AI Innovation Associate

Role Description

L.A. Burdick Chocolates - celebrated for its handcrafted chocolates, pastries, and drinking chocolates - is seeking an AI Innovation Associate to research, deploy, and embed the AI tools and workflows that will help our teams operate at their best. This is a newly created role. You will work closely with every function of the business to understand their needs and identify the solutions of highest benefit. We are looking for someone who can move between strategy and hands-on execution, and who takes pride in making teams feel confident and well-equipped with the technology around them. If you are energized by turning AI's potential into real, measurable outcomes, we'd love to hear from you.

This position is based in Boston and is fully in person.

How to Apply

Complete the LinkedIn application. Additionally, in lieu of a cover letter, please email brief responses (a few sentences each) to the following questions to View email address on click.appcast.io:

• What draws you to L.A. Burdick and this role?
• Describe an AI tool or workflow you have implemented and how you measured its impact.

Key Responsibilities

 Research & Discovery

• Continuously track the AI landscape and bring forward the tools and opportunities most relevant to our business
• Embed yourself in each function — marketing, e-commerce, operations, retail, production, and beyond — to understand how teams work and where AI can meaningfully help, without compromising our commitment to handcrafted chocolates of the highest quality
• Build clear, evidence-based cases for new tools and track their impact after deployment Implementation & Integration
• Own the full lifecycle of every tool you introduce: research, vendor evaluation, integration, rollout, and ongoing iteration
• Partner closely with IT to ensure every solution is compatible with existing systems and meets our standards for security and reliability
• Move quickly but carefully — validating that tools deliver real value before scaling them across the organization

Enablement & Adoption

• Work side by side with teams during rollout so adoption is smooth and confidence is high
• Identify where tools are falling short and iterate until they are successful — not just technically deployed

What We Are Looking For

• 3–5 years of experience in technology implementation, consulting, or a related field, with direct, hands-on exposure to AI tools in a business setting
• A track record of deploying tools that improved how teams work, with measurable outcomes
• Strong working knowledge of the AI landscape
• Comfortable collaborating across technical and non-technical team members
• Able to make complex technology clear and accessible to anyone in the organization
• Based in Boston or willing to relocate; available to work in person five days a week
• Technical aptitude - coding, APIs, integrations - is a plus but not required
• Interest in food, craft, or premium consumer brands is a plus
• Note: estimated base salary range for this position is $85-110K.

About L.A. Burdick Chocolates

L.A. Burdick Chocolates is a celebrated New England-based artisan chocolatier known for its exceptional craftsmanship and uncompromising quality. Founded nearly 40 years ago, it is rooted in European chocolatiering traditions, drawing on techniques refined in Switzerland and France, and is devoted to the rare art of individually handcrafting chocolate bonbons — never using molds. Complementing these intricate methods, the company uses only natural ingredients, with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, not even extracts or essences. Signature offerings include the iconic Chocolate Mice and Penguins, Drinking Chocolate, and the Burdick Cookie, a chocolate chip walnut cookie.

The company is headquartered in Walpole, New Hampshire and has deep roots in Massachusetts, beginning with the opening of its Harvard Square location more than 25 years ago, followed by its Back Bay location in 2012 and Brookline location in 2024. Today, the company also operates retail locations in New York City, Chicago, and Washington DC, alongside an e-commerce business.