Internal AI Innovation Lead

Location: New York, NY
Department: Data

About the role

Navan is seeking a highly AI-savvy Internal AI Innovation Lead to drive an AI-first mindset across our workforce. In this role, you will combine deep familiarity with modern AI tools with a product management approach, building the internal AI environments, community, and educational frameworks needed to empower every department. Your primary goal is to cultivate a network of AI Champions across the company who are fluent in AI and capable of building functional AI proof-of-concept (POC) solutions to solve real business challenges.

Responsibilities

• Manage AI Environments as Products: Treat our internal AI platforms, tools, and sandboxes as internal products—ensuring high adoption, strong guardrails, and continuous improvements based on user needs.
• Lead AI Education & Support Plans: Design accessible, high-impact training programs, workshops, and resource hubs that upskill teams—moving employees beyond basic prompts to confident, creative AI adoption.
• Guide Business-Led POCs: Partner with business units to identify high-value opportunities and help them build, test, and launch fast-turnaround AI proof-of-concept prototypes.
• Cultivate AI Champions: Build and energize a cross-departmental community of AI advocates. Mentor these champions so they can independently design AI solutions within their own teams.
• Drive an AI-First Culture: Stay ahead of emerging AI tools and trends, rapidly evaluating new capabilities and demonstrating practical ways to embed AI into everyday operations.

Requirements

• Strong AI Savviness: Exceptional hands-on fluency with modern AI tools, GenAI platforms, custom agents, and prompt engineering, with the natural ability to spot opportunities for AI automation.
• Rapid Prototyping Skills: Comfortable using low-code/no-code AI builders, platform features, or lightweight tools to rapidly build and validate working POCs alongside business teams.
• Internal Product Mindset: Experience treating internal platforms or programs as products, using feedback, iteration, and adoption metrics to refine the user experience.
• Enablement & Mentorship: Strong track record of designing engaging training, building active employee communities, and teaching non-technical teams how to build with new technology.
• Change Leadership: Excellent storytelling, facilitation, and communication skills to motivate employees and embed an AI-first culture across the company.

Pay

Pay Range: $172,800—$384,000 USD

For roles with on-target-earnings (OTE), the pay range includes both base salary and target incentive compensation. Target incentive compensation for some roles may include a ramping draw period. Compensation is higher for those who exceed targets.

Benefits

Navan offers a comprehensive benefits program designed to support your well-being, financial security, and life outside of work. Benefits include:

• Healthcare coverage, insurance offerings, and wellness resources for you and your family.
• Retirement savings programs and opportunities to participate in our equity plans.
• Flexible time off, country-specific holidays, and paid parental leave for all new parents.
• Connectivity and commuting support, mental health resources, and exclusive travel-related perks.

Schedule

Navan employees work from the office four days a week. This policy applies to all roles that are tied to an office.

About Navan

Navan (Nasdaq: NAVN) is the global AI-powered business travel and expense platform that makes travel easy for frequent travelers. From finding flights and hotels, to automating expense reconciliation, with 24/7 support along the way, Navan delivers an intuitive experience travelers love and finance teams rely on. The platform powers travel programs at more than 10,000 companies, including Canva, HelloFresh, DoorDash, Duolingo, and Steelcase.

Culture

Our team is our competitive edge — a high-performance group of smart, driven people committed to winning together. This dedication to excellence is why we’ve been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In (2023–2026), a G2 Best Global Software Company (2025–2026), Forbes Cloud 100 (2022–2025), and CNBC Disruptor 50 (2022–2025). At Navan, we provide an environment where top talent excels, offering the autonomy and fast-paced trajectory needed to build a defining career and do the best work of your life.