners with business and technology leaders to translate institutional priorities into a well-governed portfolio of high-value AI initiatives. The Director develops practical policies, standards, education programs, and operating models that accelerate innovation while protecting student, employee, and institutional data. Key outcomes include:

• An actionable AI roadmap

• An operational AI Center of Excellence

• A clear and effective AI governance framework

• Measurable adoption and productivity gains

• Clear executive reporting

• Effective management of AI, data, security, compliance, and vendor risk

Compensation

ACE is committed to paying a competitive wage while staying true to our mission of maintaining high quality, affordable programs for our students. The starting salary range for this position is $200,000 plus all full-time employees are eligible for an annual bonus. Offers vary depending on education, prior experience, and expertise being applied to the role.

What We Look for in the Ideal Candidate

• Demonstrates self-reliance by meeting/exceeding workflow needs.

• Demonstrates positive attitude and motivation, concern for students, teamwork, and excellent time management skills.

• Follows established processes as outlined by organization and leadership.

• Completes assigned duties based on daily business needs and individual skill set.

• Consistently produces a high volume of quality work.

• Capable, adapts as needed, to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

• Proven ability to work independently with limited supervision and with other department personnel.

• Must support and embrace the College’s Impact mission to improve the people and communities we serve through our civic engagement initiatives.

• Must have exceptional communication, organization, and time management skills.

• Must be "self-motivated" as well as creative and efficient in proposing solutions to complex, time critical problems.

• Must be collaborative in driving decisions and a team-player.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail.

• Builds and maintains student satisfaction.

• Recognizes and anticipates student needs.

Day to Day Responsibilities

In this role you will wear different hats, but your skills will be especially essential in the following areas:

• Develop and maintain the enterprise AI strategy, roadmap, and investment portfolio aligned with ACE priorities, student outcomes, operational efficiency, and measurable value.

• Establish and operate the AI Center of Excellence, including governance forums, decision rights, intake processes, standards, and cross-functional accountability.

• Lead the AI Steering Committee to prioritize investments, resolve cross-functional decisions, and oversee value realization and responsible adoption.

• Partners with academic and administrative leaders to identify, shape, prioritize, and scale high-value AI use cases based on strategic fit, feasibility, risk, and adoption readiness.

• Guide AI initiatives from discovery through deployment and value realization, coordinating business ownership, delivery, change management, and continuous improvement.

• Define and maintain responsible AI policies, standards, controls, and lifecycle governance for internally developed, purchased, and embedded AI capabilities.

• Maintain the enterprise AI inventory and coordinate risk/impact assessments with Security, Privacy, Legal, Compliance, and Data Governance.

• Deliver executive- and board-ready reporting on portfolio health, adoption, value realization, student/employee impact, risk, and control effectiveness.

• Advance AI literacy, role-based training, change management, and responsible adoption in partnership with HR, communications, and functional leaders.

• Evaluate platforms and vendors, build the AI strategy and governance capability, serve as a trusted advisor to executives, and monitor relevant regulatory and industry developments.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, data science, business, risk management, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered

• 8+ years of progressive experience in technology, data, digital transformation, analytics, risk, product, or strategy roles, including significant responsibility for enterprise-wide initiatives.

• 3+ years of experience leading AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, automation, responsible AI, or AI governance programs in a complex organization.

• Demonstrated success translating strategy into prioritized roadmaps, operating models, policies, and measurable business outcomes.

• Working knowledge of generative AI, machine learning lifecycles, data governance, privacy, cybersecurity, model risk, vendor risk, and cloud-based AI platforms.

• Experience designing or operating cross-functional governance, risk assessment, approval, monitoring, and value realization processes.

• Proven ability to communicate complex AI opportunities and risks clearly to executives, boards, and both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Strong leadership, change management, analytical, financial, and program execution skills in a remote, matrixed environment.

• Experience in higher education, education technology, or another regulated environment is preferred.

• Familiarity with recognized AI governance and risk frameworks (e.g., NIST AI Risk Management Framework, ISO/IEC 42001) and relevant credentials (e.g., IAPP AIGP, ISACA AAIR/CRISC, cloud AI certifications, ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer/Auditor) strongly preferred.

Our Commitment to Employees

Just as we strive to empower our students for success, we also aim to enrich the lives of our employees. For 6 consecutive years, ACE was recognized as one of Indiana’s Best Places to Work, winning the #1 spot for medium-sized companies in 2020. In addition, ACE has earned national recognition since 2022 for being a USA Today Top Workplace. As a virtual first organization, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a family-like inclusive work environment. For our full-time employees, we offer the following benefits:

• Medical, dental, & vision Insurance

• HSA and FSA options

• Paid parental leave

• Paid volunteer time

• Tuition reimbursement & reduction programs

• Generous PTO

• 401k and employer match

• Full-service wellness and EAP program

• Employee recognition and awards programs

• Employer paid life & AD&D insurance

• Short-term disability

• Employer paid long-term disability

• And more…

Physical Demands

The physical demand described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with and receive communications from students and ACE employees in real time using online and other electronic media.

Commitment to Culture

At American College of Education, we’re all about building a one-of-a-kind, supportive community where everyone—students, faculty, and staff—can thrive. Guided by our mission and values, we focus on everything from innovative curriculum design to personalized instruction and student support to intentional planning, inclusive initiatives, and strategic resource allocation. We’re dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates freedom of expression, diversity of thought, open dialogue, and mutual respect. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and wellness so that every member of our ACE family feels empowered, valued, and ready to reach their full potential. Together, we’re creating a vibrant, resilient, and connected learning community where everyone matters.

Additional Notes