Director of Intelligence & Automation-Remote (Finance)

Job Overview:
The Director of Intelligence & Automation is responsible for building and leading a Center of Excellence (COE) for Intelligent Automation and Process Intelligence capabilities. This role is pivotal in driving organizational transformation by engaging with business teams to understand key priorities and pain points, and subsequently leading the design, build, deployment, and support of AI-driven solutions. The role supports UNFI's organization's strategic goals by leveraging automation and AI technologies to optimize processes, enhance decision-making, and foster innovation that addresses complex business challenges.

What does it mean to be part of the UNFI Leadership team?
UNFI (NYSE: UNFI) is North America's premier grocery wholesaler, delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to community grocers and retail chains. As a leader at UNFI you are leading our teams as we are growing and transforming to meet the needs of an evolving workplace. We are implementing operational improvements and strategic initiatives to fuel efficiency and profitability with automation and optimization, new technology integration, digital transformation, and process improvements. As an impactful leader you will guide our teams to transform the future of food, feed our communities, make our customers stronger, our supply chain better and our food solutions more inspired.

Job Responsibilities:
COE Development & Strategy
• Establish and lead a COE for Intelligent Automation and Process Intelligence capabilities.
• Engage with business teams to identify high-priority areas and pain points.
• Define and execute the strategic roadmap for automation and process intelligence initiatives.
• Promote the adoption of best-in-class AI, Machine Learning, and automation practices.
• Develop metrics to measure stability, effectiveness, and ROI of implemented initiatives.
• Partner with stakeholders to align solutions with business goals, customer needs, and supplier value.
• Drive vision and strategy for enterprise automation to continuously improve and increase adoption and expansion of the program.
• Work directly with internal business units, technology teams, and vendors to identify, conceptualize, and communicate transformational automation & mining opportunities.
• Execute and maintain a sustainable and scalable Automation & Intelligence program and roadmap by interacting with all levels of the organization to create awareness of intelligent technology and build a pipeline of candidate processes for automation.

Team Leadership and Management
• Coach and mentor managers on their assigned efforts and team responsibilities.
• Ensures activities have proper coordination and collaboration when crossing multiple teams across IT, UNFI business areas or external IT vendors/partners.
• Participate as a strategy partner in the IT strategic planning processes defines roadmaps for their corresponding IT products and services often providing a more senior perspective and sharing across other IT teams.
• Provides leadership to teams through effective goal setting, performance management, recognition, associate engagement and ongoing team communication.
• Creates and oversees departmental capital and expense budgets for projects, hardware, software, staffing (internal/external), etc. and ensures value has been added to the business through cost savings and ROI analyses.

UNFI Business Partnership & Vendor Management
• Proactively manage business satisfaction levels and resolve chronic problems.
• Build strong partnerships with business teams, IT vendors, and peers to address critical issues and opportunities.
• Align external services and vendor products with internal needs and organizational goals.
• Ensure effective management of vendor contracts, SLAs, and invoicing.
• Develop and manage RFIs, RFPs, and SOWs in alignment with best practices.
• Lead end-to-end business process review meetings/workshops to generate awareness of RPA capabilities, documenting current process pain points, and identifying opportunities for automation.
• Manage the identification and prioritization of use cases, sustaining a healthy opportunity pipeline.
• Establish milestones and monitor progress of plans and schedules, identify delivery risks, and drive mitigation strategies and solutions.
• Mentor/advise colleagues through the automation software lifecycle, providing advice and guidance on best practices and development techniques.
• Serve as a liaison between technical and functional teams.
• Promote and drive adoption of emerging automation technologies across the enterprise.
• Oversee the COE Define, Design, and Configure project phases to ensure adherence to governance objectives.
• Support the successful implementation of solutions.
• Ensure that post-implementation benefit realization is captured and reported in accordance with COE requirements.

Job Requirements:
Education/ Certifications:
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science or related field.
• Preferred: Relevant certifications in AI, Machine Learning, or Process Automation.
Experience:
• 8-12 years of relevant IT and leadership experience.
• 5+ years of experience in building and deploying intelligent automation solutions at scale.
• 5+ years of experience leading technical teams.
• Expertise in modern databases, cloud environments, A360 and SaaS Platforms.
• Preferred: Experience with leading process intelligence tools and technologies.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with geographically dispersed teams.
• Excellent planning, priority-setting, and team-building skills.
• Advanced expertise in data science, mathematical modeling, and software development.
• In-depth knowledge of AI/ML frameworks, process automation, and optimization.
• Knowledge of RPA platforms like Automation Anywhere and Process Mining tools like Celonis.
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment:
Remote Role:
• This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.

Physical Environment/Demands:
Office Roles:
•Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
•Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
•While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
•Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
•Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

About UNFI: We are North America's premier grocery wholesaler, delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to community grocers and retail chains alike. A pioneer in natural and organic foods, we are growing and transforming to meet the needs of an evolving workplace. Our 29,000+ employees work across America in our 50 Distribution Centers and corporate offices. Learn more: Organic, Natural and Conventional Food | Wholesale Food Distributors | UNFI

Benefits: Competitive 401k, Flexible PTO, Remote, Health benefits - first of the month following 30 days of employment, LTI, mentorship program/developmental opportunities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. - M/F/Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.