Senior Manager - AI Operations

Job Description

Position Overview

The Senior Manager of AI Operations is the day-to-day operational driver across multiple AI Program initiatives, ensuring each project moves through the program's lifecycle - from chartering, through governance and compliance approval processes, to pilot evaluation and operational home transition. This role owns tracking, reporting, escalation, and approval coordination, serving as the connective tissue between the AI Program's cross-functional pods and Mayo Clinic's institutional processes. The Senior Manager reports to the Director of AI Operations and is expected to independently manage a portfolio of concurrent initiatives, keeping them on scope, on schedule, and moving cleanly through each gate.

The Senior Manager, Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a pivotal leadership role in advancing the strategic delivery, operational effectiveness, and user-centered execution of artificial intelligence and digital technology initiatives. This role bridges strategy and execution by translating enterprise priorities into scalable programs, services, and operational models that deliver measurable value.

The Senior Manager partners with clinical, technical, design, operational, and administrative teams to drive coordinated delivery of AI initiatives, ensuring alignment with governance expectations, end-user needs, and enterprise objectives. This role serves as a strategic collaborator, operational leader, and change agent supporting the organization's digital and AI transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Execution: Translate enterprise and program strategies into executable plans; lead delivery of AI initiatives across platforms, services, and operational domains. Support lifecycle planning to ensure agility, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership: Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams; navigate consensus-based, matrixed environments; foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Service Governance: Partner with clinical, administrative, and technical leaders to align priorities, manage expectations, and support service governance forums. Develop and maintain standards, documentation, and performance metrics.
• Research, Insight & Business Case Development: Leverage user, market, and internal insights to inform solution design and prioritization. Support business case development, ROI analysis, and investment recommendations.
• Operational & Financial Management: Support operational planning, cost modeling, vendor management, and contract execution across AI initiatives. Ensure sustainable and compliant delivery models.
• Change & Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve delivery processes, service models, and team effectiveness; support adoption, change management.

Core Competencies

• Program & Service Delivery Leadership
• Strategic & Systems Thinking
• Stakeholder Partnership & Influence
• Financial & Operational Acumen
• Governance & Risk Awareness
• Change Leadership

Mayo Clinic will not sponsor or transfer visas for this position including F1 OPT STEM.

Qualifications

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8 years of progressive experience in healthcare, technology, operations, analytics, or related fields required.
• Master's degree and 8 years of progressive experience in healthcare, technology, operations, analytics, or related fields preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and delivering complex initiatives in matrixed organizations preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing concurrent complex technology or AI initiatives through structured governance and approval processes in a healthcare or similarly regulated environment.
• Working familiarity with AI/ML development lifecycles, including concepts like proof-of-concept design, pilot evaluation criteria, and production readiness standards.
• Demonstrated strength in initiative tracking, milestone management, escalation protocols, and cross-functional coordination across matrixed organizations.
• Experience coordinating across legal, privacy, security, and compliance review processes - ideally in a model where a centralized governance body manages downstream reviews on the program's behalf.
• Strong documentation skills, with the ability to produce committee-ready materials and standardized intake and approval artifacts.
• Comfort holding multiple stakeholders accountable to timelines and deliverables while maintaining collaborative relationships.

About Us

Why Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other care provider according to U.S. News & World Report. As we work together to put the needs of the patient first, we are also dedicated to our employees, investing in competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit plans - to take care of you and your family, now and in the future. And with continuing education and advancement opportunities at every turn, you can build a long, successful career with Mayo Clinic.

Benefits Highlights

• Medical: Multiple plan options.
• Dental: Delta Dental or reimbursement account for flexible coverage.
• Vision: Affordable plan with national network.
• Pre-Tax Savings: HSA and FSAs for eligible expenses.
• Retirement: Competitive retirement package to secure your future.

About the Team

Just as our reputation has spread beyond our Minnesota roots, so have our locations. Today, our employees are located at our three major campuses in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, Jacksonville, Florida, Rochester, Minnesota, and at Mayo Clinic Health System campuses throughout Midwestern communities, and at our international locations. Each Mayo Clinic location is a special place where our employees thrive in both their work and personal lives. Learn more about what each unique Mayo Clinic campus has to offer, and where your best fit is.

Equal Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or disability status. Learn more about the "EOE is the Law". Mayo Clinic participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.