Clera - Your AI talent agent
LoginStart
Start
Protective logo
Protective

Vice President, Applied AI & Automation

full-time•Birmingham•$175k - $220k

Summary

Location

Birmingham

Salary

$175k - $220k

Type

full-time

Experience

10+ years

Company links

WebsiteLinkedInLinkedIn

About this role

The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it.

We help protect our customers against life’s uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you’ll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most.


The VP of Applied AI and Automation will lead the strategy, development, and deployment of advanced AI solutions. In partnership with technology and business leaders, define what can be achieved through AI and scale high-performing solutions across the organization that transform business processes and unlock new value streams.


Key Responsibilities:

·       AI & Agentic Automation Leadership: Champion the identification, evaluation, and deployment of AI and agentic automation solutions, including large language models (LLMs), autonomous agents, and generative workflows.

·       AI Strategy & Roadmap: Develop and execute a comprehensive AI and automation strategy, integrating AI and agentic automation into the enterprise roadmap.

·       Solution Development & Deployment: Build a robust pipeline of AI and agentic automation use cases. Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle from ideation through deployment, change management, and value realization.

·       Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Data to design, validate, and operationalize GenAI and agentic automation solutions. Foster collaboration with IT, business leaders, and vendor partners.

·       Portfolio Management: Oversee the AI project portfolio, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, ROI, and business outcomes. Track performance metrics and drive continuous improvement of AI solutions.

·       AI Governance & Risk Management: Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, and Information Security to manage risk, data privacy, and ethical AI principles.  Establish governance frameworks and best practices for responsible adoption

·       Thought Leadership & Enablement: Serve as an internal and external thought leader on AI and agentic automation. Represent the organization in external forums, publications, and speaking engagements.  Oversight of AI champion network, supporting AI fluency, adoption, and sustainability of AI solutions enterprise-wide

·       Change Management & Adoption: Drive adoption and sustainability of GenAI and agentic automation solutions through training, communication, and stakeholder engagement.

\n


Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related field (Master’s or MBA preferred).
  • 12+ years of experience in technology, strategy, or business transformation roles, with significant leadership in AI, analytics, or automation.
  • Proven track record of implementing enterprise solutions in regulated environments and leading cross-functional initiatives.
  • Deep expertise in machine learning, NLP, LLMs, agent orchestration, generative AI, and automation frameworks.
  • Familiarity with enterprise AI platforms (e.g., Azure AI, Snowflake, Databricks, Power BI, OpenAI APIs) and cloud data architectures.
  • Experience with automation platforms (UiPath, Blue Prism, Power Automate).
  • Strong business acumen, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
  • Experience with budget planning, compliance frameworks, and performance metrics.
  • Ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and drive initiatives from concept to value realization.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.


\n
$175,000 - $220,000 a year
Protective’s targeted base pay compensation for this position is $175,000 to $220,000. Actual salaries may vary depending on factors, including but not limited to, job location, skills, and experience. The range listed is just one component of Protective’s total compensation package for employees.

This position also offers additional incentive opportunities through an annual incentive and long-term incentive (LTI) based on individual and Company performance.
\n

Employee Benefits:  

We aim to protect the wellbeing of our employees and their families with a broad benefits offering. In addition to offering comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, we support emotional wellbeing through mental health benefits and an employee assistance program. Work/life balance is important and Protective offers a variety of paid time away benefits (e.g., paid time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability, and a cultural observance day). The financial health of our employees is just as important as physical and emotional health.  Some of the financial wellbeing benefits include contributions to healthcare accounts, a pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with Company matching. All employees are encouraged to protect their overall wellbeing by engaging in ProHealth Rewards, Protective’s platform to improve wellbeing while earning cash rewards.   


Eligibility for certain benefits may vary by position in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit plans.


Accommodations for Applicants with a Disability:

If you require an accommodation to complete the application and recruitment process due to a disability, please email [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application and recruitment process.


Please note that the above email is solely for individuals with disabilities requesting an accommodation.  General employment questions should not be sent through this process.


We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to being inclusive and attracting, retaining, and growing an inclusive workforce.

What you'll do

  • The VP will lead the strategy, development, and deployment of advanced AI solutions, transforming business processes and unlocking new value streams. Responsibilities include overseeing AI project portfolios, collaborating across functions, and driving the adoption of AI solutions.

About Protective

We have been alerted to fraudulent career postings as well as outreach from fake recruiters on LinkedIn. Please be aware that Protective will never ask for banking information for equipment or email you from a domain outside of @protective.com. While we use channels like Indeed and LinkedIn to post authentic job postings, you can always validate the legitimacy of those postings by comparing them to those listed on our careers page (www.protective.com/careers). Report fake job postings on the Report Fraud page of our website: protective.com/report-fraud Through its subsidiaries, Protective offers life insurance, annuity and asset protection solutions and is helping more than 14.4 million people protect what matters most. Protective’s more than 3,800 employees put people first and deliver on the company’s promises to customers, partners, colleagues and communities - because we’re all protectors. With a long-term focus, financial stability and commitment to doing the right thing, Protective Life Corporation, a subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.(TSE:8750), has $118 billion in assets, as of Dec. 31, 2023. Protective is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and supported by a robust virtual workforce and core sites in the greater Cincinnati area and St. Louis. For more information about Protective, visit www.protective.com.

Ready to join Protective?

Take the next step in your career journey

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Protective pay for a Vice President, Applied AI & Automation?

Toggle
Protective offers a competitive compensation package for the Vice President, Applied AI & Automation role. The salary range is USD 175k - 220k per year. Apply through Clera to learn more about the full compensation details.

What does a Vice President, Applied AI & Automation do at Protective?

Toggle
As a Vice President, Applied AI & Automation at Protective, you will: the VP will lead the strategy, development, and deployment of advanced AI solutions, transforming business processes and unlocking new value streams. Responsibilities include overseeing AI project portfolios, collaborating across functions, and driving the adoption of AI solutions..

Is the Vice President, Applied AI & Automation position at Protective remote?

Toggle
The Vice President, Applied AI & Automation position at Protective is based in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.

How do I apply for the Vice President, Applied AI & Automation position at Protective?

Toggle
You can apply for the Vice President, Applied AI & Automation position at Protectivedirectly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process.
Clera - Your AI talent agent
© 2026 Clera Labs, Inc.TermsPrivacyHelp

Join Clera's Talent Pool

Get matched with similar opportunities at top startups

This role is hosted on Protective's careers site.
Join our talent pool first to get notified about similar roles that match your profile.