Senior Director - Machine Learning And AI (Retail Crime)

TL;DR

Senior Director - Machine Learning and AI (Retail Crime): Driving the strategy for how hirify.global harnesses ML and AI to reduce retail crime with an accent on visionary leadership, product innovation, and responsible AI. Focus on shaping the future of AI in retail and law enforcement, while delivering measurable impact today.

Location: This role works closely with our Product and Engineering teams, who are based in New Zealand. To enable strong collaboration, we will prioritise candidates who are open to relocating to New Zealand. hirify.global will provide relocation support.

Salary: USD$200,000 - $260,000

Company

hirify.global empowers the retail industry to tackle theft and Organised Retail Crime, a $150 Billion problem globally, by connecting people and intelligence to reduce crime.

What you will do

• Define and deliver hirify.global’s 3 year AI & ML strategy, ensuring it strengthens customer value, business growth, and our position as the global leader in responsible AI for retail crime intelligence.
• Lead the roadmap for embedding AI into our platform in ways that drive measurable outcomes, this includes revenue growth, customer retention, competitive differentiation, and meaningful crime-prevention outcomes.
• Oversee research and development across machine learning, generative AI, predictive modelling, computer vision, natural language processing, and emerging techniques.
• Establish and uphold clear guardrails for responsible AI, this includes model lifecycle management, ethical AI, fairness, transparency, and privacy.
• Lead and grow a high-performing Data Science team, mentoring the next generation of ML/AI leaders at hirify.global.
• Act as a thought leader, internally and externally, on responsible AI in retail and law enforcement.

Requirements

• Significant experience leading AI/ML functions, with a proven track record of shaping and executing enterprise-level AI strategy.
• Demonstrated success deploying large-scale ML systems into production environments that deliver measurable business or customer value.
• Strong proficiency in modern ML techniques, frameworks, and tooling, with the ability to guide teams using Python and contemporary ML/AI stacks.
• Deep experience with cloud-based ML ecosystems and MLOps practices, including model lifecycle management, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• A builder at heart, you grow systems, strategies, and high-performing teams, with a record of leading and scaling Data Science or ML organisations.
• You’re an excellent communicator who is able to influence across teams, engage the ELT, and contribute confidently at Board level, helping leaders and teams see what’s possible with AI while keeping a clear line of sight to practical outcomes.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary range and discretionary annual bonus based on company revenue targets.
• Employee share scheme, allowing you to own part of a company making a real difference.
• Flexibility and shorter work weeks (Friday afternoons off).
• Comprehensive health care plan (medical, dental & vision) with hirify.global covering 100% of the cost.
• Focus on mental and physical health, including Wellness Days and up to $500 USD for expert sessions every year.
• Family-friendly policies, including comprehensive paid parental leave.