Director of Artificial Intelligence

Director of AI | Enterprise Transformation | Cologne
Location: Cologne, Germany (Hybrid)
Employment: Full-time
Package: Highly competitive, depending on experience
Languages: German & English

AI Futures has been exclusively retained to identify a Director of AI for an established procurement organisation undergoing a significant AI transformation.
The business has a strong position within the procurement market and is now investing heavily in how AI, Generative AI and intelligent automation can transform both its internal operations and the services it provides to customers.

They are looking for a senior AI leader to take ownership of this transformation — defining the strategy, building the capability and turning AI into a core part of how the organisation operates.
The Opportunity
This is a genuine enterprise AI transformation mandate.

You'll work directly with senior leadership to identify where AI can have the greatest impact across the organisation and then take responsibility for making that transformation happen.
The role combines AI strategy, technical leadership, organisational transformation and commercial impact.

What You'll Be Doing
Define and execute the organisation's AI strategy and transformation roadmap.
Identify where AI can fundamentally improve procurement processes, operations and customer services.
Lead the adoption of Generative AI, LLMs, Agentic AI and intelligent automation.
Take AI initiatives from initial use case through to scalable production deployment.
Modernise existing processes and workflows through AI.
Establish the technology, architecture and operating model required to scale AI across the business.
Work directly with executive leadership on AI investment and strategic priorities.
Partner across Technology, Data, Product and business functions.
Build and develop the organisation's AI capability and technical teams.
Establish appropriate governance, security and responsible AI standards.
Drive adoption and organisational change across a complex enterprise environment.
Ensure AI investment translates into measurable commercial and operational outcomes.

Your Background
Significant leadership experience across Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science or Intelligent Automation.
Proven experience leading enterprise AI or digital transformation.
Strong understanding of Generative AI, LLMs and emerging Agentic AI technologies.
Track record taking AI initiatives from strategy through to production.
Experience building or scaling AI teams, platforms or functions.
Strong understanding of enterprise architecture, data and technology environments.
Experience modernising established organisations through new technology.
Ability to navigate organisational complexity and drive genuine adoption.
Strong commercial mindset and focus on measurable business outcomes.
Excellent executive-level stakeholder management.
Experience within procurement, supply chain, purchasing or another complex B2B environment would be advantageous.
Fluent German and English.

What's On Offer
Take ownership of a major AI transformation programme within an established procurement business.
Build an AI capability with genuine executive sponsorship and investment.
Shape how AI changes both the organisation's internal operations and its customer offering.
Lead the adoption of Generative and Agentic AI across real-world procurement use cases.
Build and develop a high-performing AI organisation.
Significant influence over technology strategy, investment and roadmap.
Direct exposure to executive leadership.
Highly competitive senior leadership package.
Hybrid working from Cologne.

This is an opportunity for an experienced AI leader to join an established business at a genuine transformation point, with the mandate to move AI from individual initiatives into a fundamental part of how the organisation operates.

If you've previously led AI transformation within a complex enterprise and want the opportunity to shape that journey from the top, please apply for a confidential discussion.

AI Futures Ltd | Filling the AI Skills Gap®