This job has closed.

Vessco Water · 2 weeks ago

Vice President Data & AI

Chanhassen, MN

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

$243K/yr - $289K/yr

10+ years exp

Vessco Water is seeking a Vice President, Data & AI, who will be responsible for shaping and executing the enterprise strategy for data management, analytics, and applied artificial intelligence. This role involves defining the data and AI vision, leading strategic initiatives, and managing a high-performing team to drive measurable business outcomes.

IndustrialWaterWater PurificationWholesale

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a 3-year enterprise Data & AI strategy and roadmap, aligned with corporate objectives, digital transformation, and value creation plans

Partner with business unit leadership, finance, operations, and IT to identify high-impact use cases for data and AI, supported by well-defined business cases and ROI metrics

Establish a data-driven culture by promoting literacy, democratization, and responsible use of analytics and AI throughout the organization

Serve as the executive sponsor and chair of the Enterprise Data & AI Steering Committee, ensuring prioritization, funding, and success measurement for initiatives

Lead the definition and implementation of the enterprise data architecture, including data lakehouse, master data management (MDM), data integration, and governance frameworks

Oversee policies and standards for data quality, security, lineage, privacy, and compliance (aligned with NIST, GDPR, CCPA, and industry-specific requirements)

Establish and lead the Data Governance Council, ensuring consistent practices across 40+ operating entities

Partner with cybersecurity leadership to align data protection and risk management practices

Build the enterprise’s AI capability stack, spanning predictive analytics, generative AI, computer vision, and process automation

Identify and operationalize AI use cases that drive commercial efficiency (e.g., demand forecasting, pricing optimization, customer engagement, predictive maintenance, digital twin modeling)

Evaluate and deploy enterprise AI platforms (e.g., Microsoft Fabric, Azure OpenAI, Databricks, Power Platform) in alignment with enterprise IT standards

Create governance and controls for ethical, compliant, and transparent AI use, including model risk management and data privacy adherence

Build and lead a high-performing hybrid team of data engineers, data scientists, AI specialists, business analysts, and visualization experts

Establish and manage strategic partnerships with technology vendors, system integrators, and analytics service providers

Oversee project delivery from ideation through production, ensuring scalability, security, and measurable business outcomes

Develop the operating model, budget, and KPIs for Data & AI, balancing internal capability and external partner utilization

Mentor and develop internal talent to elevate enterprise data competency

Work closely with the executive and senior leadership and platform presidents to embed data and AI capabilities into enterprise processes

Communicate complex technical concepts in clear business terms for executive audiences

Represent the company externally with vendors, analysts, and peer networks as a thought leader in data and AI for industrial and water/wastewater markets

Qualification

Data managementArtificial IntelligenceData architectureCloud data ecosystemsData governancePredictive analyticsData integrationLeadershipCollaborationCommunication

Required

Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, or related field

10+ years of progressive leadership experience in data management, analytics, or AI roles

Proven success leading enterprise-scale data and AI transformation within a multi-entity or industrial, manufacturing, or distribution environment

Deep familiarity with cloud data ecosystems (Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric), AI/ML frameworks, and data integration across ERP systems (e.g., Global Shop Solutions, NetSuite, SAP, Dynamics)

Track record of delivering measurable ROI through data-enabled initiatives