Director, AI at TalentMinded – Toronto, Ontario

The opportunity

Our publicly-listed, Toronto-based client is seeking a Director, AI; a senior leader who can define and drive impact at scale. Reporting directly to a senior technology executive, you will lead a growing team of data scientists and machine learning engineers responsible for building production AI systems that power the next generation of the platform.

With strategic vision and execution finesse, you will translate complex challenges into actionable initiatives to deliver measurable results. In this role, you will set the direction for a critical platform, lead a high-performing team, and establish the processes, metrics, and structures that ensure sustained success while building and scaling the company’s AI capability as a strategic pillar of the platform.

As the new Director, AI, you will leverage deep expertise in machine learning, AI strategy, and advanced analytics to identify opportunities where modelling, prediction, and automation can drive tangible business outcomes. You will apply rigorous problem-solving and analytical skills to guide technical decision-making, optimize platform performance, and mentor the team to develop scalable solutions. Your knowledge and judgment will ensure that AI capabilities move seamlessly from concept to production, creating measurable impact while shaping the long-term evolution of the organization’s data and AI capabilities. Working closely with executive leadership, you will help define how artificial intelligence accelerates product innovation, operational efficiency, and platform performance. Your leadership will shape the team’s capabilities and influence the outcomes that matter most to the business.

This is an existing, full-time hybrid opportunity, working on-site in downtown Toronto for two days a week.

Why this role matters

This is your opportunity to be the defining leader of AI for a high-growth, innovation-driven platform. You will have:

• Enterprise-level ownership. Own the AI agenda end-to-end, including strategy, execution, team, and results, establishing the structure, priorities, and capabilities that will scale AI across the organization.
• Strategic influence. Work with executive leadership and shape decisions that influence company direction, product evolution, customer experience, and business performance.
• Career-defining challenges. Lead, scale, and mentor teams in a role where technical leadership and managerial acumen are equally valued.
• Rewarding environment. Join a culture that values initiative, measurable impact, and high-calibre talent.

Your strategic impact:

1. Own AI Strategy and Vision

• Define and own the AI vision. You will set the strategic direction for AI and machine learning across the platform, identifying high-impact opportunities where predictive modelling, automation, and advanced analytics deliver tangible business results and sustainable competitive advantage. You will determine where AI investment drives the greatest performance gains and shape how intelligent systems evolve across the platform. You will have full ownership of the AI agenda, shaping priorities and defining how technology drives growth, efficiency, and innovation.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable AI initiatives. You will partner closely with product and engineering leadership to convert organizational goals into a prioritized AI roadmap, defining initiatives with clear deliverables and measurable impact. You will establish rigorous processes, timelines, and documentation that create clarity and accelerate execution.

2. Lead and scale high-performing teams

• Lead, mentor, and scale AI teams. You will manage a hands-on AI team, guiding algorithm design, model development, and technical execution. You will build trust and credibility quickly while preparing the organization to scale your team to scientists and machine learning engineers, establishing a world-class AI function capable of supporting increasingly complex machine learning systems and platform initiatives.
• Build long-term AI capabilities. You will shape the evolution of the AI organization, including hiring, mentoring, and developing talent, while establishing enduring data and AI capabilities for the company. Your leadership will define the standards, operating model, and technical rigor that enable the AI function to scale effectively over time. You will demonstrate the ability to scale technical leadership and managerial guidance simultaneously.

3. Drive technical excellence

• Provide deep technical guidance on algorithms and modelling. You will serve as the technical authority on machine learning, guiding teams on model design, experimentation frameworks, model performance evaluation, optimization strategies, and best practices. You will challenge assumptions, elevate technical thinking, and ensure the organization adopts scalable and robust machine learning methodologies.
• Deliver production-grade AI systems at scale. You will oversee the design, training, deployment, and continuous improvement of machine learning models that power the platform, ensuring solutions are scalable, reliable, and measurable. You will take hands-on responsibility for driving these systems from concept to production.
• Embed AI into the core product experience. You will ensure AI innovations become integral to platform optimization, automation, and decision-making, shaping how users interact with the product and how intelligent systems influence real-time platform outcomes.

4. Operational Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Operate with strategic discipline and accountability. You will define priorities, assign ownership, track milestones, and measure outcomes. You will be the leader who ensures that technical execution aligns with business impact, establishing the credibility and trust required to scale initiatives.
• Collaborate across functions to maximize impact. You will partner with engineering, product, and commercial teams to uncover opportunities for AI to improve efficiency, decision-making, and strategic outcomes.
• Communicate AI strategy and results to executives. You will translate complex technical concepts into compelling business impact, guiding leadership on where AI investment will generate the highest ROI and how intelligent systems contribute to long-term platform competitiveness.

Your expertise:

• Advanced technical mastery. You hold a Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a closely related quantitative discipline from a recognized institution, equipping you with the depth to solve highly complex problems and guide technical strategy at scale. You have built and deployed machine learning systems in production that deliver measurable business outcomes, including experience working with large-scale data platforms, optimization models, or real-time decision systems, demonstrating your ability to translate advanced algorithms into tangible value.
• Hands-on, scalable leadership. You excel at leading small, high-performing teams, preparing them for growth, earning their trust quickly, and delivering results. You can simultaneously guide strategic direction and roll up your sleeves for execution.
• Exceptional analytical rigour and problem-solving. You tackle complex technical challenges independently, while mentoring others to elevate their thinking and approach, ensuring the team consistently produces high-quality solutions. You are adept at defining processes, setting priorities, establishing documentation standards, and measuring performance to drive accountability, clarity, and repeatable success.
• Industry fluency and perspective. You bring experience in fintech, marketplaces, recommendation engines, or other optimization-driven environments, giving you insight into high-velocity, data-intensive platforms.
• Uncompromising ownership and work ethic. You take initiative, act decisively without oversight, and thrive in dynamic, complex environments, demonstrating the resilience, adaptability, and drive required to scale both teams and platform capabilities.

What to expect from the hiring process:

• A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor. You will discuss your experience, goals, and alignment with the role, and learn more about the company. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview.
• A virtual interview with a Co-Founder. You will dive deeper into your technical expertise, strategic approach, and leadership style.
• A technical test case.
• A virtual interview with a Senior Technology Executive. You will gain a better understanding of how this role fits into the current strategic plan, the company’s culture, and its growth trajectory.
• A final in-person interview and tour of the space with a representative from HR. This is a chance to learn more about the company culture and meet future leadership peers and teams.

Apply now

If you feel you meet most of the requirements and are excited about the opportunity, we encourage you to apply.

Should you require accommodation in any aspect of the selection process, please get in touch with us at careers@talentminded.ca, and we will be happy to assist.

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