Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation and Project Manager | Shaner Hotels

The AI Innovation and Project Manager is responsible for establishing and guiding Shaner Hotels’ artificial intelligence initiatives. This role represents a strategic investment in our mission to enhance operational efficiency, improve guest and employee experiences, and create new opportunities for workforce development.

The ideal candidate is both strategic and hands-on—able to translate complex AI concepts into actionable business strategies, manage the full lifecycle of AI projects, and foster a culture of data-driven innovation across the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and champion a long-term AI roadmap aligned with Shaner’s mission and business goals.
• Identify high-impact AI use cases across guest experience, information technology, finance and accounting, workforce development / HR, sales and marketing, revenue management, e-commerce, and operations.

Operational Implementation

• Serve as the primary technical resource within the IT department for AI initiatives.
• Lead the identification, prototyping, and implementation of AI-powered solutions that improve efficiency and deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Collaborate with internal and external technical resources to deploy and maintain AI systems.

Data and Analytics

• Collect, clean, and analyze organizational data to generate actionable insights that support decision-making.
• Build and apply statistical and machine learning models for purposes such as guest segmentation, demand forecasting, pricing optimization, and service personalization.
• Support integration of AI outputs into dashboards and reports for executive and operational use.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Act as a liaison between the AI function and all internal departments.
• Communicate complex data findings and AI capabilities in clear, accessible language for non-technical audiences.
• Build trust and buy-in for AI initiatives through transparent communication and measurable results.

Governance and Ethics

• Maintain and enforce the company’s AI Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to ensure responsible, ethical, and compliant AI practices.
• Establish data protection and bias monitoring standards, ensuring appropriate human oversight for all AI-generated outputs.

Training and Literacy

• Promote organization-wide understanding of AI capabilities and limitations.
• Design and deliver hands-on training for employees to use AI tools effectively in daily tasks and decision-making.

Safety and Compliance

• Promote an environment of workplace safety, ensuring duties are performed in compliance with safety standards and regulations.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Data Analytics, or a related technical field.
• Master’s degree in a related field preferred.
• Combination of related experience—including internships, co-ops, or relevant professional work—required.
• Proven experience in data analysis, statistical modeling, and hands-on work with AI or large language model (LLM) tools.
• Demonstrated success leading AI projects and collaborating with cross-functional departments.
• Strong knowledge of Generative AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), LLMs, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
• Familiarity with leading AI platforms such as OpenAI, Azure ML, Google Vertex AI, UiPath, and Power Automate.
• Experience developing or managing the deployment of AI models in real-world business environments (MLOps experience a plus).

 

Skills, Abilities, and Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in Python; familiarity with AI and machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch preferred.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau), statistical analysis, and database management.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts in plain language.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and project management skills; ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Confident public speaker with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Fast learner, adaptable to new systems and technologies.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively across teams.
• Occasional travel required; must possess a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

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