WHERE CURIOSITY MEETS IMPACT: DISCOVERING AI OPPORTUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY: At Lakeshirts, we don't wait for the future. We build it. Our teams are already leveraging AI systems and programs that enhance workflows, speed up turnaround times and transform how we operate each and every day. This role builds on our commitment to Continuous Improvement, ensuring we continue advancing, adapting, and remaining NIMBLE as technology evolves. We aim to empower teams and boost work quality with AI-driven, innovative solutions. We're seeking an AI Innovation Specialist to help identify, test, and pilot AI opportunities across the business. This role is all about exploration and experimentation: discovering where AI can make the biggest changes, document findings and working with our teams to bring your findings to life. Reporting to the IT manager, you'll work across various departments asking the right questions, running pilots, and turning promising ideas into practical AI solutions. While project management and process ownership stay with our skilled PMO and department teams, your main responsibility is to apply your AI expertise to existing systems and help us to make our work even better. Schedule: Monday–Friday 8a-5p Location: Onsite Detroit Lakes, MN ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS | Research + Pilot + Capture + Collaborate • Research, evaluate and pilot emerging AI tools and technologies relevant to Lakeshirts' business operations. • Identify opportunities where AI can reduce manual effort, improve quality, or accelerate output in partnership with department teams. • Design and run structured AI pilots, document results and present clear recommendations to the IT manager. • Build and test AI prompts, workflows and automation scripts to validate concepts before broader rollout. • Partner with the IT manager to prioritize AI initiatives and communicate progress to leadership. • Stay up to date on new and existing AI tools, models and best practices bringing relevant insights back to the team. • Support team members across the organization in understanding and effectively using new AI tools. • Collaborate with departments and teams to understand their work and explore where AI fits in existing processes • Perform additional duties as assigned to support the company's value of Team. QUALIFICATIONS | Evaluate + Analytical Thinking + Team Player • 1+ years of experience working with AI tools, automation platforms, or emerging technology in a business setting. • Demonstrated ability to evaluate, test and clearly communicate the value of new technologies. • Strong analytical thinking able to spot inefficiency and frame an AI solution without overcomplicating it. • Hands-on experience with AI platforms, prompt engineering or automation tools (no Computer Science degree is required, but technical comfort is a must). • Excellent written and verbal communication skills able to present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. • Curious and collaborative, must be comfortable working alongside different teams to come up with ideas and create lean processes • Manufacturing, operations, or apparel industry experience is a plus. • Must love dogs (we kinda like them and we hope you do, too) WHY LAKESHIRTS IS THE PLACE YOU WANT TO BE. At Lakeshirts, we believe in making work as awesome as the apparel we create. We're not just a t-shirt company- we're also a hat, sticker, and sock company (and so much more!). We're a place where creativity meets culture, where ideas and innovation are encouraged, and where the atmosphere is truly one-of-a-kind. As one of the largest screenprinting manufacturers in the U.S., we decorate a variety of garments and accessories for the resort, licensed collegiate, and K-12 markets, supported by over 1,000 ah-mazing team members from sea to shining sea. OUR CULTURE TRULY SETS US APART. Life at Lakeshirts is all about embracing our core values, having fun, and working with great people who make every day an opportunity to thrive. We're looking for those who want to roll up their sleeves and make an impact while enjoying a culture that values creativity, teamwork, continuous improvement, and empowering each team member to define and elevate their success. We also foster a strong sense of community and are dedicated to wowing our customers on the daily. The wage range for this position starts at $50,000-$70,000 based on experience. LIFE'S BETTER IN A T-SHIRT & SO IS WORK! Here's what you can expect when you join the Lakeshirts team: • Compensation| Work Hard. Get Rewarded: Guided by our value of meritocracy, we offer a compensation package that reflects your unique skills, talents, and contributions. You are not just a number-your success, ideas, and efforts directly shape your growth and earning potential, empowering you to take your career to the next level. And there is an option to be paid daily! • Insurance Benefits | We've Got You Covered: From health and life insurance to voluntary benefits like dental, vision, short-term/long-term disability, and critical illness & accident coverage, we've got you covered; benefits kick in the first of the month following 60 days of full-time employment • Paid Time Off | Life Outside of Work: Enjoy up to 22 paid days off during the first year because we know life happens outside of work & we want you to be able to enjoy • Profit Sharing | If We're Profitable. You're Profitable: When we win, you win • Retirement Planning | Free Money? Yes, Please!: Our 401(k) program helps you plan for the future • Onsite Perks |Get in my Belly: At our HQ in Detroit Lakes, enjoy hot breakfast, lunch, and snacks from our subsidized cafeteria • Dogs @ Work| Yes. It's A Thing. And It's Pawsome: Bring your furry friend to work, because we believe dogs just make everything better • Relaxed Dress Code | Wear What Makes You Feel Your Best: Whether it's jeans, tees, and flip flops- we believe comfort fuels creativity, and we offer an employee merchandise discount to keep you & your family well-stocked • Flexible Work Schedules | Full Time, Part Time & Everything In Between: Because we understand the importance of work-life balance • Unique Culture | That Is Priceless: We make work fun; we believe in teamwork, giving back to our communities and doing what we love with great people, and always rocking a t-shirt, a hat, and some cool socks Cognitive or Mental Requirements of the Job: Employee must be able to see and hear, read and write. Requires adaptability, analyzing, assessing, calculating, decision making, dependability, judgment, reading, speaking, following direction, handling multiple priorities, reasoning. PHYSICAL DEMANDS NEVER (0%): Climb, Crawl, Lift 25–50 lbs., Lift over 50 lbs., Carry 25–50 lbs., Carry over 50 lbs. OCCASIONALLY (1%–33%): Lift, Stand, Walk, Carry, Push, Pull, Balance, Bend, Twist, Reach, Lift under 10 lbs., Lift 10–24 lbs., Carry under 10 lbs., Carry 10–24 lbs. FREQUENTLY (34%–66%): Reach below shoulder height. CONTINUOUSLY (67%–100%): Sit.