Executive Director Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan
Executive director visa sponsorship jobs in Michigan span nonprofits, healthcare systems, and research institutions, with Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor concentrating the most activity. Major employers include Henry Ford Health, University of Michigan, and Beaumont Health. These senior leadership roles typically require a relevant advanced degree and demonstrated organizational management experience.
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VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world's leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML's global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.
VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.
About the Role
We're seeking a Executive Director of Data Engineering to lead the architecture, infrastructure, and engineering standards that power our global marketing intelligence capabilities. Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Intelligence Officer, this leader will modernize our AI infrastructure, accelerate how we build and deliver, and set global data standards across every domain we touch — creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media data. The ideal candidate is a hands-on technologist and a strategic leader who can build best-in-class engineering practices at global scale while driving the move toward agile, automated, and AI-native data delivery.
AI Infrastructure & Engineering Modernization:
- Design and evolve scalable AI and data infrastructure that supports predictive, prescriptive, and generative use cases across the function.
- Establish standards and tooling for accelerated delivery and faster coding — including AI-assisted development, reusable components, and automation that compresses time-to-value.
- Evaluate and introduce new technologies that enable innovation across creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media data domains.
- Mature our MLOps and deployment practices so models and data products move from prototype to production reliably and repeatably.
Data Standards, Taxonomies & Governance:
- Develop comprehensive, future-proof data taxonomies and data standards that bring consistency and interoperability across domains and regions.
- Set and govern global data standards — architecture, quality, lineage, documentation, and metadata — that scale across the network and agency partners.
- Embed data governance, privacy, and security by design, ensuring compliance with global regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and responsible AI practices.
- Create a single, trusted foundation for data that improves accuracy, accessibility, and reuse across teams.
Delivery Excellence & AI Integration:
- Drive continuous progress toward agile, automated, and effective data delivery, embedding DevOps/DataOps practices and CI/CD across engineering workflows.
- Define and uphold best-in-class standards for AI integration, from data pipelines through model deployment and monitoring.
- Build and lead a high-performing, globally distributed engineering organization, raising the bar on technical excellence, velocity, and reliability.
- Partner with product, analytics, and agency teams to ensure infrastructure and standards translate into faster, higher-quality outcomes.
What You'll Bring
- 20+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering, including senior leadership of global or distributed engineering teams.
- Deep expertise in modern data infrastructure, cloud platforms, and AI/ML engineering, with hands-on command of scalable pipeline and platform design.
- Proven success establishing data taxonomies, standards, and governance frameworks across complex, multi-domain environments.
- Experience modernizing engineering practices toward automation, agile delivery, and AI-assisted development.
- Strong understanding of marketing and media data domains — creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media — ideally within automotive, broader industry, or agency/media agency contexts.
- Track record of integrating AI responsibly and at scale, with fluency in MLOps, DataOps, and data governance.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills at the executive level.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.
Who We Are
VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world's leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML's global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.
VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.
About the Role
We're seeking a Executive Director of Data Engineering to lead the architecture, infrastructure, and engineering standards that power our global marketing intelligence capabilities. Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Intelligence Officer, this leader will modernize our AI infrastructure, accelerate how we build and deliver, and set global data standards across every domain we touch — creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media data. The ideal candidate is a hands-on technologist and a strategic leader who can build best-in-class engineering practices at global scale while driving the move toward agile, automated, and AI-native data delivery.
AI Infrastructure & Engineering Modernization:
- Design and evolve scalable AI and data infrastructure that supports predictive, prescriptive, and generative use cases across the function.
- Establish standards and tooling for accelerated delivery and faster coding — including AI-assisted development, reusable components, and automation that compresses time-to-value.
- Evaluate and introduce new technologies that enable innovation across creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media data domains.
- Mature our MLOps and deployment practices so models and data products move from prototype to production reliably and repeatably.
Data Standards, Taxonomies & Governance:
- Develop comprehensive, future-proof data taxonomies and data standards that bring consistency and interoperability across domains and regions.
