AI ARCHITECT, DIRECTOR

Location: Remote (USA)📍
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Founder & CEO

About Paid Ads Academy

Paid Ads Academy is one of the fastest-growing paid advertising coaching companies in the country. We help business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketing teams master paid ads and scale profitably. We're building an AI-first company — not as a buzzword, but as the operating system that powers how we serve clients, run our team, and scale to $50M+.

We need the person who makes that real. Not someone who talks about AI at conferences. Someone who builds it, deploys it, coaches others on it, and leads the vision for where it goes next.

Role Overview

This is not a behind-the-scenes builder role. This is a leadership position where you will own the entire AI function for the company — the strategy, the architecture, the builds, and the people. You'll sit at the leadership table, join client coaching calls, and be the voice of AI across the organization.

Your day-to-day is hands-on: building AI agents, wiring up automations, spinning up internal tools, maintaining our data infrastructure, and keeping everything running. But your real value goes far beyond the technical. You'll be on coaching calls with clients helping them understand how to leverage AI in their businesses. You'll lead the AI vision for where we're headed. You'll manage a direct report and build out the AI team as we scale. And you'll do all of this with the confidence, communication skills, and executive presence of someone who belongs in the room with our leadership team.

We need someone who is equally comfortable whiteboarding AI strategy with the CEO as they are debugging automation at 2pm on a Tuesday. The rare combination of visionary leader and hands-on builder — that's who this role is for.

What You'll Own

Lead AI Vision & Strategy You're not waiting for someone to hand you a roadmap — you're writing it. You'll define the AI strategy for the company, identify the highest-leverage opportunities, set priorities, and present your vision to leadership. You'll stay ahead of emerging AI trends and translate them into actionable plans that drive revenue, reduce costs, and improve the client experience.

Be Client-Facing & Coach on AI This is what sets this role apart. You'll join client coaching calls and help business owners understand how to use AI in their own companies. You need to be articulate, confident, and able to translate complex technical concepts into language that non-technical entrepreneurs can act on. You're not just building AI for us — you're teaching our clients how to think about it.

Manage & Build the AI Team You'll manage at least one direct report from day one and be responsible for growing the AI function as the company scales. That means hiring, mentoring, setting standards, and building a team culture of documenting and iterating.

Build AI Agents & Assistants Using Claude, ChatGPT, and other LLMs, you'll build client-facing and internal AI tools — smart Q&A bots, automated review workflows, internal knowledge assistants, AI-powered onboarding flows, and more. You build them, test them, break them, fix them, and deploy them.

Design & Maintain Automations Build workflow automations using Make, Zapier, n8n, or similar that connect our CRM, client portal, accounting software, and communication tools. Multi-step workflows with error handling, logging, and edge case coverage — not duct tape.

Build Internal Tools & Applications Using Replit, Lovable, Claude Code, or similar platforms, you'll build internal dashboards, client-facing tools, and custom applications. You're comfortable with frontend basics, connecting to backend data sources, auth, and deployment.

Own the Data Layer Maintain and organize the data infrastructure that powers our AI systems — structured databases, Google Drive pipelines, knowledge bases, and document flows. Clean data in, good AI out.

Write Prompts & Build AI Skills Create, test, and refine prompt libraries and AI skills that the team uses daily. You'll build the playbooks that let non-technical team members leverage AI without needing you for every request.

Document Everything Every system you build gets documented. How it works, how to maintain it, what breaks and how to fix it. If it's not documented, it doesn't exist.

QA & Iterate You don't deliver and forget. You test your own builds, catch edge cases, fix bugs, and iterate based on team feedback. "It works in testing" is not the same as "it works at scale."

What You Bring

This role requires 6+ years of professional experience, with real, demonstrable experience building and leading AI-powered systems in a business context. Not courses. Not demos. Delivered work and strategic leadership.

• Executive Presence & Communication. This is non-negotiable. You'll be on client coaching calls, in leadership meetings, and presenting AI strategy to the team. You need to be articulate, confident, and able to make complex ideas simple. If you can't command a room (or a Zoom), this isn't the right fit.

