VP, Data & AI

RWE Americas, LLC

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent.

Role Overview

The Vice President, Data & AI is the senior technical leader responsible for defining and executing the enterprise-wide data and AI strategy at RWE Americas. This role owns the end-to-end data ecosystem and AI platform, bridging business strategy with technology execution to deliver secure, scalable, production‑ready data and AI capabilities. The VP, Data & AI will build and operate a modern Data & AI Platform that powers advanced analytics, machine learning, and responsible AI at scale, while establishing strong governance, driving cross‑functional alignment, optimizing costs, and accelerating business value from data‑driven insights and AI initiatives.

Role Responsibilities

• Own the enterprise Data & AI strategy, translating business priorities into a unified multi‑year vision and roadmap that encompasses data platforms, analytics, machine learning, and production AI capabilities
• Lead the design, build, and continuous improvement of the integrated Data & AI Platform, including data infrastructure (lakes, warehouses, pipelines), MLOps tooling, model lifecycle management, agents, deployment, monitoring, and operations
• Establish and enforce comprehensive governance frameworks covering data quality, metadata, model lifecycles, responsible AI practices, security, compliance, and ethical standards
• Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing Data & AI organization that includes data engineering, data science, analytics, platform engineering, and MLOps teams, fostering technical excellence, innovation, and operational reliability
• Drive cross‑functional collaboration with AI product teams, business stakeholders, IT/OT, engineering, and operations to identify high‑value use cases, prioritize initiatives, and ensure cohesive delivery of data and AI solutions
• Lead technology evaluation, vendor selection, and build‑vs‑buy decisions to ensure the platform remains scalable, cost‑effective, and future‑ready
• Operationalize FinOps and platform governance practices to optimize spending, track ROI, and demonstrate measurable business value from data and AI investments
• Champion organization‑wide data and AI enablement by promoting adoption, building literacy, fostering a data‑driven culture, and accelerating the journey from experimentation to production‑grade solutions

Job Requirements and Experiences

• Master’s or PhD degree in computer science, data science, statistics, engineering, or a related STEM field required. MBA preferred
• Strong ability to set technical direction and architecture for large‑scale data and AI platforms, including consolidation of data, infrastructure, and application layers
• Deep expertise in running enterprise‑level AI/ML solutions, MLOps, responsible AI frameworks, and modern data technologies
• Proven skill in translating business objectives into prioritized data and AI capabilities and roadmaps
• Experience with vendor evaluations, build‑vs‑buy analyses, and technology selection for enterprise platforms
• Excellent executive‑level communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to align technical strategy to senior leadership priorities
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and systems‑thinking abilities
• Deep understanding of data governance, compliance, security, and ethical AI practices
• This position is an office‑based role with some travel and visits to other RWE Americas offices and field locations
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay Range

The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $275,000 - $360,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S. locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits Offered

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short‑Term Disability, Long‑Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short‑term incentives, in addition to salary.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.