Assistant Vice President of Enterprise AI

Assistant Vice President of Enterprise AI

Information Technology, Rose Hill, Lincoln Center

Fordham University

Fordham University has an excellent reputation as a dynamic institution located in New York City. Founded in 1841, Fordham enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 9 Colleges and Schools.

• Fordham University offers a to its employees, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We offer tuition remission for employees and their dependents
• A generous employer match towards a 403(b) retirement plan.
• As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Fordham is considered a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, a federal program designed to forgive student loan debt for employees of certain public and certain nonprofit employers.
• As part of its work-life balance program, the University provides generous PTO including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 4 personal days, 6 summer Fridays, and that include paid time off between Christmas and New year.
• University employees have access to the (EAP). EAP provides no-cost, professional, and confidential services, to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President & CIO, the AVP of Enterprise AI is the architect of our University s AI transformation to advance its academic mission and operational excellence. They will create an AI ecosystem that enhances teaching, accelerates research, and transforms how the community learns, works, and discovers.

From implementing generative AI tools that revolutionize academic support to deploying predictive analytics that help students succeed. They build the frameworks, select the platforms, and guide the implementations.

Essential Functions

• Defines and communicates a comprehensive AI vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap for the university, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and the university s three strategic pillars and leads enterprise-wide AI strategic planning, establishing frameworks for AI governance, ethics, and responsible use across academic and administrative domains.
• Serves as the university s primary AI thought leader, co-designing education programs and communication strategies with subject experts to demonstrate and help implement practical AI applications across the institution.
• Shapes and coalesces AI use cases across diverse university constituencies, integrating existing AI initiatives into a cohesive enterprise strategy that addresses the university s business challenges and opportunities and delivers measurable value and competitive advantage by establishing metrics and KPIs to measure AI value realization and ROI, creating dashboards and reporting mechanisms for stakeholder visibility.
• Designs and implements generative AI solutions for academic and administrative applications, including LLM deployments, prompt engineering strategies, and custom AI model development.
• Develops and deploys machine learning models for predictive analytics in areas such as student success, enrollment management, research outcomes, and operational efficiency.
• Leads hands-on proof of concepts and pilots for emerging AI technologies, working directly with technical teams to validate feasibility and scalability.
• Builds production-ready AI/ML pipelines and ensures robust MLOps practices for model deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Champions practical AI applications across the university, building bridges between early adopters and technology-hesitant groups to ensure inclusive adoption.

Essential Functions Note

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities

Supervises the work of other Fordham employees who are individual contributors. Responsible for hiring, training and developing, managing performance and administering corrective action. Has significant input in compensation decisions.

Additional Functions

• Builds and leads a high-performing Enterprise AI team while coordinating existing university-wide AI committees and working groups.
• Collaborates effectively with academic deans, department chairs, administrative leaders, and faculty governance to navigate complex stakeholder relationships.
• Manages competing priorities and demands from various university constituencies while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
• Anticipates and prepares for emerging AI compliance requirements in higher education, ensuring all implementations meet ethical standards.
• Provides technical guidance on AI infrastructure requirements, tool selection, and integration with existing university systems.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience

• PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field with significant AI/ML focus.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in AI/ML initiatives, preferably including higher education exposure.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide technology transformations in complex organizations.
• Strong technical foundation in generative AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics with the ability to translate technical concepts for diverse audiences.
• Proven track record of building consensus among varied stakeholders with different technology adoption rates.
• Excellence in strategic thinking, communication, and change management.
• Commitment to ethical AI practices and responsible innovation.
• Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or research-intensive environments.
• Knowledge of AI applications in both academic (teaching, learning, research) and administrative (operations, student success) contexts.
• Understanding of higher education governance and decision-making processes.
• Experience managing through influence in matrix organizations.
• Track record of thought leadership through publications, presentations, or industry recognition.
• Familiarity with AI maturity models and enterprise AI frameworks.

AI in higher education is at an inflection point. While others debate possibilities, we're ready to act. With AI as one of our priorities and strong leadership support, you'll have the resources, mandate, and collaborative environment to drive real change. This isn't about implementing someone else's vision it's about creating the blueprint that other institutions will follow. Imagine leading AI initiatives that help professors personalize learning for thousands of students, enable researchers to unlock breakthrough discoveries, and empower staff to focus on what matters most supporting our academic and research mission. You'll be at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and timeless educational values, ensuring every AI implementation amplifies our commitment to excellence while maintaining the highest ethical standards.

The Leader We Seek is a

Visionary Architect You see AI not as isolated tools but as an integrated ecosystem that can transform the entire institution. You balance bold thinking with practical execution, turning breakthrough concepts into sustainable solutions.

Hands-On Innovator You're equally comfortable presenting to the leadership and diving deep into machine learning architectures. When critical decisions need to be made, you roll up your sleeves and make it happen.

Bridge Builder You excel at translating complex AI capabilities into compelling narratives that inspire adoption across diverse constituencies from AI-skeptical user to eager early adopters.

Ethical Champion You understand that with great power comes great responsibility. You'll ensure our AI journey enhances human potential while protecting privacy, promoting equity, and maintaining academic integrity.

Minimum Starting Salary: $144,000

Maximum Starting Salary: $180,000

Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

START DATE: ASAP

APPLY HERE:

ABOUT FORDHAM

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its 9 colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.

Fordham University is committed to excellence through diversity and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Fordham is an Equal Opportunity Employer Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories