Managing Director, Data & AI - Business Enablement (Kansas City)

Description

Company Overview


Burns & McDonnell is a globally respected AEC firm delivering complex infrastructure, energy, industrial, and public-sector projects. The company operates entrepreneurially as 22 distinct business units. Leadership has prioritized an enterprise data strategy that preserves this agility while harmonizing shared project execution (80-90% consistent across units) to unlock operational excellence, client value, and new revenue opportunities through advanced analytics and AI.


Role Summary


The Managing Director, Data & AI will define and execute an enterprise-wide data and information strategy that turns data into a durable competitive advantage. The role spans data governance, information management, master data management (MDM), analytics, and AI, embedding data-driven decisioning across both project delivery (Professional Services/Engineering, Program Management, EPC) and corporate functions (Finance, HR, Legal, Risk Management, Supply Chain/Procurement, Marketing/BD, IT, HSE, and others). This leader will harmonize common project-execution data and processes across 22 business units while enabling flexibility where go-to-market approaches differ.


Scope & Priorities


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Enterprise Coverage: Project delivery plus corporate functions (Finance, HR, Legal, Risk, Supply Chain, Marketing/BD, IT, HSE, etc.).


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Project Focus:

1. Professional Services/Engineering
2. Program Management
3. EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction)

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Core Mandate: Create a unified, governed, high-quality data foundation; deploy analytics/AI to improve execution, reduce variance, increase win rates, accelerate cash flow, and enable new business models.


Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & Operating Model
   
   
   • Define a 3-year enterprise data strategy and target operating model covering data architecture, governance, MDM, analytics/AI, and data culture.
   • Balance enterprise standardization (shared execution data) with local agility (market-specific pursuits) across 22 units.
   • Build and manage a prioritization roadmap (0-12-24-36 months) with value cases, milestones, and adoption metrics.
2. Governance, MDM & Information Management
   
   
   • Stand up an enterprise data governance council, policies, standards, and stewardship roles.
   • Implement MDM for key domains (Projects, Clients, Suppliers, Assets, People, Financials, Contracts, Risk).
   • Establish data quality, lineage, and metadata practices; ensure a single source of truth for project and corporate data.
   • Design scalable data platforms and pipelines (batch/real-time) to support analytics and AI across business and corporate functions.
3. Analytics, AI & Value Creation
   
   
   • Operationalize advanced analytics and AI (predictive/prescriptive insights, ML, GenAI where appropriate) in project execution and support functions.
   • Prioritize high-impact use cases; pursuit/win-rate optimization, estimate accuracy, schedule & cost predictability, change-order/claims analytics, safety & quality insights, resource optimization, working-capital & cash-flow acceleration, risk early warning, talent/workforce planning, and legal/contract intelligence.
   • Embed insights into workflows and systems when appropriate (ERP, project controls, EPM, CRM, HRIS, EAM) to drive decisions, not just dashboards.
   • Stand up a Data & AI Center of Excellence and community of practice across units.
4. Leadership, Culture & Change
   
   
   • Hire and develop a multi-disciplinary team (data engineering, platform, governance/MDM, data science/ML, analytics translators, product owners, etc.).
   • Drive data literacy and change programs across project and corporate teams; communicate value transparently.
5. Risk, Security & Compliance
   
   
   • Partner with InfoSec, Legal, and Risk to integrate privacy, security, compliance, and responsible AI into all data practices.
   • Protect client and proprietary data across jurisdictions and contracts.
6. Investment & Partnerships
   
   
   • Own the data & analytics budget; partner with IT to influence the vendor ecosystem (cloud, MDM, integration, analytics/AI).
   • Evaluate emerging technologies and standards to maintain a future-ready capability.

Core Responsibilities:

• Develop, manage, and execute a strategic business plan for the department.
• Identify, develop, and direct the implementation of business strategies, including operational strategies and procedures, marketing strategies and pricing strategies, and business development and client retention strategies.
• Manages the development and execution of the department business plan to achieve stated targets and standards for financial performance such as sales, revenue, and profitability.
• Partner with leadership to ensure opportunities are being adequately and appropriately pursued and supported.
• Provide leadership to the team; direct and coordinate work assignments and review performance to ensure the efficient, cost-effective utilization of staff.
• Responsible for profitable growth of the department; manage staff levels, staff loading, and staff assignments to meet client requirements while maintaining profitability goals.
• Implement, apply, and support company, global practice and/or regional office programs and initiatives; successfully navigating and managing change within the group.
• Provide expert level technical, consulting guidance, and support.
• Develop and manage department budgets and expenditure of funds.
• Prepare and present monthly financial reports to global practice or regional management.
• Responsible for leading and/or collaborating with business development managers, business line leads, project managers, and proposal production staff on proposals to secure work for staff.
• Ensure quality is maintained and exceptional deliverables are being provided to clients.
• Responsible for the recruitment, development, training, and retention of staff.
• Responsible for conducting performance evaluations for department staff.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and instruction to the department.
• Responsible for interpreting the organization's policies, purposes, and goals to staff.
• Responsible for overall QA/QC process adherence.
• Enforce compliance with company and site safety policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all policies and standards

Why Join Burns & McDonnell

• Shape and scale a world-class data & AI capability across one of the industry's most entrepreneurial and successful AEC firms.
• Direct line of sight from data strategy to project outcomes, client value, and revenue.
• Enterprise scope spanning project delivery and corporate functions, with strong executive sponsorship.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, business, or a related field from an accredited program.
• Minimum 13 years related professional consulting experience in complex industries required.
• Previous leadership and/or management experience is strongly preferable.
• Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients.
• Position requires the ability to thoughtfully and positively influence, lead, and manage change.
• Proven ability to develop business strategies and establish relationships with clients and staff.
• Must possess strong project/process management skills and a strategic perspective.
• Expert proficiency in the use of computer software (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Strongly Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• 15 years progressive leadership in data/analytics; 5 years at VP/CDO or equivalent enterprise scale.
• Proven success delivering enterprise data strategy, governance, information management, and MDM in complex, multi-business or decentralized environments.
• Demonstrated outcomes deploying advanced analytics and AI into project-based operations (AEC, engineering, industrials, EPC) and corporate functions (Finance, HR, Legal, Risk, Supply Chain).
• Expertise in data architecture (data lake/warehouse, streaming), integration, metadata/lineage, data quality, and BI/analytics platforms.
• Strong business acumen and stakeholder management; able to translate data strategy into measurable business results and align executives across 22 units.
• Track record building high-performing data organizations and leading change management at scale.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field (Data/Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Business Analytics, or MBA with quantitative focus) or equivalent experience strongly preferred.

This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.


EEO/Disabled/Veterans


Job Information Technology


Primary Location US-MO-Kansas City


Schedule: Full-time


Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time


Req ID: 260048


Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-SS #COR N/A