Assistant Director of Data and Artificial Intelligence
Minneapolis, MN - USA
Job Summary
Position Summary
The Assistant Director of Data and Artificial Intelligence is responsible for leading the maturation support and execution of MACs IT Data capabilities. This includes overseeing the identification ingestion cleaning and maintenance of all enterprise data and Geographic Information System (GIS) data. As a component of MACs data capabilities this position also leads the usage and advancement of data-associated Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Large Language Models (LLMs) that leverage these enterprise data sets.
The Assistant Director of Data and Artificial Intelligence will possess strong people leader skills technology expertise proven customer relationship building skills and the ability to implement and support enterprise-grade data solutions for stakeholders that help MAC reach and maintain their strategic goals. The Assistant Director of Data and Artificial Intelligence will drive innovation identify implement and support enterprise data solutions data-driven AI technologies and best practices that enhance the organizations capabilities in alignment with MACs IT strategy.
To apply:click the Apply link located just above the position description log-in and follow the instructions provided.
Questions regarding this position can be directed to Randa Hamid at or . Applications will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. on Friday May 15 2026.
MAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race religion color gender age nationality or disability.
MAC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If an accommodation is required for you to participate in the application process because of a disability please contact Tekia Jefferson at or.Position Description
JOB DUTIES
Departmental
Leads the IT Data team to work with business partners to develop and support strategically aligned solutions and capabilities to help meet MACs goals.
Drives the continued growth and maturation of MACs data practice including collaborating with MACs Data Governance team to help advance MACs analytics capabilities from descriptive reporting toward more predictive and prescriptive capabilities.
Establishes and matures a data stewardship model across the organization to ensure data is cataloged accessible accurate and well-defined.
Partners with the PMO and business stakeholders plan prioritize scope deliver document and support data-related projects.
Leads the continued maturation and refinement of MACs data technical roadmap and ensures alignment with the overall IT and enterprise strategic plans.
Assists with strategy delivery and support of AI-driven solutions within the operational and/or GIS data environments.
Manages and prioritizes day-to-day activities for the IT Data Team and ensures data incidents and enhancement requests are addressed in a timely manner.
Partners with Cyber-security experts to ensure data solutions align with corporate security practices.
Develop partnerships with stakeholders and senior management to stay abreast of current issues and challenges.
Maintains vendor relationships including budgeting for and managing the associated maintenance and licensing agreements.
Fosters high-performing teams through a positive and inclusive work environment that promotes professional growth and encourages knowledge sharing.
Collaborates with other airport and aviation industry peers to share best practices.
Technical Responsibilities
Owns all enterprise data and GIS data including on-going support and maintenance of these authoritative data sets.
Ensures enterprise alignment for architectural direction for GIS and other data solutions
Leads artificial intelligence innovation pilots and production solutions and works develop operational processes that leverage LLMs and other AI-based data solutions.
Manages key vendors to understand and align with vendor product roadmaps and life-cycle initiatives
Evaluates industry trends related to data GIS analytics and data-related AI solutions and recommends emerging data technologies for adoption.
People/Team Management
Manage a team of IT professionals (employees and contractors) including hiring training and performance management.
Further develop roles and responsibility matrixes so employees have work plans appropriate for their business function and that the plan is being followed.
Conduct regularly scheduled meetings with employees to communicate work plans issues and other appropriate information.
Exercise supervisory authority in accordance with MAC Human Resource Policy MAC Administration Manual and/or the appropriate collective bargaining agreement.
Recognize employee achievement.
Oversee the development and maintenance of resource utilization and forecasting models.
Participate in management meetings and contribute to an open dialogue; communicate information within the organization and provide feedback to the team.
Position Requirements
Manager of Managers (MOM) Competencies
- Customer Focus - Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions
- Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies
- Plans and Aligns - Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals
- Ensures Accountability - Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
- Drives Results - Consistently achieving results even under tough circumstances
- Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
- Values Differences - Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
- Builds Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
- Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
- Drives Engagement - Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives
- Organizational Savvy - Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy process and people-related organizational dynamics
Minimum Requirements- Bachelors degree in an IT related field and four years of experience supporting and managing data quality and data governance technical frameworks
- In lieu of a degree eight years of related IT experience supporting and managing data quality and data governance technical frameworks
- Three years of leadership responsibilities and managing teams which included responsibility for hiring disciplining coaching rewarding and terminating employees.
- Demonstrated experience troubleshooting or providing oversight for technical support for data and AI platforms
Experience building or maturing data capabilities (GIS and/or transactional/operational data)
Proven experience piloting and deploying technology solutions that leverage AI capabilities
Experience with dashboarding and visualization platforms
Proven ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships at all levels of an organization
Demonstrated experience delivering data-related solutions via formal Project Delivery methodologies
Ability to understand and communicate technical information to end users in an easily understood manner
Experience selecting and managing third-party vendors
Willing and able to provide 24/7/365 support for critical operational data systems
Valid drivers license and ability to commute between job sites
Travel <10
Desirable Requirements
- Experience leading large enterprise data-related projects or work groups
- Experience leading or participating in a data governance framework
- Experience with Master Data Management (MDM) technologies
- Experience in ESRI-based technology stack
- Experience in Microsoft data technologies such as PowerBI Power Apps Azure data storage etc.
- Experience with internally-managed and/or vendor-supported LLM-based technologies
- Experience in strategic planning organization design and development
- Masters degree in related field
- Public sector experience
- Airport vertical experience
Other Information
This position provides an opportunity for on-site and remote work. MACs remote work policy requires employees to be on-site three days of the week. Among the three on-site days one of them must be either a Monday or a Friday and on Tuesdays all employees are required to be onsite.
Required Experience:
Director