AI Manager

We are CDAI—the data and artificial intelligence engine of Compass Group North America. We design and deliver custom, in-house solutions tailored to the unique complexities of food service and hospitality. Our work is grounded in strong data foundations, layered with AI to enhance forecasting, streamline operations, and enable better, faster decision-making across Compass Group. With deep integration into the business and a commitment to white-glove service, CDAI empowers associates, clients, and customers through innovative, future-forward technologies.

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on AI Manager to lead our dynamic team of engineers and scientists in building innovative AI solutions. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise with strong leadership skills, excels in cross-functional collaboration, and is passionate about translating advanced AI capabilities into real-world impact. As an AI Manager, you will guide the development of advanced data products and AI-powered applications, while shaping the roadmap, processes, and talent that drive long-term success. You will partner closely with stakeholders across Engineering, Data Science, Product, and Business teams to ensure scalable, production-grade outcomes.

Now, if you were to come on board as our AI Manager, we'd ask you to do the following:

• Oversee the design, development, and deployment of scalable AI solutions across the organization;
• Provide strategic direction for AI initiatives while ensuring alignment with business objectives;
• Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of AI Engineers, ML Engineers, and Data Scientists;
• Lead technical architecture decisions, system design, and solution reviews;
• Foster a culture of engineering excellence, code quality, and continuous improvement;
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering leaders to scope features and prioritize development efforts;
• Stay informed on cutting-edge AI advancements (e.g., LLMs, RAG, vector databases) and evaluate their practical application within the company;
• Establish best practices and frameworks for model development, MLOps, and scalable deployment;
• Present complex AI concepts and project outcomes to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Think you have what it takes to be our AI Manager? Here's how we'll know:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience delivering AI / data products, including at least 2 years in a leadership role;
• Deep technical expertise in areas such as Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), embeddings, and vector search;
• Strong software engineering fundamentals, including experience with Python and data science tools (NumPy, pandas, etc.);
• Proven track record of deploying AI models into production in cloud-based environments (AWS, GCP, or Azure);
• Experience managing teams and projects in agile environments with strong prioritization skills;
• Familiarity with modern data platforms, database systems (SQL & NoSQL), and RESTful APIs;
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain AI concepts to non-technical audiences;
• A growth mindset, with a passion for mentoring, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.

Compass Group Canada is committed to nurturing a diverse workforce representative of the communities within which we operate. We encourage and are pleased to consider all qualified candidates, without regard to race, colour, citizenship, religion, sex, marital / family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, aboriginal status, age, disability or persons who may require an accommodation, to apply.

For accommodation requests during the hiring process, please contact - for further information.