• Strategic Vision & Leadership. You don't just execute — you see around corners. You can look at a business, identify where AI creates the most leverage, and build a roadmap to get there. You've led initiatives, influenced stakeholders, and driven adoption of new technology at a Fortune 500, mid-size, or high-growth company.

• People Management. You've managed at least one direct report. You know how to set expectations, give feedback, develop talent, and build a team that delivers. You lead by example and hold a high bar.

• Claude, ChatGPT & LLMs. You've built AI agents, prompt libraries, and knowledge-base-powered workflows in production. You understand prompt engineering, API integrations, and how to make AI actually reliable — not just impressive in a screenshot.

• Automation Platforms (Make, Zapier, n8n). You've built real multi-step workflows with conditional logic, error handling, API calls, and logging. You know the difference between a toy automation and one that runs at scale without breaking.

• Vibe Coding (Replit, Lovable, Bolt, Claude Code). You can take a business idea and create a working app. You don't need to be a senior software engineer — but you need to deliver production-quality tools.

• Data Management. You've worked with structured data systems — Baserow, Airtable, Supabase, or similar. You understand how backends power dashboards, AI agents, and reporting.

• Notion or Monday (or Similar). You've used project management tools as an actual operating system — databases, dashboards, intake systems, SOPs, wikis.

• Comfortable delegating to and managing AI tools to improve speed, efficiency, and output — positioning yourself as a strategist and creative thinker, not just a doer.

• You're already using AI — not just for answers, but to gain efficiency in your day-to-day work. Bonus points if you have hands-on experience with Claude or other AI platforms.

• Data Privacy & Compliance. We handle sensitive client data. You take security seriously and build accordingly.

Bonus Points:

• Experience in coaching, education, or professional services industries.

• Familiarity with GoHighLevel (GHL), QuickBooks, Xero, or similar platforms.

• Background building multi-agent AI systems or complex AI workflows.

• Experience scoping builds accurately — estimating complexity, timelines, and dependencies.

• You've trained non-technical teams to use AI tools you built.

• You've presented AI strategy to C-suite or board-level stakeholders.

• Master's degree in computer science, data science, AI, or a related field.

Key Metrics & Goals

Within Your First 90 Days:

• Deliver at least 3 production-ready AI systems (client-facing or internal) that the team is actively using.

• Build and document automations connecting at least 3 core business tools (CRM, portal, accounting, etc.).

• Organize and clean the data infrastructure so it reliably feeds AI agents and dashboards.

• Deliver AI playbooks and prompt libraries that non-technical staff use independently.

• Achieve 80%+ team adoption of AI tools you've built.

• Present an AI roadmap to the leadership team with clear priorities for the next 6–12 months.

• Join at least 4 client coaching calls and deliver AI-focused coaching content.

Within 6 Months:

• Reduce internal time spent on repetitive tasks by 30%+.

• Maintain 99%+ uptime and error handling on all deployed automations.

• Every system you've built is fully documented and maintainable by someone other than you.

• Builds are delivered on time vs. scoped deadlines at least 80% of the time.

• Zero "black box" systems — everything can be understood, maintained, or handed off.

• Establish yourself as a trusted voice on AI with clients and the internal team.

• Have a clear hiring plan for growing the AI function.

Why This Role Is Different

Let's be direct: you could go work at a Fortune 500 and be one of fifty AI architects buried in an enterprise IT department. You'd make good money, sit in meetings all day, and never see your work actually change a business.

This role is the opposite of that.

At Paid Ads Academy, you get direct access to the CEO and leadership team. You're not three layers removed from decision-making — you're in the room. The AI strategy you build doesn't go through a committee, it gets put into action. You'll see the impact of your work in real time: in client results, in team efficiency, in revenue growth.

