VP, AI Center of Excellence

Sphera is a leading global provider of enterprise software and services that enables companies to manage and optimize their environmental, health, safety and sustainability. Our mission is to create a safer, more sustainable and productive world.

Sphera is a portfolio company of Blackstone, a U.S.-based alternative asset investment company that focuses on private equity, technology and innovation, and more. Blackstone businesses succeed through strong partnerships, a personalized approach and a commitment to exceptional performance with uncompromising integrity. Sphera and Blackstone are leaders in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) space.

We are guided by our core values of Customer Centricity, Accountability, Bias to Action, Innovation, and Collaboration. These values help us recruit the right talent to join our rapidly expanding team around the globe. It is important to us that each and every Spherion is not only eager to challenge themselves and knows how to get work done but is an awesome addition to our company culture.

Sphera is seeking a hands-on Vice President of Artificial Intelligence to establish and lead the company’s AI Center of Excellence (COE) and drive the deployment of artificial intelligence solutions across the organization. This role will build and run Sphera’s AI COE and directly lead the implementation of AI-driven tools, workflows, and capabilities across engineering, product, operations, and corporate functions.

This is a builder role and will report to the CTO. The position works closely with executive leadership to shape and execute Sphera’s AI adoption strategy while ensuring initiatives translate into practical, scalable implementations. The AI COE Leader will be accountable for identifying high-impact use cases, prototyping solutions, deploying production implementations, and measuring business impact.

Key Responsibilities

Build and Operate the AI Center of Excellence

• Establish and operate Sphera’s AI Center of Excellence, including defining the operating model, priorities, and success metrics.
• Build and lead a small execution-focused team responsible for prototyping and delivering AI solutions across the company.
• Deliver an organizational AI implementation framework that enables technical and non-technical teams to adopt and scale AI solutions.

Identify and Deliver AI Use Cases

• Partner with business and product leaders across the organization to identify high-value AI use cases that improve productivity, reduce manual work, or enhance customer experience.
• Rapidly prototype solutions using modern AI tools such as LLMs, copilots, automation platforms, and analytics models.
• Convert successful prototypes into production-grade deployments integrated into existing systems and workflows.
• Maintain a prioritized pipeline of AI initiatives and track implementation progress.

Hands-On Implementation

• Work directly with engineering and product teams to embed AI capabilities into software products and internal platforms.
• Evaluate emerging AI tools and platforms through rapid experimentation and proof-of-concepts.
• Translate prototypes into secure, scalable deployments in collaboration with engineering and IT teams.

Enable AI Adoption Across the Organization

• Develop internal AI playbooks, best practices, and implementation standards to accelerate adoption.
• Deliver working sessions and training to help teams apply AI within their workflows.
• Partner with security, compliance, and IT teams to enable responsible AI experimentation while maintaining governance and data protection standards.
• Serve as the organization’s internal AI practitioner and advisor, helping teams move from ideas to implementation.

Technology Evaluation and Vendor Management

• Evaluate AI platforms, APIs, and emerging technologies to determine enterprise applicability.
• Lead proof-of-concepts and pilot programs for new AI tools.
• Manage relationships with AI vendors and platforms while ensuring solutions deliver measurable ROI.
• Maintain a balanced portfolio of commercial AI tools and internally built solutions.

Measurement and Business Impact

• Track adoption and measurable outcomes across AI deployments.
• Report progress, ROI, and upcoming initiatives to executive leadership.
• Ensure AI initiatives deliver tangible operational improvements, productivity gains, or product enhancements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience building AI-driven systems.
• 8+ years of experience in technology leadership, product development, or platform engineering roles.
• At least 2+ years of hands-on experience implementing applied AI solutions.
• Demonstrated experience building and deploying AI-powered workflows, tools, or automation systems.
• Familiarity with LLMs, AI APIs, automation platforms, and ML-based analytics.
• Comfortable personally prototyping and implementing AI solutions using modern AI tooling and APIs.
• Experience operating in fast-moving technology organizations where rapid experimentation and deployment are required.
• Ability to translate complex AI capabilities into practical business solutions and measurable outcomes.

Key Attributes

• Demonstrates alignment with Sphera’s mission to help organizations create a safer, more sustainable, and productive world through practical application of technology and data-driven insight.
• Execution-oriented leader who focuses on delivering measurable outcomes and turning innovation into scalable operational solutions.
• Hands-on technologist who is comfortable prototyping, experimenting, and translating emerging AI capabilities into production-ready implementations.
• Collaborative leader who builds trusted partnerships across engineering, product, operations, and business teams to drive enterprise impact.
• Customer- and outcome-focused mindset with the ability to apply AI to solve real operational, compliance, and sustainability challenges.
• Curious and continuous learner who stays current on emerging AI technologies and applies them responsibly to improve decision-making and organizational performance.

Pay:

$203,000.00 - $323,000.00 + Eligible for Variable Compensation Plan

Commensurate with relevant qualifications and experience

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Health Savings Account

• Flexible Spending Account

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match

• Life and Disability Insurance

• Critical Illness Insurance

• Accident Insurance

• Hospital Indemnity Insurance

• Paid Time Off and Holidays

• Flexible Working Schedule

Sphera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all colleagues. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application or recruiting process, please email us at [email protected] to make your request. To help us best respond, please include your name and the position you are applying for in your message.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.