Director of Innovation & Growth

HEAD OF INNOVATION & GROWTH

Reports To:

Chief Operating Officer

Scope:

Real Estate Brokerage · Revenue Innovation · AI Strategy

Location:

Phoenix/Tucson Metro (hybrid)

Classification:

Full-Time Exempt · Compensation commensurate with experience

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Laughton Team is a rapidly growing Arizona real estate organization. We are building the operational infrastructure, technology strategy, and AI-first innovation capabilities needed to support our next phase of growth.

Our organization operates in high-volume, fast-moving environments where operational efficiency and AI-enabled systems directly impact revenue and client experience. We are committed to modernizing how work gets done through practical automation and advanced AI solutions.

We are not looking for someone who only develops ideas. We are looking for someone who builds.

THE MISSION

The Head of Innovation will identify operational friction and revenue opportunities across the organization, then design and deploy AI-driven solutions that measurably improve productivity, scalability, and performance.

This is a builder role focused on AI execution. The right candidate will implement solutions that make the business faster, smarter, and easier to operate. Artificial Intelligence is the core toolset and method for this role.

This position operates at the intersection of operational strategy and AI implementation. The Head of Innovation will work across brokerage operations to improve workflows, integrate systems, and build practical AI agents and automation pipelines.

Success in this role requires someone who can:

• Move between strategic thinking and hands-on AI execution
• Partner with leadership and frontline staff
• Translate complex AI technology into practical business improvements
• Build AI solutions, not just recommend them
• Drive AI adoption across the organization

This is not a consulting role. This is an ownership role.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

Operational Innovation & Process Improvement

• Audit workflows across brokerage, title, and mortgage operations
• Identify operational bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and risk areas
• Redesign workflows to improve speed, accuracy, and scalability
• Reduce manual work through automation and system improvements
• Partner with department leaders to prioritize improvement initiatives
• Establish repeatable operational standards across entities

AI Integration & Automation Strategy

• Develop and execute an AI integration roadmap across both organizations
• Identify opportunities where AI can improve productivity and accuracy
• Implement AI tools for communication, document processing, workflow management, and reporting
• Build automation pipelines that reduce manual processing
• Evaluate emerging AI solutions relevant to real estate operations
• Select and manage technology vendors when appropriate
• Build internal solutions when off-the-shelf tools fall short

Technology & Systems Optimization

• Evaluate existing CRM, transaction management, and reporting systems
• Improve utilization and adoption of existing technology investments
• Identify system integration opportunities
• Improve visibility into operational and revenue data
• Support modernization of internal technology infrastructure
• Improve reporting capabilities for leadership decision making

Revenue & Growth Innovation

• Deploy AI solutions that improve productivity, efficiency, and client experience
• Implement automation across transaction, title, and lending workflows
• Evaluate vendors and build internal AI solutions where needed
• Drive AI adoption through training and change leadership
• Stay current on emerging real estate AI technologies
• Model and stress-test revenue scenarios across the three business lines
• Track measurable ROI from innovation initiatives

Change Leadership & Organizational Adoption

• Partner with employees to understand workflows before implementing improvements
• Introduce AI as a productivity tool and support responsible adoption
• Pilot and implement solutions with a focus on adoption and measurable impact
• Train teams and leaders on new tools, processes, and practical AI use cases
• Partner with HR to support training, upskilling, and workflow evolution
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity through automation and process redesign
• Help redesign workflows where automation removes manual tasks

WHAT THIS ROLE IS NOT

• This is not a strategy-only role
• This is not a consulting position
• This is not a pure people management role
• This is not a research or experimentation-only role
• This is not a position for someone who requires a large team to execute
• This role is accountable for building, implementing, and improving real operational outcomes.

WHO YOU ARE

• Experience implementing AI solutions within high-volume operations experience
• Systems thinker with a builder mindset who fixes and automates problems
• AI practitioner with proven implementation experience
• Strong knowledge of modern real estate tech, CRM, and automation platforms
• Ability to balance strategy with hands-on execution
• Track record of launching solutions with measurable impact
• Strong communicator who simplifies complex ideas
• Self-starter who takes initiative and solves problems proactively

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• 2 years of professional experience, with a focus on AI implementation, proptech, or high-volume operations
• Proven experience building and shipping AI-powered tools (LLMs, AI agents, or workflow automation)
• Strong experience with CRM systems, automation platforms, and reporting tools
• Hands-on AI implementation experience (LLMs, AI agents, workflow automation, or predictive analytics)
• Familiarity with modern AI tools and real estate technology platforms
• Demonstrated impact through cost savings, revenue growth, or efficiency gains
• Strong financial and business case development skills

HOW WE WORK

The Laughton Team is a high-performance, fast-moving organization. We value people who take ownership, think ahead, and hold themselves to a high standard. This role will operate with significant autonomy — which means you will be evaluated on outputs, not hours. You will have access to executive leadership, real operational data, and the organizational authority to drive change. What you do with that access is the job.

A NOTE ON TITLE

We have listed this role as Director of Innovation & Growth. If the right candidate brings a background and track record that warrants the Chief Innovation Officer title, we are open to that conversation. The title will reflect the person, not the other way around. What will not change regardless of title: this role reports to the COO, operates without a built team underneath it at hire, and is measured on what gets built.