Director of Artificial Intelligence at West Virginia – Charleston, West Virginia

Director of Artificial Intelligence

Are you ready to shape the future of West Virginia's state government?

The West Virginia Office of Technology (WVOT) is seeking a visionary and results-driven Director of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to lead our state into a new era of digital transformation. This is a critical leadership role responsible for developing and executing a statewide AI strategy that will drive operational efficiency, and empower state employees to leverage AI in the delivery of services.

As the Director of AI, you will be the driving force behind AI initiatives across state government, focusing on:

• AI Strategy & Vision: Establish the overall AI vision and roadmap for the WVOT, ensuring all initiatives align with strategic state goals and deliver measurable, high-impact outcomes.

• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and inspire a cross-functional WVOT team, fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration to position state agencies for improved efficiency.

• Research & Development: Drive cutting-edge AI research, explore new technologies, and oversee the guidance and deployment of scalable, robust AI models and solutions in collaboration with business units and vendors.

• AI Governance & Ethics: Develop and implement statewide policies to ensure responsible AI practices, fairness, transparency, and compliance with ethical standards and federal requirements, actively addressing model biases.

• Performance & ROI: Track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the financial and operational impact of AI projects and communicate results to key stakeholders.

Work Environment: Dynamic, fast-paced setting with occasional travel required for conferences, training, and collaboration.

Desirable Minimum Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree in communications, business administration, information technology, mathematics, statistics, management information science or a related field and experience in telecommunications, data processing and/or information technology. Relevant experience may substitute for the bachelor's degree on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Computer Science, Data Science, Educational Technology, etc.).

• 5+ years of progressive experience in product management, technology, data strategy, or AI implementation.

• Proven leadership in developing and launching AI-driven systems or services, preferably within education or government.

• Deep knowledge of AI technologies (e.g., machine learning, large language models), data privacy, ethical design, and digital transformation.

• Experience in strategic planning, change management, and stakeholder engagement.

• Strong communicator with the ability to distill complex concepts into actionable strategy for technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to combine deep business knowledge with management skills to inspire teams, cultivate a collaborative culture, and achieve strategic goals.

• Experience with project management tools and methodologies

To apply for this position, please complete the online application by selecting the apply button on this posting.