Cencora · 4 days ago
Director, AI Research and Analysis
California, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$124K/yr - $191K/yr
10+ years expCencora is an innovative company focused on creating healthier futures. The Director, AI Research and Analysis will advance Cencora’s AI capabilities by leading research and experimentation initiatives, exploring emerging technologies, and collaborating with stakeholders to align efforts with business needs.
Emergency MedicineEnterprise SoftwareHealth CareMedicalPharmaceutical
Responsibilities
Establish and lead an AI Lab function focused on research and experimentation, including the development of prototypes, proofs of concept, and pilot projects to test novel AI applications and methodologies
Identify and evaluate emerging AI technologies, methodologies, and trends to assess their relevance and potential impact on Cencora’s portfolio
Build and manage a small, high-performing team of technologists and developers focused on exploring cutting-edge AI technologies
Develop a structured process for research, experimentation, and evaluation of new technologies and approaches
Monitor industry trends by cultivating relationships with academic institutions, research organizations, innovative startups and industry thought leaders
Represent Cencora at AI conferences, forums, and partnerships to ensure visibility and access to cutting-edge developments
Collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to align research efforts with business needs and priorities
Develop metrics and KPIs to measure the success of research initiatives and their contribution to organizational goals
Ensure all research and experimentation is conducted in a secure and compliant manner, minimizing risks associated with non-approved technologies
Collaborate with the AI Delivery and AI Product leads on transitioning validated experiments into production capabilities
Be an internal thought leader for cutting edge AI-related technologies and emerging industry use cases
Present research findings, white papers, experimental results, and recommendations to executive leadership and cross-functional teams
Advocate for the adoption of emerging technologies and methodologies within Cencora’s AI organization
Build credibility and foster trust with the broader IT team to ensure alignment and support for research initiatives
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related field
10+ years of combined experience across AI research, applied machine learning, and data-driven innovation, including at least 5 years leading high-impact, cross-disciplinary teams
Proven track record of leading research and innovation initiatives within a corporate, academic, or startup environment
Outstanding leadership and organizational skills to establish processes and ways of working
Superior communication skills to engage both technical and business stakeholders
Strong, hands-on technical abilities for direct research and experimentation
Collaborative mindset to foster partnerships across diverse teams and external organizations
Passionate consumer of information on AI and related emerging technologies
Comprehensive knowledge of the entire AI spectrum including ML, generative, agentic, computer vision, and edge AI along with key platform vendors
Strong knowledge of AI/ML tooling (Python, R, ML models, Azure AI Foundry) and frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch
Working knowledge of cloud platform configuration and development (Azure, AWS, GCP)
Demonstrated expertise in modern data stacks (Vector databases, Databricks, Neo4j)
Experience with experimentation frameworks, prototyping, and agile development methodologies
Preferred
Advanced degree (Master's or PhD)
Additional certifications or coursework in R&D, technical innovation, or emerging tech
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision care
Backup dependent care
Adoption assistance
Infertility coverage
Family building support
Behavioral health solutions
Paid parental leave
Paid caregiver leave
Training programs
Professional development resources
Opportunities to participate in mentorship programs
Employee resource groups
Volunteer activities
Company
Cencora
Cencora is a global healthcare company that advances the development and delivery of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$4.83B2024-12-02Post Ipo Debt· $1.8B
2024-02-05Post Ipo Debt· $500M
2022-11-07Post Ipo Secondary· $500M
Leadership Team
Robert Mauch
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mike Baca
Senior Director, AI Platforms & Solutions
Recent News
2026-01-12
2026-01-05
2026-01-05
Company data provided by crunchbase