Director of AI4I

Director of AI4I

AI4I, the newly established Italian Institute dedicated to advancing the AI national strategy in Artificial Intelligence and performing AI-focused application-oriented research, invites candidates to apply for the position of Director.

 

About AI4I

Mission

AI4I was founded by the Italian Government to perform transformative oriented research in Artificial Intelligence, contributing to innovation, industrial transformation, and economic growth.

With a firm institutional commitment and long-term national funding, AI4I aims to grow fast as the leading national AI Center, shaping the research and development AI agenda in Italy and Europe. To this purpose, AI4I will build on an on-premise HPC cluster and on preferential access to the Leonardo HPC system (CINECA). Moreover, AI4I will leverage a key strategic partnership with the Italian Institute of Technology and will leverage a unique scientific, industrial and financial ecosystem.  

AI4I aims to attract and empower a new generation of AI leaders in research and innovation, also thanks to competitive and incentive-based compensation schemes.

 

Location

Situated in the scenic, sophisticated and innovative city of Turin in the Piedmont Region, AI4I enjoys a strategic location. Turin is recognized for its scientific, industrial and technological ecosystems, as well as for its growing number of startups, research laboratories, incubators, accelerators, venture capital funds and corporate ventures. Turin enjoys a central location with respect to the Alpine region and to Switzerland, and it is close to Milan and to Genoa, where the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) is based.

 

Director’s Role

The Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the vision and the business model of AI4I, designing its strategic plan, with reference to its scientific and translational strategy. The Director will shape the organization model of the Institute and its vision with respect to the future evolution of AI’s science and applications. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader dedicated to inspiring and nurturing dynamic collaborations with industry, driving innovative technology transfer to transform ideas into impactful solutions. The attraction and coordination of talented Principal Investigators, articulating a technical vision and strategy for future AI models, algorithms, and solutions for real world problems and industrial applications, as well as building use cases and partnerships with industry and governments.

The Director will be expected to coordinate the business development and technology transfer efforts of the Institute, being an advocate for AI4I with internal and external stakeholders. She/he will collaborate with the President to establish effective relationships with private and public developers and users of AI, thereby creating an organizational structure that will foster a technical and scientific vision reflecting the interests of key stakeholders. Additionally, the Director will be expected to contribute to the design and execution of interdisciplinary education and training programs. 

Qualifications

A PhD degree, preferably in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, economics and management. Alternatively, a MS degree, if combined with a significant R&D experience in AI.

 

Attributes Desired

The candidates should possess proven knowledge and expertise in Artificial Intelligence research and related industrial applications in sector such as automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. Moreover, they must demonstrate the ability to lead relatively large organizations comprising several research groups focusing on AI and its applications. Finally, the ideal candidate should demonstrate the ability to define a clear pathway of growth.

 

Terms

The position comes with a renewable three-year appointment, and an internationally competitive salary and package.

 

Application Process

Applications will be received until 11:59 p.m. (CET) on September 30, 2024. Applications received after the deadline will be rejected. The selection process will be led by an independent Search Committee. The Scientific Advisory Board of the Institute will analyze the credentials of short-listed candidates, and a final list will be presented to the Board of the Institute for final deliberation. Candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview.

Equal Opportunity

Applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of gender, race, religion, political creed, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

How to Apply

Please submit your application using the online form and include the required attachments.

Application deadline: September 30th, 2024.

 

Attachments Required

Full curriculum vitae.  Motivation letter (maximum 1,000 words). Statement outlining the candidate’s vision for the future of AI4I, based on the info available on the institutional website (maximum 1,000 words). A strategic and financial plan (the financial planning section can be an outline of the main relevant drivers and constituent components) outlining the candidate’s view of the structure and strategy of AI4I, key solutions and target outcomes, to achieve scientific, technological and industrial impact, balancing curiosity-driven and application-driven research. Please outline strategies for achieving the financial sustainability of AI4I balancing public endowment and revenues generated by competitive grants, joint laboratories, and industrial contracts and collaborations (maximum 10,000 words). We eagerly anticipate applications from exceptional candidates ready to steer AI4I toward international recognition and excellence.

We inform you that the information you provide will be used solely for the purposes of evaluating and selecting professional profiles by AI4I  in compliance with the rules on protection of personal data, including those related to data security that you can find at: https://ai4i.it/