VP of AI Strategy and Implementation

Who are we?

Buyers Edge Platform stands at the forefront of revolutionizing the foodservice industry through technology, purchasing power and partnerships. We are dedicated to empowering stakeholders across the entire foodservice ecosystem (operators, distributors, manufacturers) with efficiency and unprecedented visibility. With a diverse portfolio of over a dozen brands, our mission is clear: to reduce costs, streamline the foodservice supply chain, and propel the industry from manual to automated.  

Today, we are one of the largest players in foodservice, with over 200K operator locations across North America and over $50 billion of aggregated spend volume. Our commitment to foodservice excellence is proven in four distinct areas of value: Digital Procurement Network, Fresh Solutions, Supply Chain Management, and Software. Buyers Edge Platform is not just a provider – we are a strategic partner on the journey towards a more efficient, connected, and automated future for the foodservice industry.

This position can be hybrid out of our Lake Worth, FL; Waltham, MA; or Chicago, IL offices, or it can be remotely based with the ability to travel 10-15% dependent on location. We are unable to offer work sponsorship for this role. 

As the VP of AI Strategy and Implementation at Buyers Edge Platform, you will lead our AI transformation and shape the future of our business through innovative AI solutions. This is an exciting opportunity to develop and execute a forward-thinking AI strategy that aligns with our global objectives, driving operational excellence, enhancing data capabilities, and delivering actionable insights. You'll achieve this by collaborating cross-functionally across our platform of brands to integrate AI technologies into our operations, ensuring they deliver measurable value while upholding the highest standards of responsibility and ethics.

Your impact:

AI Strategy & Vision  

• Own the end-to-end delivery of AI initiatives, from strategic vision to measurable business outcomes.
• Craft and champion a comprehensive AI strategy that aligns with Buyers Edge Platform’s long-term business goals.  
• Identify high-impact AI opportunities across departments to optimize processes and improve decision-making.  
• Anticipate emerging AI trends and technologies, positioning the company to leverage future advancements.  
• Partner with senior leadership and data teams to ensure AI initiatives support organizational priorities.  
• Work closely with the product team to understand user behaviors and needs.
• Define and track KPIs to measure the success and business impact of AI projects.

AI Implementation & Operations  

• Lead the deployment of AI solutions, such as predictive analytics for supply chain optimization, natural language processing (NLP) for customer insights, and robotic process automation (RPA) for operational efficiency.  
• Ensure AI models are scalable, reliable, and secure, collaborating with data science, engineering, and IT teams for seamless integration into existing systems.  
• Establish best practices for AI development, testing, and monitoring to maintain top-tier performance standards.

Governance, Ethics & Compliance  

• Develop and enforce an AI governance framework that prioritizes transparency, fairness, and accountability.  
• Implement risk management protocols to mitigate bias and ensure compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).  
• Promote ethical AI practices that align with company values and industry standards.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Change Management  

• Assemble and inspire a diverse, high-performing AI team, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.  
• Drive AI adoption by implementing training programs to enhance AI literacy and tool proficiency across the organization.  
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, translating complex AI concepts into actionable business strategies.  
• Lead change management efforts to ensure smooth integration of AI technologies, securing buy-in from all stakeholders.

Innovation & Research  

• Cultivate an environment of experimentation, encouraging the exploration of cutting-edge AI techniques and technologies.  
• Forge partnerships with external research institutions, technology vendors, and industry leaders to stay ahead of AI advancements.  
• Assess build-vs.-buy options for AI tools, ensuring the company adopts the most effective solutions for its needs.

About you:

• Technical Expertise:  
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and SQL.  
• Advanced knowledge of database architecture and schema design.  
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).  
• Proven expertise with large language models (LLMs), including prompting and fine-tuning, and predictive AI for time series challenges.  

Leadership & Strategic Skills:  

• Exceptional ability to align AI strategies with business objectives and drive organizational change.  
• Strong project management experience, including Agile methodologies.  
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to convey complex AI concepts to non-technical audiences.  

Ethics & Governance:  

• Deep understanding of AI ethics, bias mitigation, and explainability techniques.  
• Experience developing governance frameworks for responsible AI use.

Business Impact: Leverage AI to enhance operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and revenue growth, contributing to company success.  

Strategic Leadership: Collaborate with the executive team to align AI initiatives with organizational goals, using data-driven insights to solve complex challenges.  

Innovation Mindset: Champion experimentation and adaptability, driving transformative change in a dynamic environment.  

Team Leadership: Lead with integrity and emotional intelligence, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture while mentoring talent for current and future needs.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, Business, or a related field (PhD preferred).  
• 8+ years of experience in AI, data science, or digital transformation, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role.  
• Proven success implementing AI strategies in fast-paced, innovative environments (e.g., start-ups or high-growth tech companies).  
• Extensive knowledge of machine learning, NLP, generative AI, and automation technologies.  
• Expertise in AI governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance.  
• Strong business acumen with a track record of communicating AI value to non-technical stakeholders.

What's in this for you? 

Amazing coverages to start. Medical, dental, and vision coverages are just the beginning! We also offer ancillary plans, such as flexible spending accounts for both health and dependent care, critical illness, accident, and voluntary life as well as company paid life and long-term-disability plans! On top of this, we also offer a 401(k) plan with company match.

Invest in your success. We will provide you with a thorough training and development program; and offer competitive compensation.

Live well = Work well. Relax with our Personal Responsibility Paid Time Off policy where you don’t have to accrue time off in order to take

We welcome all.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.