Manager - AI & Digital Transformation

At Cleco, we're not just poweringlives-we're powering a cleaner, smarter future for Louisiana.With bold investments in innovativeenergysolutions, we're transforminghow we power ourcommunities: smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable.This is a long-term commitmentto our people and our communities because our future-and the future of generations to come-depends on it. If you're ready to make an impact where it matters most, join us at Cleco-where we're Energizing Your Tomorrow.

The Manager of AI & Digital Transformation provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Cleco's enterprise AI and data programs across the organization, ensuring that all initiatives are responsibly governed, effectively implemented, and aligned with corporate and regulatory objectives. This role defines and executes the organization's AI and data strategy-establishing the frameworks, policies, and platforms that enable Cleco to leverage artificial intelligence for measurable business value. The manager orchestrates cross-functional teams spanning AI strategy, data governance, and implementation, fostering collaboration across business units. The position ensures that Cleco's AI and data capabilities are scalable, ethical, and secure-advancing innovation, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance in support of Cleco's long-term digital transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads the development and enterprise-wide implementation of Cleco's AI, setting organizational policies, standards, and accountability structures to ensure responsible and effective use of AI across all business functions. While this role provides strategic influence and operational alignment for AI governance, formal governance decisions and policy approvals reside with the cross-functional AI Steering Committee (AI SteerCo).
• Serves as the program manager to the AI Steering Committee and senior leadership, ensuring enterprise-wide alignment between Cleco's AI strategy, business goals, and risk management frameworks.
• Supports the implementation and operationalization of governance principles established by the AI Steering Committee (AI SteerCo), ensuring that Cleco's AI systems are ethically designed, transparently managed, and compliant with regulatory, legal, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Ensure all AI solutions, GenAI applications, and automation workflows are designed and executed according to enterprise data architecture, cybersecurity, privacy, and cloud governance standards.
• Manages cross-functional alignment between business leaders, IT, and data science functions to operationalize Cleco's AI and data strategy through clear governance models, implementation priorities, and readiness standards.
• Defines enterprise-level performance indicators and governance dashboards to track data quality, model compliance, and AI maturity, ensuring transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Leads enterprise AI maturity assessments and develops roadmaps for improving technical capabilities, governance processes, workforce readiness, and enterprise adoption.
• Provides oversight of vendor selection, contract negotiation, licensing, and third-party risk evaluation for AI, automation, and data platforms.
• Provides oversight of ethical review and model risk assessments to ensure all AI solutions are explainable, traceable, and aligned with Cleco's corporate values, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Develops and executes Cleco's AI platform strategy, ensuring external partnerships and technologies align with Cleco's enterprise standards for performance, cybersecurity, and long-term sustainability.
• Champions enterprise AI literacy and cultural adoption by sponsoring workforce training, communication initiatives, and engagement programs that embed responsible AI practices into Cleco's operations.
• Collaborates with HR and Learning & Development to establish AI and data competency frameworks, guiding workforce readiness, capability growth, and succession planning for future AI talent.
• Advises the executive leadership through structured updates, risk assessments, roadmap progress reports, regulatory readiness updates, and investment recommendations.
• Champions a culture of innovation, experimentation, and responsible scaling of AI, GenAI, and automation across the organization while ensuring operational reliability and compliance.

Qualifications

Required Education, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Engineering, Data Science, Business, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in AI/ML, data engineering, automation, or enterprise technology.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience deploying enterprise-scale AI, automation, and data-driven solutions in regulated industries.
• Strong experience with Azure, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, MLOps, and cloud-native AI architectures.
• Proven ability to execute large-scale, cross-functional technology programs.

Key Competencies

BEHAVIORAL

• Action-oriented
• Being resilient
• Builds effective teams
• Collaborates
• Decision quality
• Drives results
• Ensures accountability
• Instills trust
• Interpersonal savvy
• Manages complexity
• Organizational savvy
• Resourcefulness
• Safety
• Strategic mindset
• Ethical judgement
• Executive communication
• Strategic influence
• Visionary thinking

TECHNICAL

• Analytical skills
• Compliance
• Operations Resource Management
• Operations Risk Management
• Technology Integration
• Vendor and Ecosystem Management
• Innovation Management
• Data and analytics fluency
• AI/ML lifecycle knowledge

May perform other duties as assigned.

Salary dependent on experience, skills, education, and training.