Director of AI & Data

Job Summary Chromalloy is establishing a new AI & Data organization to turn growing business demand for analytics and AI into governed, measurable value. The Director of AI & Data leads this organization across all four layers - a governed data foundation, master data and standardization, business intelligence, and AI and automation - and builds and leads the team beneath it. Critically, the Director does not set the work program: business demand enters through a single intake and is prioritized by a business-chaired AI & Data Governance Steering Committee; the Director delivers that ranked backlog while IT Security & Governance provides compliance oversight. The Director also chairs and owns the AI Community of Practice - the peer network of 25+ business-designated department champions that surfaces and peer-approves use cases.  This is a builder's role for a leader who can stand up an operating model, deliver workflow-integrated outcomes, and prove ROI to senior leadership. Work That Matters At Chromalloy, your work directly supports aviation safety and reliability. Our teams repair and manufacture critical aerospace components used across the global aviation industry. As a people leader, you'll play a key role in developing talent, improving processes, and delivering results that help keep aircraft flying safely around the world. What You'll Be Doing •  Stand up the AI & Data organization, its operating model, and its delivery practices; recruit and lead the Applied AI Engineer and Master Data & Standardization Lead. •  Chair and own the AI Community of Practice (CoP): run the quarterly CoP and the monthly department AI touchpoints, and steward the 25+ business-designated champions who surface and peer-approve use cases into the intake. •  Operate the single demand front door (FreshService intake, request type 284) and partner with the business-chaired Steering Committee, which ranks the backlog by business value and ROI. •  Deliver the business-ranked backlog in priority order - BI, analytics, and AI/automation use cases integrated into real business workflows. •  Build and own the governed data foundation and a single golden data model: data governance, master data, standards, quality, and lineage across ERP, MES, PLM, and the data warehouse - including a single source of truth per field and an AI translation layer where source systems do not yet agree. •  Partner with IT Security & Governance to ensure all AI and data work meets ITAR, CUI, and CMMC Level 2 (NIST SP 800-171) requirements; respect the compliance veto. •  Define and report KPIs and ROI for the AI & Data portfolio to the SLT and the LCT Board. What We're Looking For •  10+ years of progressive experience in data, analytics, or AI, including team leadership. •  Demonstrated success building a data governance and/or master data management program from the ground up. •  Track record of delivering BI and AI/ML solutions into production with measurable business outcomes. •  Experience operating in a regulated environment (defense, aerospace, manufacturing, or similarly controlled). •  Strong stakeholder and executive communication skills; able to translate business demand into a prioritized, governed delivery plan. •  Bachelor's degree in computer science, data/information management, engineering, or a related field. Nice to Have •  Aerospace, defense, or gas-turbine industry experience. •  Experience in a CMMC / NIST SP 800-171 environment handling ITAR-controlled data and CUI. •  Familiarity with enterprise platforms such as Epicor ERP and Tulip MES, and with cloud data platforms. •  DAMA-DMBOK / CDMP certification; MBA or equivalent leadership credential. Leadership Expectations and Values •  Model the Way - Leads with integrity and accountability, holding themselves to the same standards expected of others and consistently following through on commitments. •  Inspire a Shared Vision - Connects team efforts to a clear, meaningful purpose while balancing strategic priorities with disciplined day-to-day execution. •  Challenge the Process - Brings curiosity and a drive for continuous improvement, questioning assumptions and championing innovation even in complex environments. •  Enable Others to Act - Builds strong, inclusive partnerships that share ownership, develop others, and value diverse perspectives. •  Encourage the Heart - Recognizes contributions genuinely and celebrates shared values to build a culture of appreciation, respect, and accountability.