AI Solutions Lead

AI Solutions Lead What we are: Fun, fast-paced, client-focused, people-centric, inviting, flexible, and rapidly growing. What we are not: Overly structured, uncompromising, disengaged, or disconnected. We are looking for a driven, curious, and business-minded AI Solutions Lead to become the first dedicated AI expert on our Information Technology team. This is a unique opportunity to help shape how AI is adopted across our organization—from identifying high-impact use cases and leading cross-functional initiatives to establishing governance, evaluating emerging technologies, and empowering teams to work smarter. The ideal candidate thrives in the space between a project leader and a technical builder: someone who can manage AI initiatives, translate business needs into practical solutions, answer questions from across the organization, and isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves to solve technical challenges when needed. If you're energized by innovation, enjoy bringing structure to emerging technologies, and want to make a measurable impact across an entire organization, we'd love to meet you. The work we do is categorically awesome, and we're looking for someone with the experience, curiosity, and collaborative mindset to help our business put AI to work. Company Description We are a leading provider of wireless, mesh-networked, 'Internet of Things' (IoT) sensors for industrial environments. Our cost-effective, plug-and-play products empower plants of all sizes to conduct predictive and preventative maintenance on mission-critical and secondary equipment in order to maximize uptime. (I.e. We help with things like getting your Prime packages to you faster!) Reports to Information Technology Manager Location Cincinnati, OH Onsite Requirements Onsite, remote flexibility as needed Travel No travel required Work Authorization Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available at this time** Exemption Status Exempt Job Description The AI Solutions Lead will serve as the central point of contact and internal translator between the business and emerging AI technologies. This role owns the portfolio of internal AI initiatives end-to-end: intake, prioritization, project management, governance, emerging-technology evaluation, and hands-on solutioning. The ideal candidate is a business liaison who can turn vague "can AI do this?" questions into scoped, practical use cases and who has enough technical fluency to guide a project built with tools such as Claude or Replit at the beginning, middle, or end, and to recognize when a development direction doesn’t make sense. They will report to the IT Manager, operating with broad autonomy to make day-to-day decisions independently while collaborating on new vendors, meaningful spend, and policy. AI Project Management Own intake, prioritization, and the roadmap for internal AI initiatives. Maintain visibility across the business to prevent uncoordinated "shadow" AI efforts. Proactively seek opportunities within the business for improvements in process. Prioritization of specialized projects needing additional expertise. Develop norms for communicating project status, issues, and risks to leadership. Be a champion for in-flight projects to ensure completion within project timeframes. AI Governance & Policy Maintain and evolve responsible-use standards and data-handling rules for AI tools. Operate a tool and vendor review process that keeps sensitive data protected. Ensure AI practices align with relevant security and compliance requirements (e.g., SOC II, ISO-9001). Emerging Technology & Evaluation Stay informed on the AI landscape and industry trends; horizon-scan for relevant capabilities. Understand the use of GitHub and basic development principles. Run small proofs-of-concept and pilots to validate value before broad adoption. Make pragmatic build / buy / wait recommendations rather than chasing every release. Business Enablement & Support Serve as the first point of contact for AI questions from across the business. Translate ambiguous requests into well-scoped, achievable use cases. Train and upskill staff to adopt approved AI tools effectively. Intake of completed AI applications for continued maintenance. Hands-On Solutioning Build lightweight automations, prompt-based tools, and prototypes to prove value quickly. Get colleagues unstuck on AI-assisted development projects (e.g., Claude, Replit) at any stage. Read across common programming languages well enough to judge whether an AI-generated development direction is sound — without needing to write production code from scratch. Make independent day-to-day decisions, escalating new vendors, meaningful spend, and policy changes to the IT Manager. Carry out additional responsibilities as needed to support business objectives. Requirements Qualifications & Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent practical experience Have 2 - 3 years of experience in IT, technology, or a related field Strong technical judgment: able to read and reason about code across common programming languages and assess solution quality, without needing to build production software from scratch Hands-on familiarity with modern AI tools (e.g., LLM assistants such as Claude, low-code/build platforms such as Replit), prompt engineering, and APIs Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to translate between business needs and technical solutions Demonstrated ability to turn ambiguous business needs into practical, scoped solutions; strong problem-solving skills Project management skills and the ability to operate independently with broad latitude Familiarity with AI governance, data privacy, and risk considerations Familiarity with legal, statutory/regulatory requirements such as: ISO-9001, GDPR and SOC II desired Familiarity with the Google G-suite desired Culture Fit Requirements High intellect and strong analytical skills Innovative and driven to constantly improve Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution Non-bureaucratic, flexible, and able to thrive in a fast-moving environment Positive energy and attitude towards people and problem-solving Demonstrates a balance of humility, strong work ethic, and interpersonal savvy ("Humble, Hungry, and Smart") in approach to teamwork and problem-solving "Can Do" mentality Why Waites? At Waites, we offer an attractive base salary with a strong history of profit sharing. We are intensely customer-focused, with a culture that encourages hard work, fun, and mutual success. As we continue to grow, there will be many opportunities for professional advancement and development. If you are a talented AI professional looking for an exciting new challenge, please apply! Learn more about who we are and what we do by checking out our website at WST is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr