Head of Strategic AI Solutions Delivery

The Role

The Head of AI Solutions Delivery will be responsible for leading a team of forward deployed engineers who partner directly with business stakeholders to co-create and deliver complex AI solutions across our global business functions. This role will be the driving force behind our efforts to leverage cutting-edge AI to redefine hospitality, enhance guest experiences, and create significant operational efficiencies.

Your Day-to-Day

• Deliver strategic AI solutions that are aligned with IHG's corporate objectives, partnering with business stakeholders to identify opportunities for transformative change in areas such as IHG’s direct channels, loyalty, and corporate and hotel operations.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team of forward deployed AI engineers, architects, and data scientists. Foster a culture of excellence, curiosity, and rapid learning.
• Serve as the lead technical authority on AI solution design, ensuring that all solutions are scalable, secure, maintainable, and integrate seamlessly into IHG's existing technology ecosystem. Champion best practices in software and systems architecture.
• Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of AI projects co-created with business stakeholders, from ideation and proof-of-concept to full-scale production deployment and ongoing optimization. Implement agile methodologies to ensure timely and impactful delivery.
• Plan, organize, and lead large-scale, cross-functional programs across a highly matrixed environment, often without direct authority, within established schedules, budgets and staffing plans; establish goals, performance standards and operating procedures for assigned functions.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key global stakeholders and business partners to build a strong working knowledge of business functions and objectives.
• Stay at the forefront of the AI industry, continuously evaluating emerging technologies, platforms, and methodologies. Drive a culture of experimentation and champion the adoption of new tools and techniques to maintain our competitive edge.

What We Need from You

• Education & Foundation: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, MIS/IT, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and progressive, relevant work experience.
• Senior Leadership Experience: 12+ years of progressive professional experience, with a foundation in hands-on software development and architecture, including 7+ years of people leadership (leading leads or managers), with a track record of managing, mentoring, and inspiring high-performing engineering and data science delivery teams.
• AI & Advanced Technology Delivery: Proven track record of delivering large-scale, complex AI and machine learning solutions that drive measurable business value, with deep understanding of LLMs, generative AI, deep learning, and traditional ML approaches.
• Strategic & Business Acumen: Exceptional ability to identify commercial opportunities, develop high-ROI AI use cases, and balance long-term strategic vision with short-term execution and outcomes.
• Technical Depth & Architecture Expertise: Broad technical leadership across IT domains, including solution and systems architecture, microservices, data platforms, cloud infrastructure, and application of industry standards and best practices.
• Modern AI Engineering & Cloud Proficiency: Hands-on experience with modern AI development and deployment, strong familiarity with MLOps practices, and proficiency across major cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure), with a strong preference for experience in the Google Gemini ecosystem and services.
• Executive Presence & Communication: Demonstrated success presenting to and influencing senior stakeholders up to SVP level, translating technical depth, delivery status, and risk into clear business terms.

• Global Delivery & Continuous Learning: Experience operating within global and offshore delivery models, and a consistent commitment to professional growth and continuous learning in emerging technologies.

   

Location – Atlanta, GA preferred. Our hybrid work structure is an expectation of three (3) days a week in office. This expectation may be adjusted to evolve with the changing needs of the business.

Who we are

At IHG Hotels & Resorts, we work together to deliver True Hospitality for Good on a global scale. With corporate offices and over 6,000 hotel destinations worldwide, a career at IHG is the perfect way to broaden your horizons. You’ll experience our unique culture and brilliant colleagues who will support and inspire you. With a host of corporate opportunities to choose from, wherever you are on your career journey, and whatever you want to achieve there’s Room for You at IHG.

Over recent years, we’ve transformed our company. We have bold ambitions to drive performance and maintain our relentless focus on growth in order to be the hotel company of choice that guests & owners love.

We are a hospitality business at our core and value connections and being together helps us foster a unique sense of belonging that also supports productivity. That’s why here at IHG, we give our colleagues flexibility and balance – working in a hybrid way, blending office and remote working collectively. We recognise that every role is different, that’s why leaders work with teams to determine how and when they collaborate.

We provide a wide range of benefits designed to help you live your best work life. These include impressive room discounts across our many properties, recharge days and volunteering days throughout the year. Through our myWellbeing framework, we are committed to supporting wellbeing in your health, lifestyle, and workplace. We offer a unique and inclusive culture, where there is always Room for You to belong, grow and make a difference.

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams where we celebrate difference and encourage colleagues to bring their whole selves to work. IHG Hotels & Resorts provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by applicable laws.  We promote a culture of trust, support, and acceptance. Always welcoming different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.