- Set and govern global data standards — architecture, quality, lineage, documentation, and metadata — that scale across the network and agency partners.
- Embed data governance, privacy, and security by design, ensuring compliance with global regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and responsible AI practices.
- Create a single, trusted foundation for data that improves accuracy, accessibility, and reuse across teams.
Delivery Excellence & AI Integration:
- Drive continuous progress toward agile, automated, and effective data delivery, embedding DevOps/DataOps practices and CI/CD across engineering workflows.
- Define and uphold best-in-class standards for AI integration, from data pipelines through model deployment and monitoring.
- Build and lead a high-performing, globally distributed engineering organization, raising the bar on technical excellence, velocity, and reliability.
- Partner with product, analytics, and agency teams to ensure infrastructure and standards translate into faster, higher-quality outcomes.
What You'll Bring
- 20+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering, including senior leadership of global or distributed engineering teams.
- Deep expertise in modern data infrastructure, cloud platforms, and AI/ML engineering, with hands-on command of scalable pipeline and platform design.
- Proven success establishing data taxonomies, standards, and governance frameworks across complex, multi-domain environments.
- Experience modernizing engineering practices toward automation, agile delivery, and AI-assisted development.
- Strong understanding of marketing and media data domains — creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media — ideally within automotive, broader industry, or agency/media agency contexts.
- Track record of integrating AI responsibly and at scale, with fluency in MLOps, DataOps, and data governance.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills at the executive level.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.
Executive Director Job Roles in Michigan
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Search Executive Director Jobs in MichiganExecutive Director Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for executive directors in Michigan?
Michigan's largest visa sponsors for senior leadership roles include major health systems such as Henry Ford Health, Beaumont Health, and Spectrum Health, alongside research universities like University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Large nonprofits, automotive-adjacent foundations, and statewide policy organizations in Detroit and Lansing have also filed sponsorship petitions for executive-level positions. Sponsorship activity is concentrated among institutions with dedicated HR and legal infrastructure.
Which visa types realistically fit executive director roles in Michigan?
Executive director roles typically qualify as specialty occupations requiring a relevant bachelor's degree or higher, making the H-1B visa the most common path. Workers already holding H-1B status can transfer to a new Michigan employer once the new petition is filed. The O-1A is an option for candidates with demonstrated extraordinary ability in their field. For long-term stays, employer-sponsored EB-2 or EB-3 green cards through PERM labor certification are realistic pathways for this level of seniority. TN visa does not cover this role.
How to find executive director visa sponsorship jobs in Michigan?
Migrate Mate lists Michigan employers with verified visa sponsorship history for executive director roles, so you can focus your search on organizations that have already navigated the process. Michigan's strongest hiring markets for this role are Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids, with active sponsors concentrated in healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit sectors. Filtering your search to these cities and industries on Migrate Mate will surface the most relevant opportunities.
Which cities in Michigan have the most executive director sponsorship jobs?
Detroit leads Michigan for executive director sponsorship activity, driven by its concentration of health systems, foundations, and large nonprofit organizations. Ann Arbor follows closely, anchored by University of Michigan and its affiliated research and healthcare entities. Grand Rapids is a growing hub, particularly for healthcare and community development organizations. Lansing sees sponsorship activity tied to policy-focused nonprofits and state-affiliated institutions. Smaller markets like Kalamazoo and Flint also post occasional openings through hospital networks.
Are there state-specific factors that affect executive director visa sponsorship in Michigan?
Michigan's economy shapes sponsorship patterns in meaningful ways. The state's deep higher education and healthcare sectors generate consistent demand for senior leadership, and both are experienced H-1B filers. Detroit's nonprofit and foundation community, much of it tied to automotive philanthropy, adds another sponsorship channel. Michigan's manufacturing and automotive industries occasionally seek executive directors with specialized operations backgrounds, though those roles more often hire domestically. University and hospital employers here tend to have established immigration counsel, which can smooth the sponsorship process.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored executive director jobs in Michigan?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.