Director of Artificial Intelligence

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is the North American leader in fiber cement home siding and exterior design solutions. Hardie® products offer long lasting beauty and endless design possibilities with trusted protection and low maintenance. The company pioneered modern fiber cement building products and continues to invest in innovation to transform the industry. James Hardie is a high-performance organization, with an unwavering commitment to Zero Harm. The company proudly employs a diverse workforce of over 3,000 employees across operations in North America.

Make your dream career a reality. It’s possible!

Hybrid from our downtown Chicago office / your Chicagoland home office

As the Director of Artificial Intelligence, you will play a key role in developing and implementing AI strategies and initiatives that align with business objectives. Your primary focus will be on building strong business relationships and fostering outcomes through AI applications. You will identify high-value AI opportunities, deploy AI tools, and ensure company-wide adoption. Collaborating closely with executive leadership, technical teams, and portfolio companies, you will ensure AI solutions deliver real business value while managing risks and ethical considerations. You will communicate complex concepts effectively to stakeholders at all levels, foster a culture of collaboration and ethical AI practices, and leverage advanced technologies to enhance business performance and drive sustainable growth.

What You’ll Do: 

• Develop, refine and implement the company’s AI strategy in collaboration with leadership, to drive innovation and growth.
• Identify and implement AI opportunities across underwriting, asset management, corporate operations, and portfolio companies. provides support and oversight for development of proposals and prototypes.
• Oversee the integration of AI tools, ensuring seamless deployment and measurable results.
• Act as a thought leader in AI adoption, managing risk and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Helps JH to identify standards for projects.
• Track AI performance metrics, including cost savings, ROI, and operational efficiency.-
• Collaborate with teams to optimize AI applications while ensuring data security and governance.
• Manage resources, budgets, and timelines to ensure successful delivery of projects and initiatives.
• Lead AI training initiatives to enhance literacy and adoption across the organization.
• Stay ahead of emerging AI trends, providing insights and recommendations to leadership. 

What You’ll Bring: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Business, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in AI integration, digital transformation, or strategy development.
• Hands-on experience with AI techniques such as natural language processing, computer vision, and deep learning (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face).
• Prior experience leading large-scale AI initiatives in corporate or investment environments.
• Experience working with portfolio companies is a plus
• Strong understanding of AI applications, machine learning, and their business implications.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Analytical mindset focused on performance metrics and ROI.
• Ability to drive innovation while managing change in complex environments.
• Experience in AI tools and platforms, with knowledge of programming languages such as Python, R, Java, or C++.

What You’ll Receive:

As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $180,000 to $220,000. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography and internal equity and may change over time. This position qualifies for benefits and you will be eligible to participate in a bonus plan.

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Comprehensive low-cost co-pay Health Insurance; medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance benefits for every 30+ hour full-time employee. Insurance starts on day one!
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) Retirement plan that will match 100% of employees saved dollars up to the first 6% of your salary
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick leave
• Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Community Involvement & Sustainable Solutions
• Click here to learn more about our benefits

James Hardie will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.

Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis.

Apply now and come “home” to Hardie!

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James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.