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Burns & McDonnell · 3 days ago

Managing Director, Data & AI - Corporate Business Enablement (Kansas City)

Kansas City, MO

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

13+ years exp

Burns & McDonnell is a globally respected AEC firm delivering complex infrastructure, energy, industrial, and public-sector projects. The Managing Director, Data & AI will define and execute an enterprise-wide data and information strategy, focusing on data governance, analytics, and AI to enhance project delivery and corporate functions.

ArchitectureConstructionConsultingHuman Resources

Growth Opportunities

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Define a 3-year enterprise data strategy and target operating model covering data architecture, governance, MDM, analytics/AI, and data culture

Balance enterprise standardization (shared execution data) with local agility (market-specific pursuits) across 22 units

Build and manage a prioritization roadmap (0-12-24-36 months) with value cases, milestones, and adoption metrics

Stand up an enterprise data governance council, policies, standards, and stewardship roles

Implement MDM for key domains (Projects, Clients, Suppliers, Assets, People, Financials, Contracts, Risk)

Establish data quality, lineage, and metadata practices; ensure a single source of truth for project and corporate data

Design scalable data platforms and pipelines (batch/real-time) to support analytics and AI across business and corporate functions

Operationalize advanced analytics and AI (predictive/prescriptive insights, ML, GenAI where appropriate) in project execution and support functions

Prioritize high-impact use cases; pursuit/win-rate optimization, estimate accuracy, schedule & cost predictability, change-order/claims analytics, safety & quality insights, resource optimization, working-capital & cash-flow acceleration, risk early warning, talent/workforce planning, and legal/contract intelligence

Embed insights into workflows and systems when appropriate (ERP, project controls, EPM, CRM, HRIS, EAM) to drive decisions, not just dashboards

Stand up a Data & AI Center of Excellence and community of practice across units

Hire and develop a multi-disciplinary team (data engineering, platform, governance/MDM, data science/ML, analytics translators, product owners, etc.)

Drive data literacy and change programs across project and corporate teams; communicate value transparently

Partner with InfoSec, Legal, and Risk to integrate privacy, security, compliance, and responsible AI into all data practices

Protect client and proprietary data across jurisdictions and contracts

Own the data & analytics budget; partner with IT to influence the vendor ecosystem (cloud, MDM, integration, analytics/AI)

Evaluate emerging technologies and standards to maintain a future-ready capability

Develop, manage, and execute a strategic business plan for the department

Identify, develop, and direct the implementation of business strategies, including operational strategies and procedures, marketing strategies and pricing strategies, and business development and client retention strategies

Manages the development and execution of the department business plan to achieve stated targets and standards for financial performance such as sales, revenue, and profitability

Partner with leadership to ensure opportunities are being adequately and appropriately pursued and supported

Provide leadership to the team; direct and coordinate work assignments and review performance to ensure the efficient, cost-effective utilization of staff

Responsible for profitable growth of the department; manage staff levels, staff loading, and staff assignments to meet client requirements while maintaining profitability goals

Implement, apply, and support company, global practice and/or regional office programs and initiatives; successfully navigating and managing change within the group

Provide expert level technical, consulting guidance, and support

Develop and manage department budgets and expenditure of funds

Prepare and present monthly financial reports to global practice or regional management

Responsible for leading and/or collaborating with business development managers, business line leads, project managers, and proposal production staff on proposals to secure work for staff

Ensure quality is maintained and exceptional deliverables are being provided to clients

Responsible for the recruitment, development, training, and retention of staff

Responsible for conducting performance evaluations for department staff

Provide leadership, guidance, and instruction to the department

Responsible for interpreting the organization's policies, purposes, and goals to staff

Responsible for overall QA/QC process adherence

Enforce compliance with company and site safety policies

Performs other duties as assigned

Complies with all policies and standards

Qualification

Data governanceMaster data managementAdvanced analyticsArtificial IntelligenceData architectureStakeholder managementProject managementChange managementBusiness strategyLeadershipCommunication skillsInterpersonal skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in information technology, business, or a related field from an accredited program

Minimum 13 years related professional consulting experience in complex industries required

Previous leadership and/or management experience is strongly preferable

Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients

Position requires the ability to thoughtfully and positively influence, lead, and manage change

Proven ability to develop business strategies and establish relationships with clients and staff

Must possess strong project/process management skills and a strategic perspective

Expert proficiency in the use of computer software (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Preferred

15 years progressive leadership in data/analytics; 5 years at VP/CDO or equivalent enterprise scale

Proven success delivering enterprise data strategy, governance, information management, and MDM in complex, multi-business or decentralized environments

Demonstrated outcomes deploying advanced analytics and AI into project-based operations (AEC, engineering, industrials, EPC) and corporate functions (Finance, HR, Legal, Risk, Supply Chain)

Expertise in data architecture (data lake/warehouse, streaming), integration, metadata/lineage, data quality, and BI/analytics platforms

Strong business acumen and stakeholder management; able to translate data strategy into measurable business results and align executives across 22 units

Track record building high-performing data organizations and leading change management at scale

Advanced degree in a relevant field (Data/Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Business Analytics, or MBA with quantitative focus) or equivalent experience strongly preferred

Company

Burns & McDonnell

Glassdoor4.2

Burns & McDonnell is an engineering design firm and it provides engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting services.

Founded in 1898

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

10001+ employees

http://www.burnsmcd.com

H1B Sponsorship

Burns & McDonnell has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

Represents job field similar to this job

Trends of Total Sponsorships

2025 (96)

2024 (105)

2023 (105)

2022 (118)

2021 (62)

2020 (49)