Fordham University is looking to architect its AI transformation to advance its academic mission and operational excellence by creating an AI ecosystem that enhances teaching, accelerates research, and transforms how the community learns, works, and discovers.
Requirements
- Masters degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field with significant AI/ML focus.
- Minimum of 8 years of progressive leadership experience in AI/ML initiatives, including, for example, predictive modeling, data analytics, computer science, information systems, sciences, etc.
- Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide technology transformations in complex organizations.
- Strong technical foundation in generative AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics with the ability to translate technical concepts for diverse audiences.
- PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field with significant AI/ML focus
- Familiarity with AI maturity models and enterprise AI frameworks.
Responsibilities
- Designs and implements generative AI solutions for academic and administrative applications, including LLM deployments, prompt engineering strategies, and custom AI model development.
- Develops and deploys machine learning models for predictive analytics in areas such as student success, enrollment management, research outcomes, and operational efficiency.
- Leads hands-on proof of concepts and pilots for emerging AI technologies, working directly with technical teams to validate feasibility and scalability.
- Builds production-ready AI/ML pipelines and ensures robust MLOps practices for model deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
- Provides technical guidance on AI infrastructure requirements, tool selection, and integration with existing university systems.
- Defines and communicates a comprehensive AI vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap for the university, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and the university’s three strategic pillars and leads enterprise-wide AI strategic planning, establishing frameworks for AI governance, ethics, and responsible use across academic and administrative domains.
- Shapes and coalesces AI use cases across diverse university constituencies, integrating existing AI initiatives into a cohesive enterprise strategy that addresses the university’s business challenges and opportunities and delivers measurable value and competitive advantage by establishing metrics and KPIs to measure AI value realization and ROI, creating dashboards and reporting mechanisms for stakeholder visibility.
Other
- Serves as the university’s primary AI thought leader, co-designing education programs and communication strategies with subject experts to demonstrate and help implement practical AI applications across the institution.
- Champions practical AI applications across the university, building bridges between early adopters and technology-hesitant groups to ensure inclusive adoption.
- Supervises the work of other Fordham employees who are individual contributors. Responsible for hiring, training and developing, managing performance and administering corrective action. Has significant input in compensation decisions.
- Builds and leads a high-performing Enterprise AI team while coordinating existing university-wide AI committees and working groups.
- Collaborates effectively with academic deans, department chairs, administrative leaders, and faculty governance to navigate complex stakeholder relationships.
