Sr. Director, Emerging Technology

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a global dairy cooperative, is leading the dairy industry with our commitment to cutting-edge technologies. As a Sr. Director, Emerging Technology, you will be at the forefront of this exciting transformation, spearheading the adoption of advanced technology solutions to drive business growth and innovation. Join our passionate team and play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of productivity and growth through emerging technology initiatives.

The Sr. Director, Emerging Technology will play a pivotal role in steering the strategic direction of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), advanced robotics and automation, among other advanced technologies. The role will work closely with DFA’s CEO and executive leadership through recommending, designing, and supporting the implementation of business solutions enhanced by emerging technology to achieve business productivity, strategies, and complex challenges. They will be an advocate and change leader, driving awareness and adoption of technology-enhanced solutions across the cooperative to address business opportunities and accelerate growth. The role will utilize their technical expertise to collaborate with stakeholders and guide the design, development, and deployment of insights and solutions. Through expertise and influence, the Sr. Director, Emerging Technology will inspire and guide our organization’s productivity enhancement through usage of advanced technology, ensuring that DFA remains at the forefront of innovation, efficiency, and excellence in the industry.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Executive Collaboration and Communication:
• Clearly communicate the business impact and value generated by technology-enhanced business transformation projects, translating technical concepts into actionable insights for stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with the executive leadership team, including the CEO, providing regular updates, insights, and recommendations on emerging technology initiatives and applications that align with our strategic initiatives.
• Education and Outreach:
• Build strong relationships with key executives, fostering trust, alignment, and support for advancing DFA through emerging technology initiatives.
• Focus on building, fostering, and supporting the use and understanding of emerging technologies through all levels of DFA.
• Educate, promote, and advocate for the use and benefits of advanced technologies, such as AI, predictive analytics, IoT, advanced robotics and automation, and other emerging technologies that drive basic productivity, broader business transformation, and ultimate financial benefit.

• Develop and support a network of emerging-technology-centric and adoption-minded individuals.
• Identify opportunities to leverage new technologies to drive business outcomes and to implement solutions across the organization.
• Relationship Building:
• Utilize insights to drive change at strategic, tactical, team, and individual levels across the organization.
• Research and Insights:
• Establish relationships with key internal and external stakeholders; foster collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• Facilitate connectivity across the Cooperative through a technology lens.
• Conduct research on emerging technology trends and provide insights on best practices that align with business objectives and priorities.
• Communicate analytical findings and key insights cohesively.

• Identify future opportunities and initiatives for scaling emerging technology to create value and meaningful results.
• Work collaboratively across the enterprise to identify opportunities to leverage new and advanced technology to drive innovation, efficiency, growth, and performance.
• Provide expert guidance on technological trends, opportunities, and risks to inform strategic decision-making and prioritize initiatives to DFA’s CEO, executive leaders, and other senior leaders across DFA.
• Develop and communicate the value proposition of technology-enhanced solutions, highlighting how they can improve business outcomes and generate ROI.
• Communication and Collaboration:
• Collaborate closely with DFA’s leadership providing regular updates, insights, and recommendations on emerging technology initiatives and applications.
• Develop an enterprise-wide emerging technology roadmap in partnership with DFA’s IT leadership team that includes phases of education, adoption, and implementation.
• Strategy:
• Participate in broader industry conversations around advanced technology business applications with focus on its use within the dairy industry.
• Collaborate with business and functional leaders in developing emerging technology applications, use cases, roadmaps, and maturity transformation plans for successful adoption and outcomes within the Cooperative.
• Cultivate and maintain collaborative and strategic alliances with a range of partners across the business and industry.

• Partner with DFA’s compliance and IT leaders to ensure that new technology solutions comply with relevant regulatory requirements and standards, such as data privacy and security regulations.
• Regulatory compliance:

• Represent DFA in industry events and associations as needed.
• Represent DFA as a technical expert in regulatory proceedings.
• External representation of DFA:
• Engage with strategic and key DFA customers.
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities to enhance skillset required for DFA senior leaders.

Education & Experience:

• Undergraduate degree
• 5-10 years industry or functional experience that includes working closely with executive leadership providing strategic guidance and driving transformative initiatives
• Technical certifications with a focus on advanced technologies such as AI, predictive analytics, IoT, advanced robotics and automation or other emerging technologies preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Organizational Understanding: Knowledgeable about the organization and its operations; deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the business.
• Effective Communication: Able to communicate a vision and strategic business drivers for the future and inspire others to work together to achieve that vision. Able to develop rapport and credibility across the organization and promote ideas and proposals persuasively.
• Strategic Thinking: Able to evaluate industry trends, develop long-term implications, and recommend strategies and solutions.
• Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of cognitive technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics. Proficiency in programming languages and cognitive frameworks is preferred. Computer proficiency in DFA’s primary business systems and applications such as JDE, SAP, Microsoft Office, and other applicable systems.
• Ownership and Accountability: A committed, initiative-taking and detail-oriented leader with excellent organizational and follow though skills.
• Proven Leadership: Able to work closely with executive leadership, including the CEO, providing strategic guidance and driving transformative initiatives.
• Critical Thinking: Able to bring intellectual leadership to problem solving; synthesize insights from analysis and ensure credible, actionable recommendations.
• Organizational Agility: Able to lead through a complex and diverse organization with many diverging goals to produce optimal results for the entire enterprise, including making quick, fact-based decisions with confidence and authority. Able to navigate resistance to change, overcome obstacles that arise along the way.
• Passion for Technology: Passionate about how technology can transform business results, performance, and growth.
• Connectivity and Collaboration: Able to interact, collaborate, and coordinate with a diverse set of stakeholders, including dairy farmers, general management, executive leadership, industry leadership.

Travel: 10% - 30%, occasional overnight travel required

An Equal Opportunity Employer