Role Overview for Interim Head of AI – Food & Beverage Manufacturer | Tampa Bay, FL
JRG Partners is exclusively representing a forward-thinking and established leader in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. Based in the vibrant Tampa Bay, FL area, our client is embarking on a pivotal digital transformation journey and is seeking an exceptional, results-driven Interim Head of Artificial Intelligence to spearhead this critical initiative. This is a unique, high-impact contract opportunity for a visionary leader to lay the foundational AI strategy that will redefine operational efficiency, product innovation, and market competitiveness for years to come.
As the Interim Head of AI, you will be more than just a technology leader; you will be a strategic partner to the executive team, responsible for conceptualizing, developing, and deploying a comprehensive AI roadmap from the ground up. You will have the autonomy to build and shape the company’s AI capabilities, directly influencing key business outcomes across the entire value chain—from supply chain logistics and manufacturing processes to quality control and personalized customer engagement. Your work will serve as the blueprint for the company’s long-term AI integration, making this a legacy-building role.
This position demands a dynamic individual who can seamlessly blend deep technical expertise with sharp business acumen. You will be tasked with identifying high-value use cases, championing a data-driven culture, and demonstrating the tangible ROI of AI investments. The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of implementing transformative AI solutions within complex industrial environments, preferably in CPG, manufacturing, or supply chain sectors. If you are a strategic thinker, a hands-on innovator, and a collaborative leader passionate about leveraging AI to solve real-world business challenges, we invite you to apply for this career-defining opportunity.
Key Responsibilities of Interim Head of AI – Food & Beverage Manufacturer | Tampa Bay, FL
The Interim Head of AI will assume a broad range of responsibilities, acting as the central nervous system for all artificial intelligence and machine learning initiatives. Success in this role will be measured by the ability to develop a strategic vision and execute it flawlessly to deliver measurable business value.
AI Strategy Development and Execution
Develop and articulate a clear, compelling, and holistic AI vision and strategy that aligns with the company’s overarching business goals. Create a detailed roadmap with prioritized initiatives, clear timelines, and defined success metrics. Present this strategy to the C-suite and Board of Directors to secure buy-in and resources.
Use Case Identification and Prioritization
Collaborate extensively with cross-functional leaders in Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, and Finance to identify and evaluate potential AI use cases. Conduct feasibility studies and ROI analyses to prioritize projects that offer the highest potential for impact, such as predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, waste reduction, and automated quality assurance.
Technical Leadership and Model Development
Provide hands-on leadership to a nascent team of data scientists, ML engineers, and data analysts. Guide the end-to-end lifecycle of AI/ML model development, from data acquisition and preprocessing to model training, validation, deployment (MLOps), and continuous monitoring. Ensure the adoption of best practices in model governance, ethics, and explainability.
Supply Chain and Manufacturing Optimization
Champion the application of AI to revolutionize the company’s core operations. Implement advanced analytical models to optimize inventory levels, streamline logistics, enhance production scheduling, and predict equipment failures before they occur. The goal is to create a truly AI-powered supply chain that is both resilient and hyper-efficient.
Data Infrastructure and Governance
Partner with the Chief Technology Officer and IT leadership to assess and enhance the existing data architecture, ensuring it can support scalable and robust AI applications. Establish comprehensive data governance policies and standards to maintain data quality, integrity, privacy, and security across the organization.
Innovation and Research
Stay at the forefront of the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. Evaluate emerging technologies, tools, and methodologies—including generative AI, computer vision, and reinforcement learning—for their potential application within the food and beverage context. Foster a culture of experimentation and continuous learning within the team.
Team Building and Mentorship
Lead, mentor, and develop the internal data science talent. As an interim leader, you will be responsible for defining the organizational structure for a permanent AI team, including creating job descriptions and potentially assisting in the recruitment process for your full-time successor and their team.
Stakeholder Management and Communication
Serve as the primary evangelist for AI within the organization. Clearly and concisely communicate complex technical concepts, project progress, and business outcomes to a diverse range of stakeholders, from technical teams to non-technical executive leaders.
Requirements for the Interim Head of AI – Food & Beverage Manufacturer | Tampa Bay, FL
We are seeking a candidate with a distinguished career in technology leadership and a deep specialization in artificial intelligence. The specific qualifications and attributes we are looking for include:
Educational Background
An advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field is strongly preferred.
Executive Leadership Experience
A minimum of 12-15 years of professional experience in technology, with at least 5-7 years in a senior leadership role (e.g., Director, VP, Head of AI/Data Science) overseeing AI or data science functions. Demonstrable experience setting strategy and managing significant budgets is required.
Industry Expertise
Proven experience applying AI/ML solutions within an industrial setting is critical. Direct experience in food & beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), manufacturing, or complex supply chain management is highly desirable.
Technical Proficiency
Deep, hands-on expertise across the AI/ML spectrum, including supervised and unsupervised learning, deep learning (CNNs, RNNs), natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision. Strong proficiency with Python and common data science libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch), as well as SQL and data manipulation tools.
Cloud and MLOps
Extensive experience with at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and their associated AI/ML services (e.g., SageMaker, Azure ML, Vertex AI). A strong understanding of MLOps principles and tools for building scalable, automated, and production-grade machine learning pipelines is essential.
Strategic and Business Acumen
The ability to think strategically and translate complex business challenges into actionable data science projects. Must be adept at building business cases, calculating ROI, and aligning technology initiatives with financial objectives.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Exceptional communication, presentation, and influencing skills. The ability to act as a compelling storyteller who can articulate the value of AI to both technical and non-technical audiences and build consensus across the organization.
Problem-Solving Mindset
A creative and analytical problem-solver who is comfortable with ambiguity and can navigate the challenges of building a new function within an established organization. A pragmatic approach to balancing cutting-edge research with practical, value-driven implementation is key.
Benefits & Perks Offered
As a key strategic leader, you will be compensated competitively for your expertise and the significant impact you will make. The package for this interim role includes:
Competitive Contract Rate
A highly competitive compensation package commensurate with your experience and the strategic importance of the role.
High-Impact Project Work
The opportunity to build a critical business function from the ground up and see the direct results of your work on a large scale. This is a resume-defining engagement.
Executive Collaboration
Direct access and partnership with the C-suite, providing a unique opportunity to influence the strategic direction of a major industry player.
Flexible Work Environment
A modern and collaborative work environment based in the Tampa Bay area, with potential for some flexibility.
Potential for Extension or Conversion
While this is an interim role, strong performance and business needs could lead to opportunities for contract extension or a potential transition to a permanent executive position.
How to Apply
JRG Partners is managing this search exclusively. If you are a visionary AI leader ready to drive transformation in the food and beverage industry, we encourage you to apply.
To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and strategic vision for AI in a manufacturing environment. Our team is dedicated to a swift and confidential review process.
For more information about our expertise in this domain and to connect with one of our specialized recruiters, please visit our Fractional & Interim Chief AI Officer Search practice area. We look forward to learning more about your background and how you can help our client achieve their ambitious goals.
