Ai Practice Lead

Summary

Join Aequilibrium as their AI Practice Lead and spearhead their AI strategy. You will establish and oversee the AI Center of Excellence, driving innovation across internal and client projects. This leadership role demands a strong technical AI background, exceptional client engagement skills, and the ability to align AI initiatives with business objectives. You will lead the development of reusable AI frameworks, deliver high-value AI solutions, and foster an AI-first culture. Working closely with financial institutions and internal teams, you will position Aequilibrium as a trusted AI solutions provider. This is a remote position open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents only.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in AI, data science, or related fields, with at least 3 years in a leadership role
• Proven track record of successfully delivering AI-driven solutions that generate measurable business value
• Proven experience working for tech professional services companies. Consultative, able to come up with tailored solutions to meet customer needs. Strong client engagement skills, with the ability to lead workshops, present to executives, and build long-term client relationships
• Deep understanding of AI technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, predictive analytics, and generative AI
• Strong understanding of natural language processing (NLP) techniques and tools, including transformers, embeddings, and tokenization
• Familiarity with LLM frameworks and APIs, such as OpenAI, Hugging Face, or Google AI
• Proficiency in AI tools and platforms, such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar frameworks
• Skilled in fine-tuning, deploying, and integrating LLMs into enterprise solutions to deliver measurable business outcomes
• Hands-on experience with Large Language Models (LLMs), such as OpenAI’s GPT, Google’s Bard, or similar, and understanding their applications, limitations, and ethical considerations
• Deep understanding of generative AI models, including their architecture, training, and deployment (e.g., GPT, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion)
• Experience in fine-tuning and customizing generative AI models for specific business use cases, such as content generation, customer engagement, or operational efficiency
• Proficiency in building scalable data pipelines and infrastructure to support AI initiatives
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and tools like Kubernetes, Docker, and Terraform for deploying AI solutions
• Strong predictive modeling and analytics skills, particularly for financial services (e.g., credit risk analysis and customer behavior prediction)
• Ability to leverage AI for strategic planning and decision-making through actionable insights
• Familiarity with AI governance, ethical AI practices, and regulatory compliance
• Strong data infrastructure knowledge, including data pipelines, cloud platforms, and big data technologies
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and align cross-functional teams
• Ability to engage with C-level executives, clients, and internal teams to align AI initiatives with business objectives
• Strong communication skills to articulate complex AI concepts to non-technical stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute AEQ's AI strategy, ensuring alignment with the company's goals of diversification, innovation, and growth
• Establish and oversee the AI Center of Excellence (CoE) to drive innovation, scalability, and governance for AI initiatives
• Collaborate with the executive team to define and achieve financial targets and monitor key metrics, such as the number of paid engagements and pilot success rates
• Lead client workshops, pre-sales engagements, and AI readiness assessments to identify opportunities for AI integration
• Provide strategic consulting to clients, helping them define and execute AI initiatives that deliver measurable business outcomes
• Oversee the development and deployment of high-value AI projects, such as AI-powered chatbots, predictive analytics, and operational efficiency tools
• Support the creation of reusable AI frameworks and accelerators to streamline client project delivery and reduce costs
• Foster an AI-first culture within AEQ by leading internal training programs, workshops, and initiatives to upskill employees in AI tools and techniques
• Drive internal AI adoption by identifying and executing pilot projects with clear business impact (e.g., HR analytics, project tracking)
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate AI into AEQ's existing solutions and processes, enhancing operational efficiency and innovation
• Hire, mentor, and manage a team of AI specialists, including data scientists, AI engineers, and ethics specialists, to build a robust AI practice
• Partner with universities and training programs to establish an AI talent pipeline through internships and fellowships
• Develop and implement an onboarding curriculum for new hires to align them with AEQ's AI-supported development practices
• Position AEQ as a thought leader in AI by contributing to webinars, case studies, and blog posts that showcase AEQ's expertise and success stories
• Represent AEQ at industry events, such as WCUC and AI World Summit, to promote the company's AI capabilities and attract new clients
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop promotional materials, including brochures, pitch decks, and targeted campaigns

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in financial services, education, or digital transformation industries
• Knowledge of AI applications in financial services, such as credit risk analysis, customer behavior prediction, and operational efficiency
• Experience in developing LLM-powered chatbots, summarization tools, or content generation systems
• Knowledge of ethical considerations and governance frameworks for LLMs, including bias mitigation and data privacy
• Experience delivering AI projects in agile environments, ensuring scalability and adaptability to changing client needs
• Familiarity with MVP (Minimum Viable Product) approaches to demonstrate quick wins and secure buy-in
• Familiarity with digital banking platforms (e.g., Backbase, EbankIT, Veripark) and their integration with AI solutions

Benefits

• Fully remote work
• Competitive compensation rates
• 4 weeks of paid vacation (for employees only)
• 5 paid sick days (for employees only)
• 4 weeks sabbatical leave after three consecutive years of service (for employees only)
• Fully paid extended health benefits
• Bonus programs
• Training and career development opportunities
• Regular in-person social events for employees/contractors based in/around Vancouver, BC, or Toronto, ON