AI Transformation Lead

Pay: From CA$100,000.00 per year

Job description:

YM Inc. was founded on the strength of a single retail store in the heart of downtown Toronto in 1975, under the name Stitches. Today we are one of North America’s leading apparel retailers operating over 700 stores across Canada and the United States under the following banners: Stitches, Urban Planet, Urban Behavior, Sirens, Forever 21, Urban Kids, Suzy Shier, Bluenotes, West 49, Amnesia, Charlotte Russe, Rue 21 and Mandee.

Our goal is to sustain performance that exceeds expectations. We are committed to creating a culture where people feel valued and inspired to achieve results. We give our people the appropriate tools, freedom and authority to make decisions. They are accountable for their actions and we recognize their efforts and reward their results. We attract and nurture the best people by providing leadership opportunities, career development and continuous learning. We are committed to leading by example and with integrity. We treat people with respect and dignity, promote the benefits of diversity and address challenges in a direct and compassionate manner. We engage people in our goals and objectives; we listen and act on new ideas where possible. That is our Philosophy.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a sharp, AI-fluent leader to serve as our internal AI expert and change agent. This is not a traditional IT or technical role. You will embed yourself across every department — Buying, Marketing, Finance, IT, Graphic Design, Product Development, E-Commerce, and HR — to identify where AI can improve processes, speed up decisions, and unlock competitive advantage.

You will own the full cycle: discovery, recommendation, piloting, deployment, and measurement. You will translate between business needs and technical solutions, working with internal teams and external vendors to ensure AI actually gets used — and delivers results.

What You’ll Do

Your mandate spans the entire organization. No two weeks will look the same.

AI Opportunity Discovery

• Conduct structured AI audits across all departments to map current workflows and identify high-impact automation or augmentation opportunities
• Interview department heads and front-line teams to understand pain points, data availability, and readiness for change
• Benchmark YM INC. against AI adoption trends in global retail and fast fashion

Strategy & Roadmap

• Build and maintain a company-wide AI roadmap, prioritized by ROI, feasibility, and strategic fit
• Present recommendations to the owner and senior leadership with clear business cases
• Define success metrics for every AI initiative before launch

Implementation & Deployment

• Lead pilots and phased rollouts of AI tools — from vendor evaluation through integration and go-live
• Coordinate with IT on infrastructure, security, and system compatibility
• Ensure seamless integration of AI solutions with existing platforms (ERP, POS, e-commerce, creative tools)
• Build internal documentation, training, and change management programs so teams actually adopt what’s deployed

Ongoing Governance & Performance

• Monitor deployed AI systems for performance, accuracy drift, and business impact
• Maintain responsible AI standards: data privacy, bias mitigation, compliance with Canadian AI and privacy law (PIPEDA / Bill C-27)
• Manage vendor relationships for AI platforms and cloud services

Who You Are

• You have 2–5 years of experience in AI, data analytics, technology consulting, or a related field — at a company where you actually got your hands dirty
• You understand the machine learning lifecycle and can speak intelligently to both engineers and executives — without getting lost in jargon either direction
• You have a genuine curiosity about retail, fashion, and consumer behaviour — you understand what moves this industry
• You are a self-starter who thrives in fast-moving, ambiguous environments where the playbook doesn’t exist yet
• You have strong project management instincts — you track timelines, flag blockers early, and hold teams accountable
• You are comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders and influencing without direct authority
• You stay current: you know what tools exist, what’s hype, and what’s actually production-ready

Skills & Tools

• Familiarity with major AI platforms and tools: OpenAI, Google Vertex AI, Microsoft Azure AI, Hugging Face, or equivalents
• Understanding of MLOps concepts, APIs, and how AI products are built and maintained
• Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
• Experience with workflow automation tools (Zapier, Make, or similar)
• Ability to work with data: SQL, Excel/Sheets, or BI tools (Tableau, Looker, Power BI) a strong asset

What we offer

• Competitive Compensation Package
• Health and Dental Benefits Plan
• Paid Sick Days
• Employee Discount
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Ongoing Training and Development
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Being part of an amazing, supportive and collaborative team

YM Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. If chosen to participate in the selection process, accommodations are available upon request. We will consult with the applicant to provide or arrange suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.

This posting is for an open vacancy.

We use AI in our hiring process.

Benefits

• Company events
• Dental care
• Extended health care
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Store discount
• Vision care

Work Location

In person