Senior Director AI Lab

About Lumen

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Together, we are building a culture and company from the people up – committed to teamwork, trust and transparency. People power progress.

We’re looking for top-tier talent and offer the flexibility you need to thrive and deliver lasting impact. Join us as we digitally connect the world and shape the future.

The Role

As the Sr Director of Commercial Excellence - AI LABS, you lead a dedicated team in identifying, developing, and implementing AI solutions to transform and drive continuous improvements across business processes and ways of working within the AGT organization.  

The AGT Commercial Excellence Function is tasked with (1) building new operating models, (2) operationalizing new capabilities, and (3) reengineering existing business processes using AI technologies. The goal of these three tasks is to drive productivity gains in Sales and CS across all GTM segments – Large Enterprise, Mid-Market, Global Partner Sales, Wholesale, and Public Sector. 

The Sr Director reports to the Vice President of Commercial Excellence and plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing AI initiatives and programs aligned to with AGT’s three-year strategic plan.

The Main Responsibilities

• Identify high impact opportunities where AI technologies can streamline existing processes and improve outcomes – speed, level of effort, cost.
• Reengineer and optimize existing workflows by integrating AI technologies into core processes and workflows.
• Lead the team in designing, developing, and deploying AI/ML models and automation tools, ensuring solutions are scalable, robust, secure and adhere to governance.
• Collaborate closely with IT, Data Science, Operations, and Business Analyst teams to gather requirements and integrate AI solutions into the existing technology stack.
• Lead, mentor and manage a team of 2-4 AI specialists and 2-4 business/operations analysts or process engineers. Provide guidance, set clear objectives, and foster skill development.
• Act as a change agent in AGT for AI-driven workflows. Collaborate cross-functionally to develop communications plans and training programs to help employees adapt to the new tools and processes.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of AI initiatives on business outcomes.
• Uphold responsible AI practices by ensuring solutions adhere to ethical guidelines, data privacy regulations, and fairness
• Stay abreast of emerging AI technologies, tools, and best practices. Continuously research and evaluate new AI developments (such as advanced machine learning algorithms, generative AI, etc.) for potential application in the company
• Regularly report progress of AI initiatives to senior leadership and other stakeholders. Communicate successes, lessons learned, and opportunities in a clear, non-technical manner

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent years of experience and expertise. Master’s or relevant advanced degree is preferred. 
• 12+ years of experience in roles involving technology-driven process improvement, with at least 3-5 years in AI/ML projects or digital transformation initiatives
• Strong knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts (supervised, unsupervised learning, NLP, computer vision, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with AI development frameworks and tools (such as Python, R, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, PyTorch) and familiarity with data pipelines and big data technologies (SQL, Spark, Kafka)
• Deep understanding of business process analysis and redesign. Able to quickly grasp different operational workflows and identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks.
• Experience linking AI solutions to business strategy and demonstrating tangible business value (e.g., cost reduction, revenue growth, customer satisfaction improvements).
• Proven project management skills – capable of running multiple projects in parallel using agile or hybrid methodologies. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver complex projects on schedule.
• Excellent analytical thinking to interpret large datasets and model outputs. Creative problem-solving aptitude to tackle complex process challenges with AI-driven solutions
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal. Able to translate complex AI concepts into plain language for diverse audience
• Enthusiasm for continuous learning and staying current with technological advancements. Adaptable to rapidly changing tools or project requirements. A track record of implementing new technologies or driving innovation in a dynam