Director of AI in Almere Stad

Do you know how to turn AI strategy into real business results? Are you someone who brings people, processes, and technology together to make AI work across an entire organization?

At Ovivio, we're looking for a hands-on, business-driven Director of AI who can accelerate AI adoption, connect existing initiatives, and turn promising opportunities into measurable improvements. Not by building everything from scratch, but by making smart use of the technology, tools, and expertise already available.

About Ovivio
Ovivio is a leading and innovative SaaS (Software as a Service) company focused on childcare and primary education in The Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. Our goal is to empower professionals to focus on their primary task: "the development of the new generation." Our smart, user-friendly, and flexible software platform supports daycare centres and schools in areas like planning, personnel management, child development, and parent communication.

We are a fast-growing international company with a social purpose. With over 200 employees, we relieve and support organizations through our smart, user-friendly, and flexible products. We now serve more than 1 million children aged 0 to 12.

AI is already woven into how we work and what we build. We're not starting from zero our AI Lab is up and running, with a dedicated team that explores new ideas, tests them in the real world, and turns the promising ones into working solutions for both our people and our customers.

About the role
As Director of AI, you will take ownership of Ovivio's company-wide AI program, with a strong focus on business transformation, internal adoption, and measurable impact.

Your mission is to make AI a natural, valuable part of how we operate. You will connect teams, identify opportunities to improve efficiency, establish clear priorities, and ensure initiatives move beyond experimentation into practical, scalable solutions.

This is a strategic role with a hands-on mindset. You will work closely with colleagues across departments and countries, helping them understand, adopt, and effectively use AI in their daily work.

Rather than developing AI models or introducing complex new technology, you will focus on maximizing the value of existing tools, connecting systems, and translating opportunities into working solutions.

You will also act as the central point of coordination for AI-related initiatives across the business, working closely with Product and Engineering while respecting their ownership of technical development and customer-facing product innovation.

This position does not have direct reports. Instead, your impact comes from your ability to influence, align, and mobilize stakeholders across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

AI Strategy & Business Transformation

Own and drive Ovivio's company-wide AI program, translating strategic ambitions into clear priorities, actionable initiatives, and measurable business outcomes.

Identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency, and ways of working through practical AI applications.

Develop and maintain a prioritized AI roadmap focused on business value, adoption, and sustainable improvements.

Establish clear KPIs to measure AI adoption, efficiency gains, productivity improvements, and return on investment.

Report progress, results, opportunities, and risks to the CFO and broader leadership team.

Contribute to the monthly value creation planning cycle with the CEO, ensuring AI initiatives support Ovivio's strategic objectives.

AI Adoption & Enablement

Act as Ovivio's AI ambassador, inspiring colleagues across departments, countries, and seniority levels to embrace AI.

Drive company-wide adoption of existing AI tools and technologies, helping teams integrate AI into their daily workflows.

Develop and coordinate practical training, workshops, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Maintain and further develop the internal AI knowledge hub, including best practices, prompts, playbooks, and reusable resources.

Work directly with teams to understand their challenges, identify opportunities, and implement practical improvements.

Build a network of AI champions who help accelerate adoption and share successful use cases across the organization.

Foster a culture of experimentation, continuous improvement, and responsible AI use.

AI Implementation & Operational Excellence

Translate business challenges into practical AI-enabled solutions using existing platforms, tools, and integrations.

Connect existing technologies and workflows to reduce manual work and improve operational efficiency.

Take AI initiatives from concept through implementation, ensuring solutions are adopted and deliver measurable results.

Work hands-on with automation platforms, AI applications, and integration tools where needed.

Prioritize pragmatic solutions over unnecessary technical complexity, focusing on continuous improvement and real-world impact.

Evaluate the effectiveness of implemented solutions and identify opportunities for further optimization.

Cross-functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

Act as the central connector between business teams, Product, Engineering, and senior leadership.

Align AI initiatives across departments and ensure clear ownership, priorities, and accountability.

Collaborate with Product on the strategic and commercial implications of AI, including AI-enabled business models and pricing considerations.

Partner with Engineering on AI-related technical opportunities while leaving architecture, AI-assisted development, and technical implementation within the Engineering organization.

