AI Manager

Job Title: AI Manager

Location: Phoenix, AZ (On-site)

Employment Type: W2 Contract

About the Opportunity:

ZipStaff is hiring an experienced AI Manager for a state government agency to lead its artificial intelligence initiatives from strategic framing through scalable, responsible deployment. You will oversee a team of AI engineers, business analysts and operations specialists, translate high-level business goals into technical requirements, manage model lifecycles and ensure AI systems deliver measurable impact with strong ethical and regulatory compliance. This is an on-site, 7-month contract role in Phoenix, AZ starting November 30, 2026.

All candidates selected for an interview are required to complete a mandatory identity verification process.

What You'll Do:

• Define the roadmap, scope and objectives for enterprise AI and machine learning initiatives.
• Serve as the primary bridge between technical teams (data science, MLOps, software engineering) and non-technical business stakeholders.
• Hire, mentor and manage a team of AI/ML specialists, providing coaching, performance management and career development.
• Oversee the operational lifecycle of AI models, from deployment through monitoring, data drift tracking and retirement.
• Coordinate risk assessments, model validation, bias testing and data privacy compliance.
• Track operational metrics including latency, model availability, accuracy and business ROI.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Statistics or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in data science, machine learning or AI engineering, including 2+ years in a leadership or management capacity.
• Hands-on Microsoft OpenAI experience.
• Deep understanding of AI/ML architectures, machine learning lifecycles (MLOps) and modern frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, or cloud AI services on AWS, GCP or Azure.
• Proven track record of delivering complex technical projects on time and within budget using Agile or traditional project management methodologies.
• Exceptional ability to explain complex algorithmic concepts clearly to executive leadership, product teams and clients.
• Hands-on experience designing and delivering generative AI/LLM solutions, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and prompt engineering.
• Experience with cloud AI platforms such as Azure Machine Learning and Azure OpenAI Service.
• Working fluency in Python and SQL, and a strong grounding in responsible AI principles.
• Ability to work on-site in Phoenix, AZ.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Statistics or a related technical field.
• Experience with AI governance, bias testing and data privacy compliance in a regulated or public-sector environment.
• Experience hiring and building AI/ML teams.
• Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate or PMP.
• Strong stakeholder and vendor management experience.
• Familiarity with AI risk and data privacy frameworks such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF).

Benefits:

• Health Insurance.
• Dental Insurance.
• Vision Insurance.
• 401(k) + 401(k) matching.
• Paid time off.
• Referral Program.

About ZipStaff:

ZipStaff connects skilled technology professionals with leading organizations across the United States, matching top talent with impactful contract and full-time opportunities.

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