The Chief AI Officer (CAIO) will be a visionary and strategic leader responsible for defining, developing, and executing the company's enterprise-wide Artificial Intelligence strategy. This role will drive the responsible and ethical integration of AI technologies across all facets of CP Axtra's operations, including e-commerce, merchandising, supply chain, store operations, customer service, and corporate functions. The CAIO will be instrumental in leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences, optimize business processes, drive innovation, and unlock new revenue opportunities, solidifying CP Axtra's position as a technology-driven retail leader.

Responsibilities

AI Strategy and Vision:

1. Develop and articulate a comprehensive, long-term AI strategy aligned with CP Axtra's overall business objectives and growth initiatives.

2. Identify key opportunities for AI to create competitive advantage, drive efficiency, and enhance customer and associate experiences.

3. Stay abreast of cutting-edge AI research, emerging technologies (e.g., Generative AI, Reinforcement Learning, Advanced Robotics), and industry best practices

AI Implementation and Integration:

4. Oversee the design, development, and deployment of AI/ML models and solutions across various business units (e.g., personalized shopping, demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, supply chain optimization, AI-powered associate tools).

5. Collaborate closely with technology, product, merchandising, supply chain, store operations, and marketing teams to identify use cases and ensure seamless integration of AI solutions.

6. Establish scalable AI infrastructure,

Data Strategy and Governance:

7. Partner with data leadership to ensure the availability, quality, and governance of data essential for AI model training and performance.

8. Advocate for robust data privacy, security, and ethical AI practices across all AI initiatives.

Team Leadership and Talent Development:

9. Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of AI researchers, machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI product managers.

10. Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous learning within the AI organization.

11. Drive AI literacy and adoption across the broader organization.

Innovation and Research:

12. Champion internal AI research and development initiatives.

13. Evaluate and manage strategic partnerships with external AI technology providers, academic institutions, and startups.

14. Identify and pilot disruptive AI technologies that could redefine retail. Ethical AI and Responsible Deployment:

15. Establish and enforce ethical AI principles and guidelines, ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems.

16. Proactively identify and mitigate potential biases or risks associated with AI deployments. 17. Ensure compliance with relevant data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA). Performance Measurement and ROI:

18. Define clear metrics and KPIs for AI initiatives, tracking and reporting on their business impact and return on investment.

19. Optimize AI solutions based on performance data and business feedback.

Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related quantitative field. Master's or Ph.D. preferred.

2. Minimum of 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in AI/ML, data science, or advanced analytics, with at least 5-7 years in a senior executive or equivalent role within a large, complex organization, preferably in retail, e-commerce, or a similar high-volume consumer-centric industry.

3. Proven track record of defining, building, and deploying impactful AI solutions at enterprise scale.

4. Deep expertise in various AI/ML techniques, including deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, reinforcement learning, and predictive analytics.

5. Experience with large-scale data platforms, cloud-based AI services (Azure, GCP, AWS), and MLOps.

6. Familiarity with ethical AI frameworks and responsible AI development practices.

7. Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

8. Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.

9. Business acumen with a deep understanding of retail operations, supply chain, merchandising, and customer engagement.

10. Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business insights.

11. Demonstrated ability to attract, develop, and retain top AI talent.

12. Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment.