Delivery Head – AI & Robotics Solutions for Manufacturing

# Role Summary:

As the **Senior Delivery Head**, you will play a pivotal role in the executive team, owning the end-to-end delivery of AI, machine learning, and robotics projects that directly impact manufacturing efficiency and effectiveness. You will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for project delivery, optimizing processes, and managing a multidisciplinary team of QA experts, system integrators, and project managers. This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, deep technical knowledge, and strong leadership to achieve operational excellence and deliver transformative solutions in a complex industrial environment.

1. Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Define and Drive Delivery Strategy: Develop and execute a forward-thinking delivery strategy that aligns with our corporate vision to automate manufacturing processes with AI. Create and communicate a long-term roadmap for delivery excellence, anticipating industry changes and evolving client needs.
• Align with Business Objectives: Work closely with the AI Head and executive team to ensure that project delivery aligns with overall business objectives, maximizing impact and value creation for the company and its clients.
• Thought Leadership: Represent the company in industry forums, conferences, and with key clients. Establish the company as a leader in AI-powered manufacturing automation and champion best practices and innovation in project delivery.

2. End-to-End Project Management

• Comprehensive Project Oversight: Oversee the complete project lifecycle from planning to execution to post-delivery support. Develop robust project governance frameworks to track progress, ensure accountability, and align with project goals.
• Resource Allocation: Allocate resources across projects to balance capacity with demand. Coordinate with hiring teams to recruit and onboard the best talent for scaling project delivery efficiently.
• Risk Management and Issue Resolution: Establish proactive risk management practices. Quickly identify, address, and resolve any project challenges or obstacles to maintain project timelines and client satisfaction.

3. Quality Assurance and System Integration

• Excellence in Quality Assurance: Lead and maintain high standards for QA in both software and hardware aspects of AI and robotics solutions. Oversee the QA teams to implement industry-leading validation and testing practices, ensuring product safety, reliability, and compliance.
• Integration Leadership: Lead and coordinate system integration activities, ensuring compatibility and cohesion between AI models, robotics systems, edge devices, and manufacturing environments. Manage complex dependencies between subsystems to deliver a seamless end-to-end solution.
• Industry Standards & Compliance: Ensure all projects meet relevant industry standards (ISO, CE, etc.), and internal and regulatory compliance requirements, safeguarding our reputation and client trust.

4. Team Leadership and Development

• Build and Nurture a High-Performing Team: Recruit, develop, and retain top talent within the delivery, QA, and integration teams. Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Mentorship and Talent Development: Provide mentorship and coaching to emerging leaders, fostering a growth-oriented environment. Implement professional development initiatives to build technical expertise and leadership skills within the team.
• Performance Management: Define clear objectives and performance metrics for team members, ensuring alignment with company goals. Conduct regular performance reviews and provide feedback to foster high levels of engagement and productivity.

5. Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders, maintaining transparent communication and managing expectations. Build and sustain trust with clients by addressing their needs, concerns, and goals.
• Customized Solutions for Client Success: Collaborate with clients to deeply understand their business requirements. Adapt our solutions to fit client-specific needs, positioning our AI and robotics systems as invaluable assets in their manufacturing processes.
• Continuous Improvement Based on Feedback: Establish mechanisms to gather and act on client feedback. Integrate insights into delivery processes and solution offerings to ensure continuous improvement and client satisfaction.

6. Process Optimization & Innovation

• Optimize Delivery Processes: Continuously evaluate and refine delivery processes to increase efficiency, scalability, and speed-to-market. Implement lean and agile methodologies to enhance adaptability and responsiveness.
• Innovate with Advanced Technologies: Leverage cutting-edge tools, such as AI-driven project management systems, real-time analytics, and workflow automation to optimize operations. Stay updated with advancements in AI and robotics to integrate best practices.
• Champion Agile Transformation: Drive the adoption of agile practices to improve flexibility and responsiveness in project delivery, adapting to changing client needs and industry demands.

