AI Governance Lead and Program Manager

AI Governance Lead and Program Manager

Location: Hybrid (Boston, MA) – Must be a U.S. Citizen

Duration: Full-Time

About BigRio:

BigRio is a remote-based, technology consulting firm with headquarters in Boston, MA. We deliver software solutions ranging from: custom development, software implementation, data analytics, and machine learning/AI integrations. We are a one-stop shop that attracts clients from a variety of industries because of our proven ability to deliver cutting-edge and cost-conscious software solutions.

Position Overview

The AI Governance Lead and Program Manager will be instrumental in advancing AI governance and compliance initiatives within a highly regulated public-sector organization. Reporting to senior IT leadership, this role will define, implement, and oversee AI governance frameworks to ensure responsible, ethical, and legally compliant AI adoption.

The selected candidate will lead AI governance strategy, policy development, risk assessment, and compliance monitoring while collaborating with executive leadership, IT teams, and regulatory bodies to ensure AI programs align with business objectives, public-sector regulations, and industry best practices.

This role requires extensive expertise in AI risk management, regulatory compliance, ethics, and strategic AI program execution in large-scale environments.

Key Responsibilities

AI Governance and Compliance

• Develop and implement AI governance policies, risk assessment frameworks, and compliance programs in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Establish and maintain ethical AI use policies, ensuring fairness, transparency, and bias mitigation in AI-driven decision-making systems.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards such as GDPR, NIST AI RMF, IEEE AI Ethics Guidelines, and OECD AI Principles.
• Oversee AI model transparency, explainability, and fairness, while implementing best practices for data privacy, security, and responsible AI.
• Monitor AI system performance, risks, and regulatory updates, ensuring ongoing governance alignment with evolving industry standards.

Program and Project Leadership

• Lead and manage AI-related programs and projects from inception to completion, ensuring strategic alignment and timely execution.
• Define program scope, objectives, deliverables, KPIs, and success criteria, working closely with business and technology leadership.
• Develop and manage project plans, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies for AI initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams, ensuring AI governance integration across legal, IT, compliance, and business units.
• Establish governance dashboards and reporting mechanisms to track AI initiatives, compliance, and risk factors.

Stakeholder Engagement & Executive Reporting

• Collaborate with senior leaders, regulatory bodies, and legal teams to ensure AI policies align with governmental and industry mandates.
• Provide regular governance reports, risk assessments, and compliance updates to executive leadership and relevant committees.
• Serve as a liaison between AI governance and AI development teams, ensuring responsible AI implementation across projects.
• Maintain strong relationships with regulatory agencies, industry leaders, and third-party AI governance experts.

Continuous Improvement & Industry Innovation

• Stay ahead of emerging AI governance trends, ethical frameworks, and legal regulations.
• Establish a culture of responsible AI adoption, providing governance best practices and educational resources across teams.
• Lead internal reviews, audits, and risk analyses to ensure ongoing governance effectiveness.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Technical and Industry Expertise

• 8 years of experience in AI governance, risk management, compliance, or IT governance within a regulated public-sector or enterprise environment.
• Strong understanding of AI technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and automated decision-making systems.
• Expertise in AI compliance, ethics, and risk mitigation aligned with standards such as:
• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
• NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF)
• IEEE AI Ethics Guidelines
• OECD AI Principles
• U.S. AI legal frameworks

Program and Project Management

• Proven track record in leading AI programs, governance strategy implementation, and cross-functional team collaboration.
• Strong experience managing AI-related projects, defining governance processes, and ensuring compliance with public-sector policies.
• Hands-on expertise with AI risk management platforms, model monitoring tools, and governance dashboards is preferred.
• Certifications in Project Management (PMP, Agile) or AI Governance (ISO/IEC 38505, AI Ethics) are highly desirable.

Communication and Leadership Skills

• Exceptional ability to engage with executive leadership, legal teams, and IT stakeholders on AI governance issues.
• Experience presenting AI compliance frameworks to senior executives and regulatory bodies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a strategic mindset focused on AI governance best practices.

Additional Requirements

• The role is hybrid, with some on-site work required in Boston, MA.
• All work must be performed within the United States—no offshore resources are permitted.
• Must comply with state and federal data security, privacy, and accessibility standards.

Equal Opportunity Statement

BigRio is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. BigRio makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.