Head of Applied AI

Able is a product strategy and development studio. Able’s vision is to build digital products that create a more inclusive and prosperous future for our people and partners (what we call clients).  Our teams consist of exceptional Software Engineers, Program Managers, Product Managers and Designers, and all-around company builders. 

Able is seeking a full-time permanent Head of Applied AI to join our remote team. This role will oversee the AI, ML and Data Strategy disciplines within Able and will be part of our Executive Leadership Team (ELT), reporting directly to the CEO. 

Our Story

Over the past several years, Able has grown immeasurably. We’ve also grown in the type of company that we are:

Chapter 1: We were founded in 2013 as a product and engineering hub for a portfolio of early-stage start-ups. We grew up as an in-house/external hybrid shared services model. That allowed us to hone our skills and establish our operational and cultural foundation. 

Chapter 2. In 2019 we began to expand our vision. We began to grow outside of our inset partner base. We had good initial success meeting new partners, kicking off new relationships, and delivering high-value work.

Chapter 3. In 2023, we moved into the next phase of a new chapter, an expansion of the ambition of Chapter 2. Our strategy for growth centers around two audiences:

• Venture Capital. VC firms are looking for trusted product and technology solutions to distribute seamlessly across their portfolios at scale. The founders at their portfolio companies are looking for capabilities that can accelerate their businesses’ go-to-market time, while minimizing cost and risk.
• Private Equity. PE firms are looking for trusted solutions that can catalyze growth for their portfolio companies at scale. The leaders of those companies are looking to leverage technology to unlock growth from their organizations.

Chapter 3a. We are now in the next phase of Chapter 3, aligned to our mission and vision, and accelerated by the powers of applied AI. We believe that AI will be a powerful force for our target segments:

• Building early stage companies may or may not be fueled by AI. But AI will absolutely be a powerful force for their scaling later in their product cycle. We build 0-1 products that are AI-enabled to set the foundation for future growth.
• Mid-market PE owned companies are struggling to invest in AI effectively. Many don’t know where to start, or how to project the potential value it will deliver. We need to create a wedge into these companies, by demonstrating the value of implementing AI in their products to drive competitive advantage, and into their operations to drive cost savings. 

We are looking for a leader who can inspire these new segments with strategic AI thinking to deliver business outcomes. This leadership role will provide unique value for our partners to drive sustainable growth for Able.

Profile & Skillset

AI/ML Expertise

You have a demonstrated track record conceiving, planning, and implementing AI solutions, ideally into early stage companies and mid-market companies. You speak fluently about:

• Data strategy
• Business case identification
• How to apply AI to drive business results and the ROI model to deliver
• The skill sets and datasets required to deliver

Vision Shaping

You have a pointed perspective on AI’s abilities, and can articulate it clearly. You believe in the power of AI to deliver business performance to early stage and mid-market companies. You are able to delineate between the two segments to imagine AI use cases for each.

Commercial Acumen

You have experience commercializing AI solutions. You can connect the dots between a business goal, the power of the technology, and the role Able can uniquely play to deliver on it. You can think on your feet about how to shape solutions to drive partnership between Able and partners/prospects.

Leadership Voice

You are confident in representing the power of AI, to external and internal audiences. You can credibly speak on AI’s unique abilities, and you can successfully invite others – internally and externally – to be a part of activating your vision.

Your Responsibilities

1. Help Able grow and expand in our market

We believe that in the future, not every company will be an AI company, but every company will need to leverage AI to be successful. In that world, AI will be the key wedge to drive Able’s growth in the near and mid-term. Not all products or companies we build will be AI companies, but AI enablement will be a key differentiator for Able in the market, and our differentiated expertise will command a premium.

2. Build trusted partner relationships

There is so much noise and misunderstanding about AI, we need trusted partnerships to allow the credibility and access we need to deliver solutions. And, some AI implementations will not pay for themselves immediately for our partners, so we need to set responsible expectations around the speed to ROI.

3. Craft and implement a vision for our capability

We have a number of theses and frameworks for how we commercialize and deliver AI in a differentiated way. But we need to unify and sharpen our position. We need a clear position on AI that we can communicate to prospects, partners, and our teams.

4. Build and mature the team to deliver on the vision.

The skillsets necessary to deliver AI solutions are changing fast. We need to build the talent base across all our disciplines: Design, Product Strategy, Program Management and Engineering.

What we’re looking for

• Experience commercializing AI/ML at a consultancy or agency
• Experience working with PE firms and VC/Incubators, and their portfolio companies
• Demonstrated experience leading product organizations that deliver business results
• Vision and leadership abilities to inspire and mobilize talent
• Innate ability to inspire partners to think differently about their approach to technology led growth
• Dynamic and ambitious approach to company building, for Able and for our partners’ organizations

Outcomes that define success

This is a new position at Able. So you will get to shape your day to day. Here are some outcomes that will represent success for the role:

• Able has a clearly defined and differentiated position on AI in the marketplace
• Able has a clearly articulated value proposition in the market, for all our growth segments:
• VC/Incubators
• Pre-seed to Series A startups
• PE firms
• Mid-market PE backed companies
• Our AI positioning and offerings are material drivers of Able’s new partner acquisition
• AI represents a meaningful and growing percentage of our work
• AI is seamlessly threaded throughout our work, our team, and the experience of working with and for Able

This position is 100% remote within the United States.  You must be authorized to work in the United States. 

Minimal travel within the US may be required for this role.

The base salary range for this position is $230,000 to $250,000 USD.

Able’s Values

• Put People First: We’re caring, open, and encouraging.  We respect the richness that we each bring into our work.
• Imagine Better: We are optimistic in our outlook, as well as creative and proactive to deliver the highest quality.
• Expect Excellence: We commit to each other to always strive to be our best.
• Simplify to Solve: We create better outcomes by reducing complexity.
• We are all Builders: We are motivated and empowered to help build Able, and our partner’s businesses.
• One Able. Many Voices: Our unity is our strength.  Our diversity is our energy.

About Able

Able was founded in 2013 on the premise that entrepreneurs and philanthropists needed a better service model for building technology.

Today we’re 70+ exceptionally talented builders throughout North and Latin America. We’ve developed our own products, and we’ve launched, innovated and scaled projects for our partners.

We believe talent and teams come first. Our environment allows us to work on diverse, high-impact products and technology in a truly people-oriented culture. We value outcomes over effort, and strive to get better every day.

Our unique model allows us to field a focused, dedicated team of designers, engineers, and all-around company builders. Each team is outcome-oriented, designed to seamlessly integrate with our partners, and ready to adapt as their business evolves.

Let’s build together.

Able is committed to inclusion and diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status.