AI Operations Lead

JOIN THE EVOLUTION OF RETAIL – AS AN AI OPERATIONS LEAD

Similar Industry Titles:
Quality Rater, Human in the Loop, Human Intelligence, Human Judgment, Annotation specialist, Data evaluator, Data taxonomist, Automation specialist, Data Specialist, Product Data Specialist, Digital Intelligence Specialist.

About the Role

As an AI Operations Lead, you will take ownership of complex annotation tasks and ensure high-quality data inputs that shape AI/ML performance at scale. You will manage evolving feedback cycles, guide vendors, and help train the algorithms powering guest-facing features like search, personalization, and GenAI interactions.

This role bridges deep product understanding and data intelligence, driving improvements in search results, item relevance, and guest satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex data annotation and validation tasks that contribute to AI and ML initiatives, particularly those focused on improving product recommendation models and search algorithms.
• Apply human expertise and contextual understanding to complex situations where AI might struggle, and to ensure that decisions are ethically sound and aligned with business goals.
• Validate the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated content, including titles, summaries, and product highlights, ensuring that they meet Target’s quality standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to train and refine machine learning models that enhance guest experiences, such as by ensuring the correct responses from product related chatbots.
• Analyze and provide feedback on data patterns generated by AI/ML models to identify areas for improvement in the product or search experience.
• Lead efforts to understand and address edge cases where manual judgment is required, providing detailed insights that drive data model refinement and better guest experiences.
• Support project management responsibilities assigning daily tasks, status tracking, or aligning with vendors on throughput expectations.
• Maintain documentation of the AI system's performance, including data labeling, validation results, and feedback provided to the model.
• Support the planning and prioritization of annotation tasks based on business goals, while ensuring that quality standards are maintained across teams.
• Work closely with product managers, data scientists, and engineering teams to create structured data sets that inform model training, including AI-generated product titles, reviews, and search result rankings.
• Mentor team members on best practices for data annotation and validation, ensuring high standards are maintained across tasks.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement within the data validation pipeline and collaborate with leadership to implement changes.
• Help translate complex AI/ML concepts into actionable annotation tasks, ensuring alignment with team goals and guest experience enhancements.

Requirements

• Education Expectations: 3-year degree or equivalent
• Job Related Experience: A minimum of 2 years’ experience
• Prior experience in digital commerce / retail
• College degree or equivalent work experience
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize
• Willingness to embrace ambiguity and remain flexible
• Ability to multi-task with a high sense of urgency and initiative
• Detail oriented
• Naturally curious; enjoys researching root issues
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Computer proficiency (Excel, Outlook)