Director, Enterprise AI

About Us: Proofpoint is a global leader in human- and agent-centric cybersecurity. We protect how people, data, and AI agents connect across email, cloud, and collaboration tools. Over 80 of the Fortune 100, 10,000 large enterprises, and millions of smaller organizations trust Proofpoint to stop threats, prevent data loss, and build resilience across their people and AI workflows. Our mission is simple: safeguard the digital world and empower people to work securely and confidently. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people. How We Work: At Proofpoint you’ll be part of a global team that breaks barriers to redefine cybersecurity guided by our BRAVE core values: Bold in how we dream and innovate Responsive to feedback, challenges and opportunities Accountable for results and best in class outcomes Visionary in future focused problem-solving Exceptional in execution and impact About the Role The Director of Enterprise AI is a strategic, visionary leader responsible for defining, scaling, and operationalizing the company’s enterprise AI strategy. This role accelerates business transformation by embedding AI, automation, and intelligent workflows across functions—including operations, product, engineering, HR, finance, marketing, legal, etc. You will shape the enterprise AI roadmap, drive adoption of AI solutions and agents, and influence business leaders toward an AI‑first mindset. As a senior technology leader, you will partner deeply across process owners, engineering, IT, data, and product teams to implement high‑impact AI solutions and ensure responsible enablement. This role requires a unique blend of strategic leadership , hands‑on technical fluency , ability to scale AI operations , and enterprise‑level stakeholder management. Location: hybrid with 4 days in office at Sunnyvale, CA Key Responsibilities Enterprise AI Strategy & Leadership Define, evolve, and champion the enterprise AI strategy and roadmap. Collaborate with functional and business unit leaders to develop tailored AI strategies that accelerate priority business objectives. Communicate and evangelize AI’s potential across the enterprise to foster adoption and responsible enablement. Serve as a trusted advisor to executives and senior leadership on AI, automation, and emerging technologies. AI Adoption, Enablement & Governance Lead enterprise‑wide AI adoption, including pilots, training, scaling, and change management. Build and enhance AI enablement programs, governance frameworks, and responsible AI guardrails. Oversee ethical, compliant, and secure deployment of AI solutions in partnership with Legal, Security, Compliance, and Data Governance. Solution Development & Technical Execution Build and lead teams to design, prototype, and deploy AI agents, intelligent workflows, and automation solutions. Guide integration of AI systems with enterprise tools, SaaS platforms, and internal data systems via APIs and scalable architectures. Conduct vendor evaluations, help make build‑vs‑buy recommendations and manage strategic AI technology partnerships. Evaluate emerging AI technologies, automation tools and workflow platforms to identify opportunities for business value and operational improvement. Process Transformation & Operational Excellence Lead cross‑functional initiatives to redesign and optimize business processes using AI and automation. Operationalize AI products from pilot through full production, ensuring scalability and adoption. Measurement & Reporting Define value-driven metrics, performance tracking frameworks, success criteria, and effectively communicate business impact of AI initiatives. Deliver transparent reporting to executive leadership on AI adoption, governance, and performance. Team Leadership Recruit, lead, and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning AI strategy, business engagement, automation engineering, and enablement. Act as a player‑coach, fostering a culture of technical depth, experimentation, and continuous improvement focused on user experience, business enablement and operational excellence. Qualifications Required Experience 5–10+ years in technology, innovation, data, or transformation roles, with 2 – 5+ years directly in AI/ML, automation, or enterprise‑scale AI leadership. Proven success creating and executing enterprise AI strategies that deliver measurable value. Experience operationalizing AI/ML products and scaling them across large or complex organizations. Experience with business process engineering, workflow automation, or intelligent systems. Demonstrated experience with enterprise integrations (e.g., REST APIs, SaaS platforms, internal data systems). Executive presence with the ability to influence, communicate, and collaborate across all levels. Strong analytical mindset, with experience defining and tracking metrics and ROI. Technical Skills Familiarity with modern AI technologies (generative AI, agentic AI, MCP’s, etc.) Experience building AI agents, prototypes or workflows Experience with enterprise LLM platforms like Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI, Anthropic, etc. Knowledge of cloud‑native environments, modern data platforms, and enterprise SaaS ecosystems. Leadership & Strategy Skills Track record leading strategic, multi‑quarter cross‑functional initiatives. Ability to drive adoption of new technologies and lead organizations through transformation. Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder‑management skills. Demonstrated ability to build, develop and grow technical teams Education Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, AI/ML, Mathematics, or a related technical field required. Master’s or advanced degree preferred. #LI-AN2 Why Proofpoint? At Proofpoint, we believe that an exceptional career experience includes a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Here are just a few reasons you’ll love working with us: Competitive compensation Comprehensive benefits Career success on your terms Flexible work environment Annual wellness and community outreach days Always on recognition for your contributions Global collaboration and networking opportunities Our Culture: Our culture is rooted in values that inspire belonging, empower purpose and drive success-every day, for everyone. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please reach out to [email protected] . How to Apply Interested? Submit your application along with any supporting information- we can’t wait to hear from you! Consistent with Proofpoint values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets as set out below. Pay within these ranges varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. The range provided may represent a candidate range and may not reflect the full range for an individual tenured employee. This role may be eligible for variable compensation and/or equity. We offer a competitive benefits package, including flexible time off, a comprehensive well-being program with two paid Wellbeing Days and two paid Volunteer Days per year, plus a three-week Work from Anywhere option. Base Pay Ranges: SF Bay Area, New York City Metro Area: Base Pay Range: 200,300.00 - 293,810.00 USD California (excludes SF Bay Area), Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Washington DC Metro, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, Virginia, and Alaska: Base Pay Range: 167,300.00 - 245,355.00 USD All other cities and states excluding those listed above: Base Pay Range: 152,900.00 - 224,235.00 USD