Artificial Intelligence Program Manager

I’m looking for a AI Program Manager with a strong background in PMO/governance and a solid foundation in AI/GenAI. This is a unique opportunity to help shape our client's AI journey by centralizing, governing, and scaling their AI initiatives. I’ve attached the job description for reference—please let me know if you have any potential matches.

About the Role:

We're seeking a dynamic Program Manager to join our newly formed AI Office, focusing on IBM watsonx governance implementation. This is a unique opportunity to shape our client's AI journey by centralizing, governing, and scaling their AI initiatives. You'll play a vital role in ensuring AI use cases deliver substantial business value and align with our strategic goals, all while championing responsible AI practices. This role thrives on a data-driven approach, excellent communication, Agile program management expertise, and collaborative spirit across diverse teams. This is an on-site position at our client’s Englewood office, where you'll be at the heart of our AI transformation.

Responsibilities:

1. Program Management: Oversee the full lifecycle of multiple AI use cases, from initiation to closure, within the framework of the AI Office's established processes and using Agile principles. This includes defining use case scope, developing project plans, tracking progress, and mitigating risks. This involves defining specific, measurable business outcomes and KPIs for each use case and ensuring alignment with overall business strategy. Specifically, this will involve integrating use cases within the watsonx platform and tracking them within the AI Office's project inventory.
2. AI Governance: Utilize IBM watsonx.governance to develop and implement policies, processes, and risk management guidelines for our AI initiatives, as part of the AI Office's governance framework. This includes defining metrics for responsible AI, establishing workflows for model approval, and ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory requirements.
3. Monitoring and Reporting: Closely monitor the progress of AI use cases, identifying potential roadblocks and proactively implementing solutions. Provide regular and comprehensive, data-driven progress reports to stakeholders, including the AI Office Lead and Steering Committee, leveraging the AI Office's reporting tools and dashboards from IBM watsonx.governance. Reports will focus on quantifiable results and demonstrated business value, including insights derived from watsonx.governance regarding model performance, risk assessments, and compliance status.
4. Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including AI engineers, data scientists, IT specialists, and business stakeholders, to ensure alignment and effective communication throughout the use case lifecycle, particularly concerning AI governance policies and procedures. Collaborate with business units to surface AI opportunities and streamline project intake, as part of the AI Office's business partnership efforts.
5. Process Improvement: Contribute to the continuous improvement of our AI use case management and governance methodologies and processes, leveraging insights from watsonx.governance and the AI Office's data and reporting support. Identify opportunities for streamlining workflows, enhancing efficiency, and strengthening responsible AI practices, always within an Agile framework.
6. Risk Management: Proactively identify and assess potential risks to use case success, including those related to AI ethics, bias, and compliance. Develop mitigation strategies, utilizing the risk assessment capabilities of watsonx.governance and aligning with the AI Office's risk management guidelines.
7. Budget Management: Manage use case budgets effectively, ensuring use cases are delivered within allocated resources.
8. Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicate use case status and updates to stakeholders, including the AI Office Lead, Steering Committee, and business stakeholders, managing expectations and ensuring satisfaction. This includes communicating about AI governance policies and their impact on use cases, always emphasizing the data-driven business value being delivered.
9. Technical Understanding: Possess a solid understanding of AI technologies and their application in business contexts. This includes familiarity with machine learning, natural language processing, and other relevant AI domains. Direct experience with IBM watsonx and its components (e.g., watsonx.ai, watsonx.data, watsonx.governance) is highly desired.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• Proven experience in program management, specifically within the technology sector. Experience managing AI use cases is a significant advantage.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall). PMP certification is a plus. Demonstrable experience working in an Agile environment is essential.
• Experience with AI governance tools and frameworks, particularly IBM watsonx.governance, is preferred. Demonstrable ability to develop and implement AI governance policies and procedures.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, particularly in the context of explaining complex AI governance concepts and data-driven results.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, particularly within a newly established office.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on data analysis and interpretation.
• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Jira, etc.).
• Familiarity with AI technologies and concepts.