Director, AI Innovation

About ATLAS SP

ATLAS SP Partners is a global investment firm that seeks to provide stable funding and capital markets services to companies seeking innovative and bespoke structured credit and asset-backed finance solutions. ATLAS SP’s tenured experts work with clients to determine the best approach to optimize their capital and achieve their goals, across a broad range of capabilities. Our integrated platform encompasses a holistic suite of capabilities, including asset/portfolio advisory solutions, warehouse/acquisition financing solutions, whole loan purchase/sale and securitization/distribution.

Our Culture

ATLAS SP is “one team” where everyone makes an impact – we grow together, win together, and embrace change together. From advancing the markets to supporting our communities, everything we do serves to make a difference. Our people are industry leaders with a passion for client service, complex problem solving, and innovation. We provide our talent with the pathways to grow professionally and personally in a collaborative and inclusive environment. We’re proud to build upon a legacy of excellence anchored in deep expertise and client service across the asset management landscape.

Position Overview

The AI Innovation Head will lead the firm’s strategy, adoption, and delivery of AI capabilities across the enterprise. This role will define how AI supports the business, shape the roadmap, and oversee the rollout of AI-driven solutions that improve efficiency, insight, and decision-making. The Director will build and scale the firm’s AI operating model in partnership with technology, data, and business teams and will manage a small team focused on applied AI development and solution delivery.

The role requires strong technical depth, product thinking, and the ability to translate emerging AI capabilities into practical solutions that advance business outcomes. The Director will represent ATLAS SP in AI discussions with Apollo and other partners and will play a central role in evaluating vendor platforms, building custom GPT-based solutions, and driving the responsible adoption of AI across the firm. This position is based in New York.

Financial services experience is essential, along with strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across a fast-moving organization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Solution Delivery and Innovation

• Lead design and rollout of AI products, tools, and workflows across the firm.

• Oversee custom GPT development and ensure solutions are secure, well-governed, and aligned with firm policies.

• Drive proof-of-concepts and pilot programs, turning successful prototypes into production-ready capabilities.

• Guide the team in building reusable components, prompts, agents, and integration patterns.

• AI Strategy and Leadership

• Define the firm’s AI strategy, operating model, and multi-year roadmap in alignment with business priorities.

• Identify high-impact use cases across investment, operations, finance, risk, legal, and technology functions.

• Partner with Apollo to coordinate AI initiatives, share learnings, and explore shared platforms, tooling, or solution libraries.

• Establish responsible AI guidelines, security expectations, and governance practices.

• Vendor and Platform Evaluation

• Evaluate AI platforms, model providers, toolsets, and vendors; assess fit, cost, and long-term viability.

• Lead selection and onboarding of external AI partners, ensuring integration with enterprise architecture and data strategy.

• Stay current on market developments and emerging technologies to inform forward-looking recommendations.

• Implementation and Change Adoption

• Partner with business stakeholders to shape rollout plans, training, communication, and change management.

• Drive adoption of AI tools and workflows, ensuring teams understand capabilities, limits, and best practices.

• Oversee operationalization of AI solutions, including support models, monitoring, and continuous improvement.

• Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a small team focused on AI engineering, applied research, and solution delivery.

• Establish execution rhythms, prioritization frameworks, and high standards for technical quality.

• Foster a culture of creativity, experimentation, and disciplined delivery.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with data, engineering, and architecture teams to ensure AI solutions integrate cleanly with enterprise systems.

• Act as a key partner to legal, compliance, risk, and security teams on risk, privacy, and responsible use.\

• Communicate AI concepts and solution value to senior leadership in clear, practical language.

Qualification and Experience

• Required

• 10+ years of experience in technology, product, or transformation roles, with at least 4+ years working directly with AI/ML, LLMs, or process automation at scale.

• Background working in financial services or adjacent regulated industries.

• Strong understanding of modern AI technologies, including LLMs, vector databases, agent frameworks, and prompt engineering.

• Experience evaluating and implementing third-party AI platforms and tools.

• Exposure to AI governance, model monitoring, or responsible AI frameworks.

• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into AI use cases and deliver measurable business value.

• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills

• Experience leading small technical or product teams.

• Ability to operate in a hands-on manner in a lean, high-growth environment.

• Preferred

• Experience developing custom GPT or agent-based solutions.

• Prior experience with cloud-based AI services (Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, etc.).

• Experience working with partners such as Apollo or in multi-entity enterprise environments.

Base Salary Range

$200,000-$275,000

The base salary range for this position is listed above. This position is also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus based on personal, team, and Firm performance. Compensation ranges are based on several factors including job function, level, and geographic location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed here.

ATLAS SP is an equal opportunity employer. The firm and its affiliates do not discriminate in employment because of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, citizenship, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or because of any other criteria prohibited under controlling federal, state or local law.