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CHAMPAIGN-URBANA AREA JOBS

Manager, AI Process Innovation

Maverick Pipe

Maverick Pipe

Software Engineering, Data Science
Remote
Posted on Dec 13, 2025

You may not know our name, but you know our products. What we make is part the places where we live, work and play – all day, everyday.

Zekelman is a family of companies — 100% domestic manufacturers — with a legacy dating back to 1877. We’re proud to be the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America and the leading innovator in multi-family housing development.

We believe in what we build and what we build, builds the world around us. Hospitals, hotels, schools, bridges, airports and more.

Come build a career you believe in.

About the Role
As a Manager, AI Process Innovation at Wheatland Tube, a division of Zekelman Industries, you will play a pivotal role in driving digital transformation across Zekelman Industries. Reporting to the Vice President of AI and Innovation, you partner with multiple business functions—including HR, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Sales, IT, and Marketing—to analyze, document, and optimize core processes. You focus on leveraging AI, automation, and digitization to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability to support Zekelman’s growth. You also champion AI adoption and culture change, helping teams upskill and integrate AI into organizational workflows and personal productivity. This role is ideal for someone who blends technical expertise with strong business acumen, change management capability, and relationship-building skills to deliver measurable and lasting impact. This is a remote role.

What You’ll Do

  • Collaborate with functional leaders to assess current business processes, identify inefficiencies, and design AI-driven improvements.

  • Develop and implement automation and digitization strategies aligned with business objectives.

  • Serve as a bridge between technical teams and business functions to ensure AI solutions meet operational needs.

  • Lead AI enablement initiatives, including training programs and workshops to upskill employees on AI and emerging technologies.

  • Drive organizational change management to foster a culture of innovation and AI adoption.

  • Monitor and report on KPIs and ROI for AI and automation projects.

  • Stay current on emerging AI technologies and best practices to inform strategy and execution.

Who You Are

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

  • 5–10 years of combined technical and functional experience in process improvement, automation, or digital transformation.

  • Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience with AI technologies in an enterprise environment, including implementation and training.

  • Proven track record in organizational change management and stakeholder engagement.

  • Strong understanding of business processes across HR, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Sales, and Marketing.

  • Familiarity with process mining and process optimization tools.

  • Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.

  • Experience in manufacturing required; metals and steel experience preferred.

  • Strong relationship-building skills and ability to enable a digital mindset across teams.

  • Demonstrated ability to achieve results and build organizational capabilities.

What You’ll Get

  • Competitive compensation.

  • Bonus plan and profit-sharing opportunities.

  • 401(k) plan with a generous company match.

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance with low-cost, high-quality options.

  • Tuition assistance program to support continued education and professional development.

  • Paid vacation and holidays to support work–life balance.

  • Employee loyalty awards and recognition programs.

Compensation & Benefits

Below is the expected base salary range for this position. This is a good-faith estimate, and offers will be determined based on experience, education, skill set, and interview performance.

Base Salary Range:
[$82,000—$144,000 USD]

Additional compensation may include:
✔ Yearly merit-increase
✔ Profit-sharing bonus opportunities

Zekelman Industries offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including low-cost, high-quality medical and dental benefits. In addition, we have an amazing tuition assistance program, a bonus plan, a 401(k) plan with a generous company match, immediate vesting, and much more.

M/F/D/V

We are Zekelman Industries.

We manufacture superior quality tubular and related products, and provide outstanding service for our valued customers.

We seek to continuously advance the skills and opportunities of our employees, utilizing the latest technology and management tools available to consistently increase profitability and the enterprise value of Zekelman Industries and of our customers.