AI Operations Lead

About the Role 

We’re looking for an AI Operations Lead who gets excited about solving real business problems with AI. This isn’t a back-office or research role — it’s about working directly with our sales and recruiting teams, uncovering where the friction is, and turning those pain points into working AI solutions. Some days you’ll be prototyping a custom GPT, other days piloting a new HR tech or sales platform, and often you’ll be figuring out how to make sure new tools actually stick with the team. 

If you’re entrepreneurial, love experimenting with AI, and thrive on building things that deliver immediate impact, you’ll fit right in. 

What You’ll Do 

• Partner with sales and recruiting leaders to spot high-impact opportunities for AI.
  
• Rapidly test and prototype solutions using low-code/no-code tools and GPT-based workflows.
  
• Evaluate third-party HR tech and sales platforms (CRM, ATS, sourcing, automation, and analytics tools) alongside AI-first vendors, making clear recommendations on build vs. buy.
  
• Lead tool rollouts, including training, adoption, and change management.
  
• Continually assess and streamline current processes to increase efficiency as new tools are introduced.
  
• Translate business needs into clear requirements and manage delivery with internal/external teams.
  
• Track ROI and adoption to prove business impact.
  
• Build playbooks and scale successful AI use cases across other business units. 
  

Requirements 

• 5+ years of experience in sales/recruiting operations, product management, or applied AI/automation roles.
  
• Deep understanding of sales and recruiting workflows — you can “speak the language” of pipelines, outreach, and placements.
  
• Hands-on with AI/automation tools (custom GPTs, Clay, Lovable, Zapier, or similar) and experience evaluating/implementing HR tech or sales platforms (ATS, CRM, sourcing, analytics).
  
• Strong communication skills — able to explain AI concepts to non-technical users and build trust with business leaders.
  
• Product mindset: able to define requirements, prioritize, and manage vendor or internal delivery teams.
  
• Entrepreneurial streak and passion for AI — comfortable testing, iterating, and scaling what works.
  
• Proven track record of driving measurable impact through technology adoption.
  

How You’ll Succeed 

• Drive measurable improvement in sales KPIs: more qualified leads per rep, higher conversion rates, faster pipeline velocity, and increased average deal size.
  
• Improve recruiting KPIs: reduced time-to-fill, higher candidate quality, stronger submittal-to-placement ratios, and increased recruiter productivity.

• Deliver tangible financial outcomes: higher revenue per rep/recruiter, stronger gross margin, and improved ROI on HR tech and AI investments.

• Turn quick-win prototypes into repeatable, scalable solutions that become part of daily workflows.

• Build playbooks and best practices that expand AI-driven impact across sales, recruiting, and operations.
  

Salary: $90,000 - $120,000 (based on experience). Comprehensive benefits and PTO package to include 401K also included. 

Company Overview

Onward is an award-winning recruitment and staffing agency with the mission to connect the nation’s top companies with the best talent in the industry. Founded in 2007, our company is headquartered in Fairfield, CT and embraces a nationwide remote workforce. 

We have built a culture fostered on entrepreneurial spirit, integrity, teamwork and transparency. We believe different perspectives make Onward Search a better company and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment where every person feels like they belong. 

We’re proud to be recognized as “Best Companies to Work for Women” on Comparably, where we also hold an A+ rating for company culture and rank number one in diversity score amongst staffing companies in our industry. 

Onward offers medical, dental, vision benefits, as well as a 401k program, for all eligible full-time employees.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply.

Onward is an equal opportunity employer. We value a culture of inclusion and diversity within our workforce and are committed to maintaining a workplace free from prohibited employment conduct, including discrimination or harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partner status, civil partnership, status as a covered veteran, status in the Uniformed Services of the United States, citizenship and any other characteristic protected by State and Federal law.