VP of Artificial Intelligence
VP of AI Enablement
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) · Public Transportation / Government · 5000+ employees · 📍 Washington, DC
WMATA's first senior AI executive, hired to build and operationalize enterprise-wide AI strategy across a major public transit authority mid-digital transformation.
AI Maturity
building
Reports To
CTO
Why Role Exists
New position
Company Stage
public
Source
linkedin
Key Responsibilities
- Lead enterprise AI strategy and adoption aligned with Metro's digital modernization goals
- Provide executive oversight to Enterprise Architecture, Data Analytics, AI Platform/Product, and Data Governance teams
- Drive AI integration across operations, customer experience, safety, and infrastructure
- Ensure AI initiatives align with enterprise data management, security, compliance, and scalability standards
- Support Chief Digital Officer's broader digital ecosystem and data strategy
Requirements
- 10+ years experience in AI, advanced analytics, enterprise data management, or digital transformation
- 8+ years Director-level or higher leadership in a large, complex organization
- 5+ years leading enterprise AI or advanced analytics initiatives from strategy through production deployment
- 5+ years integrating AI solutions with enterprise data platforms and cloud environments
- 5+ years establishing data governance and responsible AI practices in regulated or mission-critical environments
- Bachelor's degree in a technical or business-related field
Signals
- ⚠ No salary posted — unusual for a public sector role where pay scales are typically transparent
- ⚠ Public sector compensation likely below private-sector equivalents for this seniority level
- ⚠ Mission-critical, safety-sensitive environment adds operational complexity and scrutiny
- ✓ Clear organizational mandate backed by Chief Digital Officer
- ✓ Multiple established teams (Enterprise Architecture, Data Analytics, AI Platform, Data Governance) already in place to inherit
- ✓ Broad enterprise-wide scope signals executive buy-in for AI transformation
- ✓ Transit authority scale (major US metro system) offers high-impact, high-visibility platform
- ✓ Public sector role offers stability and mission-driven purpose
Company History
This appears to be the inaugural posting for this role based on company history (first listed 2026-05-30), confirming it is a newly created position rather than a backfill — WMATA is standing up this function for the first time.