Operations & AI Automation Lead

Salary Range: $65,000–$75,000

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on, solutions-focused Operations & AI Automation Lead who has proven experience designing, building, and implementing AI-powered solutions that improve business operations.

This is not simply a project management role. We need someone who can identify operational challenges, develop practical solutions using modern AI technologies, and independently build and deploy tools that save time, reduce manual work, and improve efficiency.

The ideal candidate has already developed working AI applications, agents, or automated workflows and enjoys exploring emerging technologies to solve real business problems.

You will work closely with leadership and teams across the organization to understand existing processes, identify improvement opportunities, and turn ideas into functioning, reliable solutions.

What You'll Do

AI Solution Development & Implementation

• Design, build, test, and deploy AI-powered applications, agents, intelligent automations, and workflows that solve operational challenges.

• Use modern AI development technologies such as Replit Agent, Claude Code, Cursor, OpenAI Codex, OpenAI APIs, n8n, Make, Power Automate, or similar tools to create practical business solutions.

• Develop AI agents and multi-step workflows that automate repetitive tasks, process information, and support business operations.

• Build connections between AI solutions and existing business systems, spreadsheets, databases, and applications using APIs, connectors, or other integration methods.

• Independently troubleshoot, maintain, and continuously improve implemented solutions.

• Evaluate emerging AI technologies and identify opportunities to apply them across the organization.

• Ensure solutions are reliable, secure, appropriately tested, and designed with suitable human oversight.

Operations Improvement & Project Leadership

• Work directly with departments to understand existing workflows, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.

• Identify operational inefficiencies and determine where AI, automation, or process improvements can deliver the greatest impact.

• Lead improvement projects from initial discovery and solution design through development, testing, implementation, and adoption.

• Coordinate internal stakeholders and external resources to ensure projects are completed successfully.

• Prioritize solutions based on business impact, feasibility, efficiency gains, and return on investment.

• Support teams in adopting new technologies and integrating improvements into their daily workflows.

Documentation & Performance Measurement

• Create clear SOPs, workflows, checklists, and training materials for implemented solutions.

• Train employees on new tools and ensure solutions are adopted and maintained.

• Track and report measurable improvements, including time savings, error reduction, productivity, and operational efficiency.

• Provide regular progress updates to leadership on active projects, results, challenges, and upcoming opportunities.

• Maintain documentation of implemented AI solutions, integrations, and ongoing maintenance requirements.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in operations improvement, business systems, automation, technical project delivery, or a related field.

• Proven hands-on experience designing, building, and deploying AI-powered business solutions, including internal applications, AI agents, intelligent automations, or AI-driven workflows.

• Practical experience using modern AI development technologies, such as Replit Agent, Claude Code, Cursor, OpenAI Codex, OpenAI APIs, AI agent-building platforms, n8n, Make, Power Automate, or comparable tools.

• Experience independently developing functional AI solutions beyond basic ChatGPT prompting or everyday AI-assisted tasks.

• Experience integrating AI solutions with business systems and data, using APIs, connectors, databases, or similar technologies.

• Ability to translate operational challenges into practical technical solutions and independently manage their development and implementation.

• Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to test, troubleshoot, and improve AI-powered solutions.

• Experience managing projects from concept through implementation, with a focus on measurable business results.

• Excellent communication, organization, and stakeholder coordination skills.

• Ability to work independently, adapt to rapidly evolving technologies, and continuously learn new tools and approaches.

Strong Assets

• Experience building AI agents capable of completing multi-step business processes with appropriate human oversight.

• Familiarity with Model Context Protocol (MCP), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), or other approaches for connecting AI solutions with business information and tools.

• Experience using AI-assisted coding tools to develop custom internal business applications.

• Knowledge of Python, JavaScript, SQL, or other programming languages.

• Experience implementing AI or automation solutions within Microsoft 365, Power BI, ERP, CRM, or inventory management systems.

• Experience working in distribution, logistics, e-commerce, or other operational environments.

• Experience measuring the business impact and return on investment of AI implementations.

What Success Looks Like in Your First 90 Days

• Identify and prioritize AI and automation opportunities across multiple departments.

• Deliver at least 20 hours per month in measurable time savings, including at least 10 hours from management-related activities.

• Independently develop and implement 2–3 operational improvement or AI automation solutions that are actively being used by the business.

• Evaluate 3–4 AI technologies or development platforms and document their potential business applications.

• Establish a lightweight framework for tracking project progress, implementation results, and ROI.

• Present a 6–12 month roadmap outlining future AI development opportunities, operational improvements, and priorities.

Who Will Succeed in This Role

You are a builder, not just a coordinator.

You enjoy experimenting with new technology, but more importantly, you know how to turn ideas into reliable, practical solutions.

You can meet with a department, understand what is slowing them down, and take ownership of designing and building a solution that improves how they work.

You are comfortable working independently, learning emerging technologies, solving technical challenges, and finding creative ways to get things done.

You understand that successful AI implementation is not just about building something new. It is about creating solutions that employees can use, that work reliably, and that deliver measurable value to the business.

We are specifically looking for candidates who have already built and implemented AI-powered solutions in real-world business environments—not those who are simply interested in learning AI.