Director, Data & AI Solutions

Overview

At McGraw Hill, we are dedicated to delivering digital learning experiences that transform education for learners and educators. Our focus is on creating seamless, impactful products that truly benefit our users while supporting growth and collaboration across teams. We foster a culture that values innovation, teamwork, and a balance between career growth and personal well-being.

How can you make an impact?

Reporting to the Vice President of Platform on our higher education team, the Director, Data & AI Solutions will lead the strategic vision and execution of AI & Data-driven initiatives, driving innovation and advancing data maturity across the organization. This pivotal role focuses on integrating AI and data science frameworks into the product development lifecycle, fostering cross-team collaboration, and delivering measurable impact. Operating within a matrix organization, you will navigate cross-functional relationships to align strategies with organizational goals, ensuring seamless execution and shared accountability.

What you will do:

Strategic Leadership:

• Shape the vision and strategy for AI & Data-driven solutions, ensuring alignment with customer needs, market trends, and organizational objectives.
• Lead the intersection of product development and data science lifecycles to deliver innovative solutions that maximize customer value and business impact.
• Stay at the forefront of AI and data trends to identify opportunities for innovation and competitive differentiation.

Cross-Team Collaboration:

• Operate effectively within a matrix organization, leading and influencing cross-functional teams to align AI and data strategies with organizational goals.
• Foster strong partnerships across platform, data science, engineering, product portfolio, marketing, sales, and customer success teams.
• Coordinate efforts across diverse teams to ensure the successful delivery of AI-enabled solutions, balancing competing priorities.
• Champion transparency and communication across teams, ensuring alignment on goals, timelines, and resource allocation.

Product Management Expertise:

• Define and manage solution roadmaps that align AI and data innovations with customer needs and business objectives.
• Develop and present compelling business cases for AI and data initiatives, including investment requirements, ROI analysis, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Own and manage budgets for AI and data initiatives, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Establish KPIs and success metrics to evaluate solution performance, prioritization, and drive continuous improvement.

Leadership and Team Development:

• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of product owners and researchers, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
• Ensure team alignment with strategic priorities and accountability for delivering impactful solutions.

What you bring:

• 5-10 years of experience in product management, AI, or data science, with a focus on strategy and leadership.
• Proven track record of managing AI-driven solution lifecycles from conception to market launch.
• Demonstrated success navigating matrix organizations and leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience developing and presenting business cases, managing budgets, and driving measurable outcomes.

Technical Expertise:

• Strong technical understanding of AI technologies, data analytics tools, and platforms.
• Proficiency in tools such as Tableau and Pendo.
• Familiarity with agile methodologies and processes, including tools like Jira, Confluence, and ProductBoard.

Leadership Skills:

• Exceptional collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders and motivate your team.
• Strong financial acumen and experience obtaining and managing investments.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment while managing ambiguity and pivoting quickly in response to changing conditions.

Key skills/competency:

• AI Solutions
• Data Strategy
• Product Management
• Cross-functional Leadership
• Data Science
• Agile Methodologies
• Business Case Development
• Budget Management
• KPI Definition
• Team Mentorship