Director, Data Services and AI

Job description

Thank you for considering IT Concepts dba Kentro, where innovation drives opportunity and collaboration leads to success.

Our dynamic community of experts is fully committed to advancing our customers' missions, fostering professional growth, and making a positive impact on our communities.

                                               

By joining our supportive community, you will find that Kentro is dedicated to your personal and professional development.

Together, we can drive meaningful change, spark innovation, and achieve extraordinary milestones.

Kentro is hiring a results-driven Senior Director of Data Science and AI to define and execute our data strategy, leveraging advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI to drive measurable business impact.

This role will lead the development, deployment, and scaling of AI/ML models and data-driven solutions, ensuring seamless integration across the organization.

The ideal candidate has deep data science, statistical modeling, machine learning, and AI expertise, with a proven track record of delivering large-scale production-grade solutions.

This position requires strong leadership to build and mentor a high-performing team while driving AI governance, compliance, and enterprise-wide adoption. 

If you are passionate about leveraging data science and AI to drive business success and have a proven track record of leadership in this field, we invite you to apply and join our innovative team. 

Responsibilities: 

Leadership and Strategy: 

• Develop and execute the company’s overall strategy for data science and AI. 

• Collaborate with executive leadership to align data science and AI strategy with business objectives and delivery. 

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of data scientists, machine learning engineers, and AI researchers. 

• Drive innovative solutions by leveraging partnerships with academies, businesses, and government.

• Work with Sr. Director of Innovation and Emerging Technology to deliver scalable and repeatable solutions aligned to the company’s core competencies. 

• Define and implement an AI governance framework ensuring ethical AI and compliance. 

• Drive AI adoption at scale, integrating solutions across enterprise systems. 

Technical Expertise: 

• Drive the development and implementation of machine learning models and AI solutions, leveraging modern AI services such as OpenAI, Gemini, and Agentic AI, as well as AI/ML cloud services such as AWS SageMaker, Azure ML, and GCP Vertex.

• Stay current with the latest data science and AI advancements to determine feasible advancements and integrate innovative approaches. 

• Ensure best practices in data engineering, model deployment, and performance monitoring. 

• Develop methods and approaches to maximize new data services solutions to advance AI differentiating capability. 

Project Management: 

• Ability to shape and convert strategy into executable Roadmaps and Plans to advance the company’s goals in Data Science and AI space. 

• Oversee the lifecycle of data science and AI projects from ideation to deployment. 

• Ensure timely delivery of high-impact projects that drive business value. 

• Prioritize projects based on business impact, feasibility, strategic importance, and resource availability. 

• Translate AI Strategy into an execution roadmap with measurable KPIs 

Collaboration: 

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, marketing, and finance. 

• Foster a culture of innovation through a data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement approach. 

• Communicate complex data science concepts to non-technical stakeholders clearly and concisely. 

Compliance and Ethics: 

• Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and ethical guidelines in AI practices. 

• Promote responsible AI usage and mitigate potential biases in models. 

Location: This position can be performed remotely within the United States and will support Eastern Time working hours.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field. 
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in data science and AI, with at least 5 years in a leadership role. 

• Proven track record of delivering impactful data science and AI projects. 

• Experience in leading and mentoring a high-performing team. 

• Experience with deploying AI models at scale. 
• Expertise in AI risk management, bias mitigation, model explainability, regulatory compliance (GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA), and responsible AI frameworks. 

• Expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and statistical modeling. 

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL. 

• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Databricks, and EMR) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, and Oracle). 

• Experience with AI/ML frameworks and cloud services such as Tensorflow, Pytorch, Caffe, MS Cognitive Toolkit, AWS SageMaker & Bedrock, Azure Machine Learning, GCP Vertex AI, and Databricks ML for model training, deployment, and lifecycle management.  

• Experience and familiarity with modern AI consumer services such as ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, OpenAI, Gemini, and Agentic AI etc. 
•  Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. 

•  Excellent communication and presentation skills. 

•  Ability to foster a results-driven and execution-focused team environment. 

Clearance Requirements:

• Must be eligible to obtain a Top-Secret clearance.
• Must meet updated ID requirements:
• If you do not currently meet the ID requirements outlined, you must be willing and able to update your current forms of ID in a timely manner to complete the suitability process successfully. 

Benefits

The Company

We believe in generating success collaboratively, enabling long-term mission success, and building trust for the next challenge.

With you as our partner, let’s solve challenges, think innovatively, and maximize impact.

As a valued member of our team, you have the unique opportunity to work in a diverse range of technology and business career paths, all while supporting our nation and delivering innovative technology solutions.

We are a close community of experts that pride ourselves on creating an environment defined by teamwork, dedication, and excellence.

We hold three ISO certifications (27001:2013, 20000-1:2011, 9001:2015) and two CMMI ML 3 ratings (DEV and SVC).

Industry Recognition

Growth | Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, DC Metro List Fastest Growing; Washington Business Journal: Fastest Growing Companies, Top Performing Small Technology Companies in Greater D.C.

Culture | Northern Virginia Technology Council Tech 100 Honoree; Virginia Best Place to Work; Washington Business Journal: Best Places to Work, Corporate Diversity Index Winner – Mid-Size Companies, Companies Owned by People of Color; Department of Labor’s HireVets for our work helping veterans transition; SECAF Award of Excellence finalist; Victory Military Friendly Brand; Virginia Values Veterans (V3); Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Corporate Breath Award

Benefits

We offer competitive benefits package including paid time off, healthcare benefits, supplemental benefits, 401k including an employer match, discount perks, rewards, and more.  We invest in our employees – Every employee is eligible for education reimbursement for certifications, degrees, or professional development.  Reimbursement amounts may fluctuate due to IRS limitations.

We want you to grow as an expert and a leader and offer flexibility for you to take a course, complete a certification, or other professional growth and networking.

We are committed to supporting your curiosity and sustaining a culture that prioritizes commitment to continuous professional development.

We work hard; we play hard.

Kentro is committed to incorporating fun into every day.

We dedicate funds for activities – virtual and in-person – e.g., we host happy hours, holiday events, fitness & wellness events, and annual celebrations.

In alignment with our commitment to our communities, we also host and attend charity galas/events.

We believe in appreciating your commitment and building a positive workspace for you to be creative, innovative, and happy.

Commitment Equal Opportunity Employment & VEVRAA

Kentro is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Kentro is strongly committed to compliance with VEVRAA and other applicable federal, state, and local laws governing equal employment opportunity.

We have developed comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure our hiring practices align with these requirements.

As part of our VEVRAA compliance efforts, Kentro has established an equal opportunity plan outlining our commitment to recruiting, hiring, and advancing protected veterans.

This plan is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness.

We encourage protected veterans to self-identify during the application process.

This information is strictly confidential and will only be used for reporting and compliance purposes as required by law.

Providing this information is voluntary and will not impact your employment eligibility.

Our commitment to equal employment opportunity extends beyond legal compliance.

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees, including protected veterans, are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

How to Apply

To apply to Kentro Positions- Please click on the: “Apply for this Job” button at the bottom of this Job Description or the button at the top: “Application.”  Please upload your resume and complete all the application steps.

You must submit the application for Kentro to consider you for a position.  If you need alternative application methods, please email and request assistance.  

Accommodations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you need to discuss reasonable accommodations, please email .  

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Required Skill Profession

Computer Occupations