placingITpeople

Manager, AI

Location: Toronto, ON

Hybrid – 3-4 days/week on-site

Type: Full-time Permanent

Industry: Applied AI

Team Size: 8-12 senior-level contributors

Reports to: Director of AI/Data

About the Role

We have partnered with a new fast-growing digital innovation team that is going through hyper-growth.

This group is building cutting-edge, AI-enabled solutions in an agile, product-focused environment.

They are looking for a hands-on, pragmatic, and technically credible AI Manager to lead and scale a highly experienced team of Data Engineers.

This is not a theoretical R&D role. It’s a leadership position!

You will be expected to set direction, build trust, and move fast!

You will help the team deliver meaningful outcomes while shaping how AI integrates across products and platforms.

What You’ll Be Doing

Lead a high-performing AI team made up primarily of senior technical engineers
Define and drive applied AI strategy, working closely with product, design, and engineering leads to shape and ship real-world solutions.
Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to align AI capabilities with product goals and user needs.
Provide technical oversight and guidance across machine learning, deep learning, and NLP projects, especially in ambiguous or high-impact environments.
Translate open-ended problems into structured experiments and scalable solutions.
Build team structure, culture, and process.
Balance long-term growth with immediate delivery needs.
Represent the AI function internally and externally, be the advocate to AI and deliver best practices and elevate standards.

What They Are Looking For

Must-Have:

Proven experience leading AI, ML, or Data Science teams, specifically in a startup, scale-up, or innovation-focused environment.
Hands-on background in machine learning, deep learning, NLP, or applied AI pre-2022. Before AI was a buzzword.
Strong engineering-first mindset, comfortable working closely with senior engineers and technical teams.
Ability to operate in fast-paced, ambiguous, and lightly structured environments.
Track record of cross-functional leadership, especially with product and design.
Experience with AI in production, this MUST include model deployment, monitoring, and iteration.

Nice-to-Have:

Clear, confident communicator, with an ability to translate technical and strategic thinking for stakeholders at all levels.
Prior experience building out team structure, culture, and onboarding processes.
Familiarity with cloud infrastructure, data platforms, or MLOps best practices.

What Success Looks Like

In the first 3-6 months, success will look like:
Gaining trust and alignment across your technical peers and stakeholders.
Setting a clear, actionable plan for team execution and an AI roadmap.
Delivering measurable progress on key initiatives while building sustainable team dynamics.

This role is ideal for someone who is equal parts builder, collaborator, and leader.

Someone who can operate without a rulebook, and who thrives on solving complex problems in close partnership with other smart, driven people.

Location & Work Expectations

Hybrid model: 3-4 days/week in-office in downtown Toronto

Must be eligible to work in Canada

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