Quality & Qualification Director, Global Competency Center

Company: Medium
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted on: May 21, 2023

Job Description:

About AppenAppen collects and labels images, text, speech, audio, video, and other data used to build and continuously improve the world's most innovative artificial intelligence systems. Our expertise includes having a global crowd of over one million skilled contractors who speak over 180 languages and dialects, in over 70,000 locations and 130 countries, and the industry's most advanced AI-assisted data annotation platform. Our reliable training data gives leaders in technology, automotive, financial services, retail, healthcare, and governments the confidence to deploy world-class AI products. Founded in 1996, Appen has customers and offices globally.At Appen, we valuepurposewhere we unlock the power of AI for good to build a better world;perspectivewhere we are a learn it all culture and embrace that comfort and growth do not coexist andprosperitywhere we are customer obsessed, action oriented, have courage to innovate and celebrate winning together.We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.Do you wonder why someone would want to come work at Appen? Listen to this! Quality & Qualification Director, Global Competency CenterPosition SummaryAs the leader of the Global Competency Center (GCC), you will report to the General Manager and directly support the success of that business unit as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team to influence business strategy, provide thought-provoking recommendations, and contribute to the success of the overall business unit. You will bring a high level of value add to the account to improve quality and qualification processes, technology, innovation, and efficiencies, while ensuring the team consistently exceeds quality and qualification standards. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure that the quality and qualification team in the newly formed GCC organization, maintain and exceed the quality goals per project. You will be responsible for relationships with a variety of internal organizations and contribute regularly to client discussions. The GCC leader functions as a results-driven and innovative leader of change and operations. The leader has a point of view supported by data and experience, is vocal, and is inspiring. The role will have accountability for efficiency, supporting project metrics, and driving profitable growth.The position objectives and responsibilities are:

• Primary focus is ensuring the quality and qualification of our projects are meeting our client's quality and utilization goals through the highly efficient teams of experts. This will require establishing a vision and supporting strategy, developing a master plan, anticipating / mitigating risks, and motivating your team to rally behind achievement of that plan. The quality and qualification leader will partner with other internal teams to define, implement, and improve skills, processes and technology that enhance quality and qualification of the teams. This will be measured by the ability to improve the quality of each program such that less effort is required to produce the same outcomes and that the organization can quickly adapt to changing levels of project quality.
• The operational aspect of the role is for a delivery leader to guide day-to-day expert teams that support projects. Drive operational excellence and streamline efforts while introducing ideas for innovation and improvement into systems and processes for Appen and its operations. Consistency, efficiency, and quality of services are key success measures.
• The people aspect of the role is for an engaging leader to build a top talent team, while also inspiring a high-performance culture for the newly formed GCC organization. This will include management of a group of Practice Leaders and Practice Specialists, including goal setting, attracting top talent, mentoring, training, etc. You will establish and monitor team and individual goals and drive teams to accomplish and exceed them, inspiring and fostering team commitments, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Effectively communicate and quickly remediate any changes or unexpected fluctuations in quality.
• Partner with the project teams to assess impacts and formalize changes.
• Execute on standard process documentation and strategy ensuring quality and qualification metrics.
• Execute measurement strategies for functional scorecards.
• Ensure Team Managers have the tools, skills knowledge, and resources to complete assigned responsibilities.
• Communicate critical feedback and best practices from all programs to functional team specialists.Qualifications and Experience:
  • The ideal candidate will be a self-driven and experienced professional who has demonstrated ability to lead change, operations, and large teams
  • 10+ years' experience managing teams and mentoring others, including hiring and managing full time employees.
  • 10+ years of experience in quality, learning & change management functions within an operations setting.
  • 5+ years' experience in a senior management role working in a metrics driven setting. Preferred that this experience include management of first line managers.
  • 5+ years' experience in the fields of AI, data training, business process outsourcing, and/or technology consulting
  • 3+ years' experience managing large scale customer engagements.
  • 3+ years' experience leading project teams
  • 3+ years' experience in a client-facing role
  • Experience working across a variety of internal stakeholders with competing priorities and interests
  • Proven skills at building relationships with executives including managing expectations, presenting performance, demonstrating value, and driving long-term strategy
  • Experience establishing functional KPIs, success measurements, and driving results.
  • Aptitude for business financials, budget management, and bottom-line driven discipline
  • High level of curiosity about the future of AI, a passion to grow and develop innovative solutions for this constantly changing space
  • Strong references from leaders who have high degree of confidence in your ability to partner across teams to get results, to lead change, and to achieve ambitious challenges
  • BS or BA degree from an accredited University or equivalent work experience preferred.
  • Motivated self-starter that can establish a course of action for self and others and drive initiatives to completion
  • Demonstrated time management and organizational skills with attention to details
  • Demonstrated ability to understand the big picture and use sound judgment to reach decisions while demonstrating sensitivity for all parties and issues. Able and unafraid to provide valuable input across the company
  • Ability to identify problems and then analyse, evaluate the relevancy, discover solutions, make recommendations and drive resolution
  • Demonstrated experience creating productive, cooperative relationships and conflict resolution skills. Effectively coaches, mentors and trains peers and team members
  • Excellent communication skills including an ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing or verbally. Displays a high level of professionalism by setting appropriate examples in meetings and interactions with peers and team membersWe are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.#LI-remoteAppen is the global leader in data for the AI Lifecycle with more than 25 years' experience in data sourcing, annotation, and model evaluation. Through our expertise, platform, and global crowd, we enable organizations to launch the world's most innovative artificial intelligence products with speed and at scale. Appen maintains the industry's most advanced AI-assisted data annotation platform and boasts a global crowd of more than 1 million contributors worldwide, speaking more than235 languages. Our products and services make Appen a trusted partner to leaders in technology, automotive, finance, retail, healthcare, and government. Appen has customers and offices globally.

Keywords: Medium, Sunnyvale , Quality & Qualification Director, Global Competency Center, Executive , Sunnyvale, California