Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer – Sample Job Description
Excelon Associates is proud to partner with a leading higher education institution in seeking an accomplished and visionary Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. This newly created role will serve as the strategic architect and executive lead for institutional AI transformation, bridging technology, pedagogy, research, and operations to build a future-ready university. As higher education enters a new era of AI-enabled learning and data-driven decision-making, the Chief AI Officer will guide how artificial intelligence is ethically, responsibly, and effectively integrated across the academic enterprise.
This position will play a pivotal role in shaping university-wide AI strategy, governance, and adoption, ensuring alignment with the institution’s mission, accreditation standards, and long-term innovation goals. The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking leader who understands both the technological and human dimensions of change, capable of partnering with faculty, administrators, and researchers to transform how the university teaches, learns, and operates.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a multi-year institutional AI roadmap encompassing academic innovation, research enablement, administrative modernization, and student success initiatives.
- Governance and Compliance: Establish a comprehensive AI governance framework addressing data ethics, privacy, accessibility, FERPA compliance, and academic integrity, while balancing innovation with institutional accountability.
- Pedagogical Innovation: Partner with deans, faculty, and instructional design teams to integrate AI into curriculum design and assessment, fostering responsible adoption that enhances, not replaces, human teaching.
- Operational Efficiency: Collaborate with the CIO, institutional research, and administrative divisions to pilot and scale AI applications that streamline operations, improve resource allocation, and elevate the student experience.
- Research Advancement: Build infrastructure and policy to support AI-assisted research, data access, and secure use of advanced models for faculty and graduate projects.
- Workforce Development: Lead campus-wide AI literacy and professional development initiatives for faculty, staff, and students, ensuring broad understanding and effective application of emerging tools.
- Partnerships and Ecosystem Building: Represent the university in national and global AI in education consortia, forming partnerships with technology vendors, think tanks, and peer institutions.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree in computer science, data science, information systems, educational technology, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated leadership in deploying AI solutions, data analytics, or digital transformation at scale within a complex organization.
- Deep understanding of higher education operations, accreditation frameworks, and compliance standards.
- Proven ability to design and implement governance structures, policy frameworks, and cross-functional partnerships.
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable strategy for academic and administrative leaders.
Success Indicators
- Documented adoption of ethical AI practices across teaching, research, and operations.
- Measurable gains in learning outcomes, administrative efficiency, and data-informed decision-making.
- Increased faculty and staff proficiency in AI tools through campus-wide literacy initiatives.
- Positive institutional reputation as a national leader in responsible AI integration.
Reporting Structure
This position reports directly to the Provost or President and will collaborate closely with senior leadership, including the CIO, VP for Research, Institutional Effectiveness, and Deans. The Chief AI Officer may oversee a small interdisciplinary team focused on AI governance, instructional innovation, and analytics enablement.
