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Director of AI Business Operations and Strategy

Houston Chronicle · Houston, TX · 3 wk ago
ManufacturingFull-time

About the role

The Director of AI Business Operations and Strategy will lead the development and execution of enterprise AI initiatives that improve operational efficiency, optimize revenue, accelerate decision-making, and be accountable to measurable business value. This leader will partner with the Executive Leadership Team to define, refine, and execute the organization’s AI strategy, adoption, plans, KPIs, and impact, and ensure the discipline and rigor required to deliver lasting business value.

Responsibilities

  • Own and maintain the Houston Chronicle’s AI strategy and roadmap, with clear milestones and success criteria.

  • Build a deep understanding of the business problems, workflows, and operational realities at the Houston Chronicle and bring that context into every AI initiative to ensure solutions are grounded in how the business works.

  • Partner directly with the Executive Leadership Team to define, refine, and operationalize the company’s top strategic priorities, including responsibility for identifying and implementing initiatives that drive efficiencies across:

    • Productivity improvements
    • Workflow acceleration
    • Revenue growth
    • ROI enhancement

  • Build and manage a rigorous tracking system to ensure accountability, transparency, and progress across all departments.

  • Develop and maintain implementation playbooks, training, and change-management rigor to operationalize AI at scale, including:

    • Governance frameworks
    • Training materials
    • Audoption strategies
    • Change-management processes
    • Operational documentation

  • Identify workflow redesign opportunities and execution gaps, and intervene to remove bottlenecks, reallocate resources, or recalibrate priorities, improving velocity and embedding AI into day-to-day operations.

  • Prepare high-quality briefing materials, analyses, and recommendations for executive decision-making.

  • Serve as the primary liaison between business demand and AI execution by evaluating incoming ideas against other technology investments and recommending prioritization to executives and Hearst Newspapers leadership.

  • Lead AI governance, risk, and responsible AI oversight, including:

    • Responsible use
    • Vendor/model evaluation
    • Risk management
    • Legal/reputational considerations
    • Human oversight and operational controls

  • Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive developments to inform strategy.

  • Lead, mentor, train, and grow cross-functional teams focused on AI strategy and value realization.

  • Prepare and present AI strategy updates to the AI Steering Committee.

  • Ai Optimization and Deployment

    • Act as the point person for the Houston Chronicle to adopt and effectively utilize Hearst AI tools.
    • Identify high-impact use cases for generative and agentic AI across editorial, advertising, customer experience, and back-office functions.
    • Partner with technology, product, advertising, finance, and editorial leaders to deploy AI tools that enhance productivity, content quality, personalization, and revenue generation.
    • Build internal fluency through training, pilot programs, and scaling successful implementations.

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, digital media optimization, or a related field.

  • Bachelor’s degree.

  • Demonstrated ability to drive execution in complex, matrixed organizations.

  • Demonstrated success moving initiatives from pilot to enterprise deployment with measurable business outcomes.

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a bias toward action.

  • Prominent experience leading cross-functional initiatives with measurable impact.

  • Exceptional communication skills and executive presence.

Preferred Experience:

  • In business transformation, media, digital publishing, or subscription-based businesses.

  • Experience implementing AI and automation solutions in a business environment.

Key Competencies/Experience Required:

  • Applied AI execution and direct experience implementing or scaling: AI agents, Copilots, Workflow automations, AI-assisted operational systems, Enterprise AI applications.

  • Experience working with platforms and ecosystems such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, AWS, and Microsoft.

  • Strategic clarity and operational discipline.

  • Effective cross-departmental communication and the ability to influence without direct authority.

  • Change management and media transformation.

  • High degree of discretion, judgment, and integrity.

About the Houston Chronicle

The Houston Chronicle, recognized for its Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, serves its 2.3 million residents with content and marketing solutions across two of Houston’s largest websites — HoustonChronicle.com and Chron.com, along with our magazine, television and newspaper brands. Our mission is to spark conversations that inspire action to create a better Houston.

About Hearst Newspapers

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate. At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories – growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms – to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.

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