Senior Director of Artificial Intelligence
Compass Group, North America, Chicago, IL, United States
Levy Sector
Salary: $165,000-$200,000
Different perspectives make us better. We’re committed to creating an equal opportunity and fair treatment environment, where learning and growing together is just part of our every day. An environment where you can be your authentic self.
About Levy
The disruptor in defining the sports and entertainment hospitality experience, Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. Twice named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine and one of the top three Best Employers for Diversity in America by Forbes, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants; iconic sports and entertainment venues, zoos and cultural institutions, theaters, and convention centers; as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, and NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and MLS All‑Star Games.
Job Summary
Levy is the premier food and beverage operator in the sports and entertainment, convention center, and cultural spaces — present at the biggest moments in North American venue culture, across hundreds of events and millions of fans each year. E15 Group is Levy's analytics and strategy consultancy, embedded with partners from the NFL to MLB to the NBA, translating data into decisions that drive revenue, fan experience, and operational excellence. Together we harness proprietary transaction data at scale, embedded relationships with venue operators and ownership groups, and a consulting team that already speaks the language of both hospitality and analytics.
We now seek a Senior Director of AI to lead our AI vision, strategy, and execution. This role will be responsible for identifying, prioritizing, and delivering AI‑driven solutions that enhance guest experience, optimize operations, and unlock new revenue opportunities across the business.
This leader will operate at the intersection of business strategy, technology and innovation, serving as both a strategic advisor to senior leadership and a hands‑on builder of AI capabilities.
Set the Strategy & Vision
Define and lead Levy’s AI strategy across operations, corporate functions, analytics and partner services
Identify high‑impact opportunities where AI can drive efficiency, revenue growth, and guest satisfaction
Build the business case for investments, translate it for executive audiences, and hold the organization accountable to outcomes
Stay ahead of emerging AI trends and translate them into practical business applications
Enterprise AI Assessment & Roadmap
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of Levy’s current AI and data landscape
Evaluate business functions (operations, culinary, supply chain, marketing, finance etc.) for AI opportunities
Develop and maintain a prioritized AI roadmap, including short‑term wins and long‑term transformation initiatives
Establish success metrics and ROI frameworks for AI initiatives
Solution Development & Implementation
Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI‑powered tools and solutions
Partner with product, engineering, and data teams to build scalable and secure AI systems
Oversee pilot programs and ensure successful transition to production
Drive adoption of AI solutions across business units
Define standards for AI development, deployment, and performance monitoring
Stakeholder Engagement & Investment Strategy
Collaborate with senior leadership and business stakeholders to identify needs and opportunities
Develop compelling business cases and proposals for AI initiatives
Evaluate and recommend third‑party AI vendors, platforms and partnerships
Team Leadership & Cross Functional Collaboration
Lead and manage a high‑performing AI team
Act as a key liaison between business, technology, and data
What we’re looking for
Required
5+ years of experience in AI, machine learning, analytics, data science or related field
Proven experience developing AI tools and delivering measurable business impact
Strong understanding of modern AI technologies, including generative AI and learning platforms
Experience evaluating and implementing third‑party AI solutions
Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business value
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Experience building and leading high‑performing teams in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments
This is an in‑office role based in Chicago. Hybrid schedule with 3 days/week in office required
Preferred
Background in hospitality, retail, or high‑volume consumer operations
Experience with LLM applications, agentic systems, or AI product development beyond traditional ML
Experience with Claude, Gemini, CoPilot, and/or OpenAI
Familiarity with venue technology ecosystems: POS systems, inventory management, BI platforms
Experience working within or alongside enterprise organizations
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance/ AD
Disability Insurance
Retirement Plan
Flexible Time Off Plan
Paid Parental Leave
Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
Personal Leave
Associate Shopping Program
Health and Wellness Programs
Discount Marketplace
Identity Theft Protection
Pet Insurance
Commuter Benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_Levy.pdf
Compass Group/Levy is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass/Levy, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.
Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity.
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. We encourage applicants with a criminal history (and driving history) to apply.
Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/
Req ID: 1528508
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Salary: $165,000-$200,000
Different perspectives make us better. We’re committed to creating an equal opportunity and fair treatment environment, where learning and growing together is just part of our every day. An environment where you can be your authentic self.
About Levy
The disruptor in defining the sports and entertainment hospitality experience, Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. Twice named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine and one of the top three Best Employers for Diversity in America by Forbes, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants; iconic sports and entertainment venues, zoos and cultural institutions, theaters, and convention centers; as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, and NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and MLS All‑Star Games.
Job Summary
Levy is the premier food and beverage operator in the sports and entertainment, convention center, and cultural spaces — present at the biggest moments in North American venue culture, across hundreds of events and millions of fans each year. E15 Group is Levy's analytics and strategy consultancy, embedded with partners from the NFL to MLB to the NBA, translating data into decisions that drive revenue, fan experience, and operational excellence. Together we harness proprietary transaction data at scale, embedded relationships with venue operators and ownership groups, and a consulting team that already speaks the language of both hospitality and analytics.
We now seek a Senior Director of AI to lead our AI vision, strategy, and execution. This role will be responsible for identifying, prioritizing, and delivering AI‑driven solutions that enhance guest experience, optimize operations, and unlock new revenue opportunities across the business.
This leader will operate at the intersection of business strategy, technology and innovation, serving as both a strategic advisor to senior leadership and a hands‑on builder of AI capabilities.
Set the Strategy & Vision
Define and lead Levy’s AI strategy across operations, corporate functions, analytics and partner services
Identify high‑impact opportunities where AI can drive efficiency, revenue growth, and guest satisfaction
Build the business case for investments, translate it for executive audiences, and hold the organization accountable to outcomes
Stay ahead of emerging AI trends and translate them into practical business applications
Enterprise AI Assessment & Roadmap
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of Levy’s current AI and data landscape
Evaluate business functions (operations, culinary, supply chain, marketing, finance etc.) for AI opportunities
Develop and maintain a prioritized AI roadmap, including short‑term wins and long‑term transformation initiatives
Establish success metrics and ROI frameworks for AI initiatives
Solution Development & Implementation
Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI‑powered tools and solutions
Partner with product, engineering, and data teams to build scalable and secure AI systems
Oversee pilot programs and ensure successful transition to production
Drive adoption of AI solutions across business units
Define standards for AI development, deployment, and performance monitoring
Stakeholder Engagement & Investment Strategy
Collaborate with senior leadership and business stakeholders to identify needs and opportunities
Develop compelling business cases and proposals for AI initiatives
Evaluate and recommend third‑party AI vendors, platforms and partnerships
Team Leadership & Cross Functional Collaboration
Lead and manage a high‑performing AI team
Act as a key liaison between business, technology, and data
What we’re looking for
Required
5+ years of experience in AI, machine learning, analytics, data science or related field
Proven experience developing AI tools and delivering measurable business impact
Strong understanding of modern AI technologies, including generative AI and learning platforms
Experience evaluating and implementing third‑party AI solutions
Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business value
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Experience building and leading high‑performing teams in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments
This is an in‑office role based in Chicago. Hybrid schedule with 3 days/week in office required
Preferred
Background in hospitality, retail, or high‑volume consumer operations
Experience with LLM applications, agentic systems, or AI product development beyond traditional ML
Experience with Claude, Gemini, CoPilot, and/or OpenAI
Familiarity with venue technology ecosystems: POS systems, inventory management, BI platforms
Experience working within or alongside enterprise organizations
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance/ AD
Disability Insurance
Retirement Plan
Flexible Time Off Plan
Paid Parental Leave
Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
Personal Leave
Associate Shopping Program
Health and Wellness Programs
Discount Marketplace
Identity Theft Protection
Pet Insurance
Commuter Benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_Levy.pdf
Compass Group/Levy is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass/Levy, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.
Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity.
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. We encourage applicants with a criminal history (and driving history) to apply.
Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/
Req ID: 1528508
#J-18808-Ljbffr