Facilitate decision-making, remove organizational barriers, and ensure initiatives progress from ideas to delivered outcomes.

Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and influence decisions without relying on formal reporting lines.

AI Governance & Responsible AI

Establish and coordinate company-wide AI policies, governance principles, and responsible-AI practices.

Work closely with Legal, Security, Product, and Engineering to ensure AI initiatives comply with relevant regulations, including GDPR and the EU AI Act.

Promote responsible and secure AI adoption across the organization.

Ensure clear processes for evaluating, prioritizing, and monitoring AI use cases.

Stay informed about developments in AI technology, regulations, and business applications, translating relevant insights into practical opportunities for Ovivio.

What we're looking for
Above all, we're looking for someone who knows how to make AI work in practice. You are a strategic thinker who enjoys rolling up your sleeves. You understand the business potential of AI, but you also know that successful transformation depends on people, processes, and adoption.

You don't believe every challenge requires a new platform or custom-built solution. Instead, you know how to connect existing technologies, simplify workflows, and deliver improvements that make a genuine difference.

You are equally comfortable discussing business priorities with senior leadership, facilitating a workshop, or sitting alongside colleagues to improve a workflow using AI.

You bring people together, challenge assumptions, and create momentum. You know how to influence senior stakeholders, navigate competing priorities, and turn strategic ambitions into tangible results.

Must have

8–10+ years of relevant experience in business transformation, strategy consulting, technology consulting, AI enablement, or related leadership roles.

Proven experience leading and successfully implementing AI-driven transformation or adoption initiatives within an organization.

A strong track record of taking AI initiatives beyond proof of concept into practical implementation and measurable business impact.

Hands-on experience with modern AI tools, automation platforms, and integrations, using existing technology to solve real business challenges.

Strong understanding of how AI can improve business processes, operational efficiency, and organizational productivity.

Demonstrated ability to drive organizational change and encourage adoption across both technical and non-technical teams.

Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including experience working with senior leadership.

Experience leading teams, programs, or complex cross-functional initiatives, with the ability to create alignment without direct authority.

Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex AI concepts into clear business opportunities.

A pragmatic, commercially minded, and results-oriented approach.

Background in strategy consulting, management consulting, or business transformation with a strong focus on AI implementation.

Experience in solution engineering, forward-deployed engineering, or technology-enabled business transformation.

Experience working with automation and integration tools such as Zapier, Make, cloud connectors, or comparable platforms.

Experience delivering AI adoption or productivity programs across multiple departments or countries.

Experience in SaaS, software, or other technology-driven organizations.

Previous people-management experience, combined with the ability to influence senior technical and commercial stakeholders.

Understanding of AI-related commercial models, including usage-based or token-based pricing.

Nice to have

Experience working in international, multi-entity organizations.

Familiarity with the EU AI Act, GDPR, and AI governance frameworks.

Experience in childcare, education, or other sectors handling sensitive personal data.

An academic background in business, technology, strategy, or a related discipline.

Certificate of Conduct (VOG)

Because we work with sensitive (personal) data and are active within the childcare sector, a validCertificate of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag – VOG)is required for everyone who joins Ovivio. The VOG will be requested by us as part of the hiring process once an offer of employment has been made. Ovivio covers the costs of the application.

What do we offer?
At Ovivio, we offer you the opportunity to play an important role in the future of education and childcare. You will work on innovative products used daily by millions of users. We believe in a flexible work culture, where collaboration and personal development are at the core. You will have the freedom to implement your ideas, grow in your field, and make an impact in a fast-growing SaaS environment.

Focus on your personal and professional growth, with plenty of opportunities to further develop your talents;

Opportunity to shape Ovivio's AI agenda end-to-end, from product features to company-wide enablement;

A collaborative, fast-paced environment with global exposure;

Competitive compensation and benefits package;

26 vacation days to recharge your batteries;

A Gaiyo card and a travel allowance of €0.40 net per kilometer;

A monthly work-from-home allowance to make remote working comfortable;

Anti healthy work-life balance;

A one-time net compensation of €200 for setting up or improving your home office;

The opportunity to purchase ergonomic office furniture for a healthy workspace;

Plenty of responsibility and autonomy in your role;

Flexibility to work partly from our headquarters in Almere and partly from home