You'll also be client-facing — coaching business owners on how to leverage AI in their own companies. That's not something you get at a big company. You're not building tools that disappear into a product backlog. You're building systems that real people use, and you're teaching real people how to think about AI. That's rare, and for the right person, it's exactly what they've been looking for.

You'll own the entire AI function. Not a piece of it. All of it. Strategy, builds, team, coaching, vision. If you're the kind of person who wants to build something from the ground up and see it scale — this is your role.

Why This Role Is Full-Time (Not Contract)

We've worked with contractors. They're great for defined projects with clear specs. But the person who transforms how a business operates needs to be inside the business. They need to see how the team actually works, hear the problems that never make it into a build request, and build relationships with every department. The best AI systems come from someone who understands the business at a gut level — and that only happens with time, proximity, and full commitment. That's why this is a full-time W-2 role with benefits, not a gig.

How We Evaluate Builders & Leaders

We don't just look at resumes. We look at what you've created and how you lead.

What Gets Us Excited About a Candidate:

• Portfolio with real AI/automation builds — not just claims.

• Clear, specific application that shows you read this post and understood the problem.

• You ask clarifying questions before jumping in.

• You mention error handling, testing, and documentation unprompted.

• You can articulate how you've influenced business strategy, not just built tools.

• Past clients or employers confirm you deliver reliable, production-quality work and lead with confidence.

What Tells Us It Might Not Be the Right Fit:

• Generic, copy-paste application. We're looking for someone who took the time to understand the role.

• All theory, no delivered work. We value hands-on experience over courses and certifications.

• Overpromises or claims to do everything. We'd rather find someone who's great at the right things than okay at all things.

• No documentation habits. We need to be able to understand and maintain what you build.

• Difficulty communicating clearly. This role involves coaching non-technical business owners, so translating complex ideas into plain language is essential.

• Slow or unclear communication during the application process. How you show up here is how you'll show up on the job.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $130,000–$155,000 annually, depending on experience.

• Unlimited PTO: Flexible time off after 6 months, plus company-wide holidays.

• Retirement Plan: 401(k) with employer match after 6 months.

• Profit-sharing: 401(k) benefit, with employer-funded contributions based on tenure and other plan factors, and a 3-year vesting schedule.

• Wardrobe Stipend: $2,000 first-year bonus for business attire.

• Home Office Stipend: To create a productive remote workspace.

• Annual Incentive Trip: Fully-paid team trip to a bucket-list destination.

• Private Wellness Center: Monthly access to gym, sauna, and cold plunge (Georgia-based).

• Paid Parental Leave: 1 month fully paid for fathers and 3 months fully paid for mothers.

Location and Schedule

Remote (USA) Standard hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm EST

About Paid Ads Academy

At Paid Ads Academy, you'll join one of the fastest-growing woman-owned startups in advertising education, where alignment with our vision, mission, and values is non-negotiable.

Vision: To be the go-to advertising training partner for entrepreneurs and their teams.

Mission: Empower entrepreneurs and their teams to become findable for what they do by mastering paid ads in-house.

Our core values make it RAIN:

• R – Raise the Standard: Excellence is the baseline. Good is a gap we close, not a place we rest. We hold ourselves to standards most people would call unreasonable — and we're proud of that. If it's not our best work, it doesn't leave our hands.

• A – Architect the Solution: You're not here to do the job. You're here to design the system that does it. We think in systems, automate relentlessly, and rebuild how we work every quarter. If the way you operate looks the same as it did 90 days ago, you're falling behind.

• I – Initiate Before It's Obvious: We don't wait to be asked. We see around corners, anticipate what our clients and teammates need, and move before the gap becomes visible. Unreasonable hospitality isn't a department — it's how every single one of us operates.

• N – No Excuses, No Explanations: We speak with precision. We deliver on deadlines, not discrepancies. When we fall short, we own it immediately, fix it fast, and raise our standard — we don't narrate why it happened. Clarity over comfort, always.

Paid Ads Academy is a fast-growing, woman-owned company and equal opportunity employer. We hire for excellence, character, and drive.