SENIOR BUSINESS ADVISOR – BDC ADVISORY SERVICES, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Job description

POSITION OVERVIEW

BDC is the Bank for Entrepreneurs. Our Advisory Services help Canadian entrepreneurs confidently overcome business challenges, improve their productivity, or hit their next growth milestones. We support entrepreneurs with trusted, objective advice and expertise across a broad range of functional expertise. We are currently looking to expand our expertise to include more emerging technologies and help entrepreneurs better leverage data and artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML).

The Senior Business Advisor will initially focus on mapping entrepreneurs’ needs with regards to data and adoption of AI/ML tools; this includes understanding and documenting the current state of data in SMEs, the applicable use cases for better business data and AI/ML, and the existing off-the-shelf and custom offerings available to SMEs. The incumbent will also contribute to creating SME awareness and knowledge pertaining to improved business data and AI/ML, including the creation of online training material and the facilitation of workshops and training sessions. In time, the (senior) BA will actively support our business development team in client sales meetings (pre-sales), and oversee the delivery of impactful client mandates, leveraging the advisory services methodology he or she will have contributed to developing.

The role requires solid business acumen and an understanding of the business and operational challenges faced by small and medium sized companies across various industries, and how better use of operational data and AI/ML, including off-the-shelf commercial products, can be leveraged to address those challenges. The role further requires an understanding of various types of artificial intelligence models (e.g. rule-based algorithms, machine learning, deep learning, NLP, GenAI), as well as an in-depth knowledge of the artificial intelligence ecosystem across Canada. Finally, it requires strong interpersonal skills, an ability to influence project outcomes in matrix and fast-evolving environments, strategic thinking, and strong project management skills.

CHALLENGES TO BE MET

Act as an internal subject matter owner within Advisory Services and lead the ML/AI Community of Practice.

Lead the development of BDC’s proprietary content (consulting solutions and learning content) to assess needs, design and deliver technology roadmaps in the data, business intelligence and AI/ML spaces, tailored to the realities and maturity of Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises.

Contribute knowledge and subject matter expertise on suitable business applications and related technologies and platforms for a wide range of SME sizes and industries (e.g., manufacturing, construction, distribution, retail).

Communicate complex analytical concepts and solutions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including support to internal and external marketing initiatives to help promote our offerings.

Stay on top of business intelligence, machine learning and artificial intelligence trends and leverage this knowledge to support our clients and enhance our solutions and tools.

Work closely with sales and mandate delivery teams to help transfer technical and product knowledge and expertise, deliver projects, and sell new mandates.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, engineering with a focus on business or artificial intelligence, or commerce, with a focus on business intelligence; MBA or related professional designation is preferred.

Proven track record of success in scoping and supporting the development and implementation of ML/AI solutions as a consultant; experience with SMEs or with off-the-shelf offerings (e.g. Shopify Magic & Sidekick, Intuit Assist, Zoho Zia, Salesforce Einstein, etc.) is a strong asset.

5 to 10 years of relevant experience.

Proven experience with current and emerging platforms in the enterprise data, intelligent automation and AI/ML space, including tools such as Python, SQL, PowerBI and other data visualization tools, and existing generative AI (e.g. OpenAI, Bard, Copilot) services.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an applied understanding of statistical analysis, data mining, machine learning, and other analytical techniques is an asset.

Considerable experience developing and maintaining exceptional relationships with technology, business, and external stakeholders to translate the development of new technology from inception to production.

Understanding of the business and operating challenges, processes, functional requirements, solutions, and capabilities for key industries (e.g., manufacturing, construction, wholesale/distribution, retail, professional services).

Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills, and a proven ability to present as an expert on AI and related topics; bilingualism (French & English) is an asset.

Travel to client sites within a limited geographic area, with occasional travel to other locations across Canada.

Job posting period

Until 2024-06-27 at 20:28