7. Financial Management & Operational Accountability

• Budget Oversight: Oversee budget allocation and financial tracking across projects. Optimize resource utilization to ensure financial efficiency while delivering high-quality results.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Define, measure, and report on KPIs related to delivery timelines, budget adherence, client satisfaction, and team productivity. Regularly present performance metrics and improvement plans to the executive leadership team.
• Vendor & Contract Management: Manage relationships with vendors and contractors, ensuring they deliver on time and meet quality standards. Review contracts to guarantee compliance with project specifications and objectives.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related technical field. An MBA or equivalent experience in senior leadership is strongly preferred.

Experience:

• 15+ years of experience in project delivery and operations within AI, robotics, or industrial automation, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven success in delivering large-scale, high-impact projects in manufacturing or related industries, with an emphasis on AI and robotics integration.
• Deep understanding of quality assurance, system integration, and risk management in complex technical projects.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic Vision: Ability to see the big picture, create long-term plans, and guide teams toward strategic goals.
• Leadership: Strong track record of building, mentoring, and managing high-performance, cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Technical Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of AI, machine learning, robotics, edge computing, and related technologies, with a strong grasp of integration challenges.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of interacting effectively with stakeholders at all levels and simplifying complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical skills to identify issues, evaluate solutions, and make data-driven decisions.
• Financial Acumen: Proficiency in budgeting, cost control, and financial tracking related to project delivery.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Industry Experience: Proven experience in industrial automation, manufacturing, or related sectors where AI and robotics solutions are applied to enhance operational efficiency and automate human tasks.
• Project Management and Quality Certifications: Certifications in project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, and Agile) and quality management (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean) are highly valued.
• Regulatory Compliance: Familiarity with regulatory standards and compliance requirements in manufacturing environments, including safety, quality, and environmental standards.
• DevOps Expertise: Strong understanding of DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, automation frameworks, and infrastructure as code. Experience implementing DevOps in large-scale AI and robotics projects, with a focus on enhancing collaboration between development and operations for efficient deployment and maintenance.
• Agile Methodologies: Hands-on experience with Agile frameworks (e.g., Scrum, Kanban), including the ability to lead Agile transformations and drive iterative development processes. Skilled in adapting Agile practices to the specific requirements of AI and robotics projects to maximize flexibility, speed, and client responsiveness.
• Open-Source Technologies: Familiarity with open-source tools and frameworks used in AI, machine learning, DevOps, and robotics. Proven experience leveraging open-source solutions to accelerate development, reduce costs, and foster innovation, as well as contributing to open-source projects when appropriate.

Technical Skills:

• Programming Languages: Proficiency in Python, Java, C++, or other languages commonly used in AI and robotics development.
• AI & Machine Learning: Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, neural networks, and frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Keras.
• Robotics: Familiarity with robotics frameworks like ROS (Robot Operating System), and experience with robot control systems and kinematics.
• Cloud Computing: Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for deploying and scaling AI and robotics solutions.
• Big Data Technologies: Knowledge of big data processing tools like Hadoop, Spark, or Kafka for handling large-scale data in manufacturing environments.
• IoT and Edge Computing: Understanding of IoT protocols, edge devices, and edge computing paradigms for real-time data processing in manufacturing settings.
• Version Control & CI/CD: Proficiency with Git and CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions for managing code and automating deployments.
• Containerization & Orchestration: Experience with Docker and Kubernetes for containerizing and orchestrating AI and robotics applications.
• Data Visualization: Skills in using data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, or D3.js to present insights from AI and robotics systems.
• Database Management: Knowledge of both SQL and NoSQL databases for managing diverse data types in AI and robotics applications.

Additional Considerations:

• Change Management: Experience in leading organizational change, particularly in the context of introducing new AI and robotics technologies in manufacturing environments.
• Cybersecurity Awareness: Understanding of cybersecurity principles and best practices as they apply to AI systems and connected robotics in industrial settings.
• Ethical AI: Knowledge of ethical considerations in AI development and deployment, including bias mitigation and responsible AI practices.
• Cross-cultural Communication: Experience working with diverse, global teams and clients, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
• Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying updated with the latest advancements in AI, robotics, and manufacturing technologies through ongoing education and professional development.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Project delivery success rate and on-time completion percentage
• Client satisfaction scores and retention rates
• Team productivity and efficiency metrics
• Cost savings and ROI achieved through AI and robotics implementations
• Innovation metrics (e.g., new patents, research publications, or open-source contributions)