AI Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

SM Energy is seeking a strategic and highly capable AI Program Manager to lead complex, cross-functional artificial intelligence and data-driven initiatives that span multiple projects, teams, and business areas. This role is responsible for connecting business strategy, data capabilities, and AI technologies to execution, ensuring initiatives are aligned, coordinated, and delivered in a way that maximizes business value.

The AI Program Manager operates at a big-picture level while still ensuring execution excellence across AI initiatives such as data platforms, machine learning solutions, automation, and custom development. This individual drives alignment across multiple project teams, identifies interdependencies, resolves competing priorities, and guides initiatives through ambiguity to achieve successful outcomes.

This role requires a strong strategic mindset , the ability to influence without direct authority, and the capability to mobilize diverse teams toward shared objectives. The AI Program Manager partners closely with business leaders, data scientists, IT leadership, and project managers to ensure AI programs deliver measurable outcomes aligned with SM’s strategic priorities.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead concurrent complex, enterprise-wide AI initiatives spanning data platforms, machine learning, and advanced analytics across business and technology teams.
• Connect strategic business objectives to AI, data, and automation initiatives, ensuring initiatives remain aligned with enterprise priorities.
• Partner with technical teams to deliver AI capabilities through enterprise platforms (e.g., Palantir), modern data platforms, and custom-built solutions.
• Identify and manage cross-project dependencies, risks, and resource constraints across data platforms, AI models, integrations, and operational workflows.
• Provide strategic oversight to multiple project managers, ensuring alignment, coordination, and consistent delivery practices.
• Drive clarity and forward progress in ambiguous or evolving problem spaces.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and alignment between business leaders, technical teams, IT architecture, and external partners.
• Influence stakeholders and decision makers across multiple organizational levels to maintain momentum and remove barriers to AI adoption.
• Establish program governance, AI delivery frameworks, and communication structures that provide education, transparency, and accountability.
• Proactively identify risks, conflicts, and competing priorities and drive resolution before they impact delivery.
• Translate complex technical and operational initiatives into clear updates and strategic insights for leadership.
• Coordinate with leadership and program managers to execute upon program roadmaps, timelines, and resource plans to ensure effective sequencing and prioritization of work.
• Support the development and scaling of AI capabilities across the organization through thoughtful change management, training, and business stakeholder relationships.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement across program teams.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to project managers and cross-functional team members.
• Clearly and concisely convey ideas (written and verbal), actively listens, and communicates effectively vertically and horizontally throughout the organization.
• Other general duties as assigned.

General Knowledge and Skills

Key Competencies:

Strategic Thinking

Demonstrates strong ability to see the big picture, connect disparate initiatives, and align execution with long-term business strategy. Identifies opportunities to leverage AI, data, and automated technologies to improve organizational effectiveness and generate a return on investment.

Managing Ambiguity

Thrives in environments where direction is evolving. Brings clarity and structure to complex problems and enables teams to move forward even when AI technologies, data requirements, and/or business outcomes are not clearly defined.

Program Leadership

Skilled at coordinating multiple workstreams simultaneously while maintaining awareness of the overall program health, priorities, and dependencies.

Stakeholder Influence

Builds credibility and alignment across technical and business leadership through strong communication, transparency, and thoughtful decision making.

Problem Solving / Decision Making

Applies structured thinking to complex challenges. Makes high-quality decisions with incomplete information while balancing risk, cost, and organizational priorities.

Business Acumen

Possesses strong understanding of business operations and industry drivers. Uses this knowledge to guide prioritization and maximize value delivered by AI technology initiatives.

Technology & Delivery Knowledge

Strong understanding of modern technology ecosystems including data platforms, AI/ML solutions, and enterprise analytics environments. Experience delivering solutions through a combination of commercial platforms (e.g., Palantir), cloud data services, and custom-developed applications depending on business needs.

Ability to work effectively with data engineers, software engineers, data scientists, and business stakeholders to translate operational problems into scalable technical solutions.

Experience supporting initiatives involving:

• Data platforms and data pipelines
• AI and machine learning solutions
• Advanced analytics and operational decision tools
• Enterprise platforms such as Palantir Foundry or similar data environments
• Custom-built applications and integrations

Experience working within Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid project environments. Ability to translate technical topics such as AI, LLMs, data platforms, and predictive analytics into business context for stakeholders to drive adoption of new capabilities.

Expert with tools such as MS Teams, Azure DevOps, Excel, Visio, SharePoint, and PowerPoint. Demonstrates strong technical fluency across the tools and technologies supporting enterprise solutions and can lead meaningful discussions with engineering and data teams.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field required. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred. Program or portfolio management experience preferred. Experience or coursework related to data analytics, AI, or machine learning technologies preferred.

Typical Experience: 8–10+ years of experience in project or program management roles leading complex technology initiatives across multiple teams and stakeholders. Experience delivering data, analytics, AI, or automation initiatives preferred.

SM Energy offers competitive compensation and benefits programs which include, but are not limited to, variable pay, health care coverage, retirement plan, protection coverage, time off and leave programs, training and development opportunities and a range of allowances connected to specific work situations. Details are available at Careers :: SM Energy Company (SM) (sm-energy.com).

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.