AI & Data Science Manager

Requisition ID: 72441  About Whirlpool Corporation   Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool , KitchenAid , JennAir, Maytag , Amana, Brastemp , Consul , and InSinkErator . In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas - 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at   WhirlpoolCorp.com .    The team you will be a part of 
 You will be part of the Latin America Region (LAR) Data & Analytics Organization, reporting directly to the Sr. Manager of Data Analytics & AI Products. Our team acts as a regional capability leader (Spoke), driving the end-to-end data and AI strategy, MLOps governance, and high-impact digital products across Latin America in close synchronization with the Global Data & AI Hub This role in summary 
 As the Manager of Data Science & AI Products, you will lead the regional team of data scientists and AI engineers in designing, scaling, and governing advanced predictive models and Generative AI solutions across LAR. You will bridge complex deep-tech capabilities (Vertex AI, Multi-Agents, GenAI) with multi-departmental business needs—ranging from Supply Chain and Engineering to Direct-to-Consumer (D2C), Finance, and Legal Efficiency—translating business friction into measurable ROI, operational efficiency, and scalable AI products. Your responsibilities will include 
 Lead & Scale AI/ML Product Portfolio: Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle, design, and deployment of regional Machine Learning and Generative AI products (e.g., demand forecasting, inventory optimization, conversational commerce, and document/contract automation).   Cross-Functional Intake & Value Acceleration: Partner with business leaders across multidisciplinary areas (Supply Chain, Engineering, Legal, D2C, Trade) to translate business expectations and ideas into structured, high-ROI AI use cases.  Architect Enterprise AI & Multi-Agent Workflows: Guide the technical team in building scalable, secure AI solutions, including multi-agent systems, Vertex AI integrations, and API connections into enterprise platforms (e.g., Workspace, ServiceNow, VTEX).   Enforce MLOps & Production Governance: Ensure rigorous MLOps governance, model monitoring, CI/CD automation, and alignment with GCP and architecture standards, preventing model drift and technical debt.   Manage AI FinOps & Governance: Act as the technical gatekeeper for regional AI consumption costs (e.g., Gemini Enterprise licensing/usage) and ensure strict compliance with corporate security, privacy (LGPD/PIA/ISDR), and Red Data risk checks via the PULSE Committee.   Foster AI Culture & Maturity (AI Literacy): Champion AI enablement and adoption across different maturity levels in the organization, partnering with HR/Communications to advance the AI Literacy program.   Orchestrate External Vendors & Partners: Manage technical deliverables, SLAs, and development execution with third-party consultancies and tech partners.

Leadership & Talent Development: Mentor, recruit, and retain top-tier Data Science and AI talent, fostering an agile, high-performance, and business-oriented engineering culture. Minimum requirements 
 Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or related fields.   Language Skills: Fluent/Advanced English (mandatory for global alignment and technical governance).   Systems/Technical Knowledge: Proven experience (5+ years) leading Data Science or AI engineering teams in corporate environments.   Deep hands-on expertise in