AI Operations Lead

About the Role:

We’re seeking an AI Operations Lead to oversee and accelerate the integration of AI across every facet of our sales, recruiting, and back-office operations. In this role, you’ll be responsible for driving AI innovation and excellence, and an AI-forward strategy that maximizes the potential of our foundational technology platforms (Microsoft M365 and Bullhorn) and their ecosystems.

You’ll report into our SVP, Systems and Analytics and work directly with senior leadership team to align AI strategies with our company’s strategic priorities, while also partnering day-to-day with sales and recruiting teams to identify friction points, implement scalable AI solutions, and ensure new tools and processes are seamlessly adopted and deliver measurable results.

If you’re entrepreneurial, have a passion for AI, and thrive on building things that deliver immediate impact, you’ll fit right in.

What You’ll Do:

• Work directly with senior leadership to align all AI initiatives with strategic business priorities and ensure maximum operational efficiency.
• Lead change management, training, and communication efforts to drive adoption of new AI tools and processes.
• Track, analyze, and report on the business impact of AI initiatives, using data to inform ongoing strategy and investment.
• Identify and prioritize core business tasks across sales, recruiting, and back-office that can be streamlined or transformed using Microsoft Copilot and the broader M365 ecosystem.
• Design, build, and deploy custom Copilot solutions and automations using Copilot Studio, Power Platform, and other low-code/no-code tools to address business needs.
• Partner with business leaders to map Copilot capabilities to high-impact workflows, ensuring seamless user adoption and measurable productivity gains.
• Develop and maintain Copilot prompts, templates, and playbooks tailored to Onward Search’s processes and best practices.
• Monitor usage, adoption, and ROI of Copilot-driven solutions, iterating based on feedback and business outcomes.
• Lead the integration of AI tools and automations within Bullhorn Amplify, leveraging both native Bullhorn AI features and marketplace partner solutions.
• Collaborate with sales and recruiting teams to identify workflow friction points and implement Bullhorn-centric AI enhancements (e.g., candidate sourcing, pipeline management, analytics).
• Evaluate and pilot new Bullhorn AI modules and third-party marketplace partners and integrations, making recommendations on adoption and scaling.
• Build and share Onward Search playbooks and best practices to drive consistent, scalable AI adoption.

Requirements:

• 5 years of experience in sales/recruiting operations, product management, or applied AI/automation roles.
• 1-3 years of Business Analysis and/or Project Management experience in a similar role.
• Deep understanding of staffing sales and recruiting workflows — you can “speak the language” of pipelines, outreach, and placements.
• Experience building AI workflows within Microsoft Copilot Studios and broader M365 ecosystem.
• Direct experience with Bullhorn is highly preferred, but not required.
• Experience with AI/automation tools (e.g. 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 Search 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 Connecticut 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 Search 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 Search 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.