VP, AI & Technology

About Kanbrick:

Kanbrick acquires, operates, and builds midsize businesses, providing a long-term alternative to private equity. Leveraging the Kanbrick Business System (KBS), we partner closely with our operating companies to accelerate growth, operational excellence, and lasting value creation. Our culture is entrepreneurial, collaborative, and results-oriented, grounded in practical execution and continuous improvement.

Our vision for AI:

At Kanbrick, we believe AI and technology can transform and strengthen both our companies and the way we work ourselves. With our long-term approach, we don't see AI merely as a tool to quickly automate workflows and reduce costs, but rather as a powerful means to fundamentally reshape how we create value for customers and compete in our markets. At our operating company, our teams often already have great ideas about how AI could help them achieve or evolve their strategies, and we want to both help shape their imaginations as to what's possible and help them bring those ideas to life. Internally at Kanbrick, we're committed to quickly becoming an AI-native organization across every aspect of our work. Our goal is simple: to become the very best at implementing AI practically and effectively within midsize businesses.

Learn more at www.kanbrick.com

Position Overview:

We are seeking a VP of AI & Technology to drive the adoption of AI and technology at Kanbrick and across our operating companies. You will lead efforts to identify, prioritize, and execute AI / technology implementation opportunities - working closely with Kanbrick's internal teams on their own our workflows (sourcing, investing, community) and working with the our KBS team to partner with our operating companies to ensure AI readiness, strategic alignment, and effective execution of technology opportunities. You'll personally develop early-stage pilots, navigate existing technology infrastructures, and manage third-party development teams to deliver robust, scalable AI / technology solutions at Kanbrick's operating companies. Our preferred location is Charlotte, NC for this position.

Key Responsibilities & Objectives:

AI / Technology Strategy & Roadmap

• Create and lead a clear, practical strategy and roadmap for AI / Technology across Kanbrick and our operating companies.
• Identify and prioritize high-impact opportunities based on clear value, feasibility, and fit within larger strategy of the business. We don't see AI as a strategy in and of itself, but rather as an effective tool to deliver on strategy - so it's critical that this person be deeply versed in each company's strategy, understanding its customers and competitive dynamics. In midsize businesses, the right solution often isn't necessarily the most novel or complicated solution, but the one that most clearly creates deeper competitive advantage. This means also being well versed in company KPIs and connecting technology strategy directly to improvement of the most critical measures.

AI Pilot Development & Solution Scaling

• Lead early AI / technology pilots by working closely with teams on the ground-mapping out workflows, documenting requirements, and building excitement and buy-in.
• Quickly build and iterate prototypes to validate ideas and demonstrate value.
• Move successful pilots into full production by identifying, building, and managing nearshore or offshore development teams, ensuring solutions are delivered smoothly and securely.
• Productize resulting solutions to scale them across Kanbrick - deploying them at other relevant Kanbrick operating companies.

Enterprise Technology Advisory & AI Readiness

• Act as a trusted advisor and coach for our operating company leaders and technology teams, helping them navigate bigger-picture technology decisions, including infrastructure, systems architecture, data strategy, and cybersecurity.
• Help our businesses get ready to adopt AI, making sure they have the right data, infrastructure, and organizational mindset in place to be successful.

Capability Building & Organizational Change

• Lead the charge in building enthusiasm, skills, and understanding around AI / technology through practical mentorship, training sessions, and engaging workshops.
• Foster a culture that embraces AI's potential, making sure teams across our businesses are eager and equipped to leverage AI effectively.

Desired Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with strong execution capability.
• Curious, adaptable, and continuously seeking opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborative, articulate, and effective communicator.
• Ambitious, proactive, and results-driven.
• Kind; with strong interpersonal skills to build meaningful relationships.
• Pragmatic - excited to tackle challenges unique to midsized, family-owned, and 'Main Street' businesses.