AI Strategy Leader and Program Manager

Who We Are We help to create icons. We help to build marvels. Our products feature in some of the most iconic buildings in the world. RAK Ceramics is one of the largest ceramics brands globally, specializing in ceramic and gres porcelain wall and floor tiles, sanitaryware, faucets, and tableware. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, we serve clients in over 150 countries through operational hubs in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia, North & South America, and Australia. With over 12,000 employees from 40+ nationalities, we are a truly global and diverse organization. RAK Ceramics is publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dhaka Stock Exchange. The Role The “AI Strategy Leader and Program Manager” will spearhead the development and execution of AI-ML initiatives across RAK Ceramics. This role is responsible for identifying opportunities where AI can drive:Revenue growth and customer satisfaction Operational excellence (manufacturing and SCM) Operational excellence (corporate functions like Finance, Procurement, HR) Product development and innovationThe ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strategic vision and manufacturing industry knowledge to transform traditional processes through intelligent automation and data-driven What You Will Be Doing Strategic LeadershipDevelop and own the enterprise-wide AI strategy aligned with business goals. Identify and prioritize high-impact AI use cases across sales, customer experience, manufacturing, supply chain, quality control, R&D, and corporate functions.AI Implementation & InnovationDrive adoption of AI technologies such as predictive maintenance, computer vision for defect detection, sales & demand forecasting, process optimization etc. Evaluate and implement AI platforms, tools, and vendors. Utilize selected vendors, team members from IT and other departments to implement AI solutions e.g.,: For Manufacturing: design and integrate AI models into existing systems (SAP ERP, MES, SCADA, HMI etc.) For Sales & Marketing: design and integrate AI models into existing systems (SAP ERP, SalesForce, POS, eCommerce etc.)Data Governance and InfrastructureOversee data strategy to ensure high-quality, secure, and accessible data for AI applications. Work with data engineers and scientists to build scalable data pipelines and model deployment frameworks.Change Management and AI Capability BuildingPromote a culture of innovation and digital literacy across the organization. Conduct workshops and training sessions to upskill teams on AI concepts and tools. Manage stakeholder expectations and ensure alignment with business units.Performance Monitoring and ROIDefine KPIs to measure the success of AI initiatives. Continuously monitor performance and refine models for accuracy and efficiency. Report progress and insights to executive leadership.What We Are Looking For Some of the key competencies required for the role include: EducationBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field. MBA or equivalent business qualification is a plus.Experience15 years of IT experience with at least 5 years in AI/ML-related work, in a manufacturing or industrial set-up. Proven track record of leading AI projects from concept to deployment.Technical SkillsProficiency in AI/ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch), data analytics tools (Python, R), and cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP). Familiarity with industrial IoT, edge computing, and automation systems.Soft SkillsStrong communication skills and ability to visualize and drive initiatives Strategic thinker with a hands‑on approach Ability to influence and collaborate across departmentsRAK Ceramics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, nationality, disability, age, or marital status. #J-18808-Ljbffr