Manager Artificial Intelligence COE

Who We Are

At Academy Sports Outdoors our vision is to be the best sports outdoors retailer in the country — but what truly sets us apart is our people. We’re a passionate, purpose-driven team that’s as committed to each other as we are to our customers.

We’ve spent over 80 years building a culture that puts people first. We believe in creating opportunities for growth, fostering meaningful connections, and supporting every Team Member’s journey. What fuels us? Our belief in the power of fun.

Here, you won’t just help customers gear up for their next adventure — you’ll launch one of your own. Whether you're starting out or leveling up, Academy is a place where fun can’t lose!

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or a related technical field required
• Advanced degree preferred

Work Experiences:

• 5 years of experience in AI/ML, data engineering, or enterprise platform development
• At least 2 years of hands‑on experience building AI agents, automations, or advanced AI‑enabled solutions
• Proven experience translating business problems into production AI solutions with measurable ROI
• Experience working cross‑functionally with business leaders, Enterprise Architecture, and Information Security in a governed enterprise environment
• Retail or multi‑site enterprise experience preferred

Skills:

• Expert knowledge of Microsoft AI platforms, including Copilot Studio, Azure OpenAI Service (deployments, fine‑tuning, grounding), and the Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps)
• Deep understanding of enterprise data architectures and integrations (SQL, Dataverse, SharePoint, APIs, data lakes)
• Advanced prompt engineering skills with demonstrated ability to reduce hallucinations and improve accuracy
• Proven experience designing and implementing Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) patterns
• Familiarity with non‑Microsoft AI platforms such as Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, or open‑source models
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex AI concepts to non‑technical executives

Responsibilities:

• Design, configure, and deploy custom AI agents using Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI Studio, and supporting Microsoft AI tools
• Develop agent logic, manage API integrations, and optimize RAG solutions grounded in internal Academy data
• Evaluate and prototype non‑Microsoft AI platforms when appropriate, while maintaining Microsoft as the enterprise standard
• Partner with business function leaders to understand AI needs, pain points, and transformation opportunities
• Serve as the enterprise AI intake authority, assessing proposed initiatives and determining the appropriate delivery path (native platform capability, AI CoE solution, or third‑party tool)
• Partner with Enterprise Architecture to develop and maintain an enterprise AI roadmap aligned to business strategy
• Prevent shadow AI and tool sprawl by ensuring all AI initiatives are visible, governed, and standardized
• Establish and enforce AI guardrails, including data privacy, model access controls, cost management, and prompt security
• Partner with Information Security and Legal to define and maintain AI governance frameworks, acceptable use policies, and audit trails
• Design evaluation frameworks to monitor AI agent performance, accuracy, adoption, ROI, and model drift
• Build internal awareness and momentum so business teams proactively engage the AI CoE for the right use cases
• Act as a trusted advisor and educator to leaders across the enterprise on AI capabilities and best practices

Physical Requirements & Attendance

• Acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties
• Adhere to company work hours, policies, procedures, and rules governing professional staff behavior
• Regular in-office attendance is required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate with regard to employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.