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Job Title: Director of AI Business Operations and Strategy
Company: Houston Chronicle Company
Reports to: President and Publisher
Location: Houston, TX
The Director of AI Business Operations and Strategy will lead the development and execution of enterprise AI initiatives that improve operational efficiency, optimize revenue, accelerate decision-making, and be accountable to measurable business value. This leader will partner with the Executive Leadership Team to define, refine, and execute the organization's AI strategy, adoption, plans, KPIs, and impact, and ensure the discipline and rigor required to deliver lasting business value. The role is accountable for the ongoing evolution of the Houston Chronicle's AI strategy and for translating it into disciplined, measurable execution.
This role owns the AI roadmap, chairs the AI Strategy Committee, represents the voice of the business in AI solution design and deployment, and ensures that AI strategy is aligned , and adopted in a way that delivers long-term enterprise value.
This is not a technology delivery role. Instead, it sits at the intersection of strategy, business operations, revenue optimization, audience growth, customer experience, and enterprise transformation-connecting AI strategy to the day-to-day work of the Houston Chronicle, its business functions, and alignment with Hearst Newspapers' strategic direction.
The Director will report to the President and Publisher and will work closely with the CRO, VP of Finance, and the Hearst Newspapers Director of AI Business Operations.
Core Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the Houston Chronicle's AI strategy and roadmap, with clear milestones and success criteria.
• Build a deep understanding of the business problems, workflows, and operational realities at the Houston Chronicle and bring that context into every AI initiative to ensure solutions are grounded in how the business works.
• Partner directly with the Executive Leadership Team to define, refine, and operationalize the company's top strategic priorities, including responsibility for identifying and implementing initiatives that drive efficiencies across:
  -Productivity improvements

• -Workflow acceleration

• -Revenue growth

• -ROI enhancement

• Build and manage a rigorous tracking system to ensure accountability, transparency, and progress across all departments.
• Develop and maintain implementation playbooks, training, and change-management rigor to operationalize AI at scale, including:

-Governance frameworks
-Training materials
-Adoption strategies
-Change-management processes
-Operational documentation

• Identify workflow redesign opportunities and execution gaps, and intervene to remove bottlenecks, reallocate resources, or recalibrate priorities, improving velocity and embedding AI into day-to-day operations.
• Prepare high-quality briefing materials, analyses, and recommendations for executive decision-making.
• Serve as the primary liaison between business demand and AI execution by evaluating incoming ideas against other technology investments and recommending prioritization to executives and Hearst Newspapers leadership.
• Lead AI governance, risk, and responsible AI oversight, including:

-Responsible use
-Vendor/model evaluation
-Risk management
-Legal/reputational considerations
-Human oversight and operational controls

• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive developments to inform strategy.
• Lead, mentor, train, and grow cross-functional teams focused on AI strategy and value realization.
• Prepare and present AI strategy updates to the AI Steering Committee.

AI Optimization and Deployment

• Act as the point person for the Houston Chronicle to adopt and effectively utilize Hearst AI tools.

• Identify high-impact use cases for generative and agentic AI across editorial, advertising, customer experience, and back-office functions.

• Partner with technology, product, advertising, finance, and editorial leaders to deploy AI tools that enhance productivity, content quality, personalization, and revenue generation.

• Build internal fluency through training, pilot programs, and scaling successful implementations.

Accountability Measures

• Identify and implement 5-7% cost savings through 2027-2028.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, digital media optimization, or a related field.

• Bachelor's degree.

• Demonstrated ability to drive execution in complex, matrixed organizations.

• Demonstrated success moving initiatives from pilot to enterprise deployment with measurable business outcomes.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a bias toward action.

• Proven experience leading cross-functional initiatives with measurable impact.

• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence.

Preferred

• Experience in business transformation, media, digital publishing, or subscription-based businesses.

• Experience implementing AI and automation solutions in a business environment.

Key Competencies/Experience

• Required: applied AI execution and direct experience implementing or scaling:

-AI agents
-Copilots
-Workflow automations
-AI-assisted operational systems
-Enterprise AI applications
-Experience working with platforms and ecosystems such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, AWS, and Microsoft.

• Strategic clarity and operational discipline.

• Effective cross-departmental communication and the ability to influence without direct authority.

• Change management and media transformation.

• High degree of discretion, judgment, and integrity.

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About the Houston Chronicle:
The Houston Chronicle, recognized for its Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, serves its 2.3 million residents with content and marketing solutions across two of Houston's largest websites - HoustonChronicle.com and Chron.com, along with our magazine, television and newspaper brands. Our mission is to spark conversations that inspire action to create a better Houston. All our content and the innovative business solutions we provide invite Houstonians to join conversations about a community we've been committed to covering and helping prosper for more than 120 years. The community we all call home.
WHAT WE OFFER:
There has never been a more exciting time to join the Houston Chronicle. Our business is growing and transforming every day. Advertisers are partnering with us to help them navigate new marketing strategies in today's increasingly complex digital environment. Simply put, the Houston Chronicle is a media company that uses its rich history and data to deliver the most impactful media campaigns for our customers. We leverage our substantial audience reach, coupled with best in class advertising solutions to keep our customer's brand in front of the right people at the right time.
Why are we different? Our people! Our company is diverse and filled with smart, passionate people who want to make a difference in their community, regardless of the role they play in the company. We offer an upbeat and collaborative working environment and expect our people to challenge the norm.
About Hearst Newspapers:
With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.
At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories - growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms - to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.
Be a part of something bigger - your headline awaits.
Recognizing the diverse needs of our candidates, if you are interested in applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or regarding the application process, please contact us by email at hnpemployment@hearst.com. Please do not use this email address to inquire about the status of applications. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests for a reasonable accommodation through this email address.