AI Governance Lead

Leatherman Tool Group; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Leatherman Tool Group is seeking an AI Governance Manager to establish governance standards, oversight, and risk management for AI deployments across the business. You will partner with Applied AI, IT Security, Legal, and business leaders to embed governance into platforms, tools, workflows, policies, and processes.

Working with cross-functional teams, you will define ownership, provide training, and monitor compliance while enabling responsible innovation and trust in AI across Leatherman's

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, business, risk management, law or related field.
• Minimum five years in IT governance, risk and compliance or related discipline.
• Working knowledge of AI tools and practical AI risks (model drift, hallucination, bias, data exposure).
• Experience designing governance as systems and standards, not approval gates.
• Change management experience and comfort building practices without an established playbook.
• Familiarity with AI regulatory landscape is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Establish AI governance framework with risk tiers and oversight standards.
• Lead policy updates and ensure governance stays current as AI evolves.
• Define ownership and training requirements for AI solutions across risk levels.
• Classify AI involvement in workflows and define appropriate oversight.
• Monitor AI outputs, risk indicators, and response actions.
• Maintain AI inventory, incident register, and lessons learned.
• Develop training content on safe AI use and accountability.

Skills

AI governance

Risk management

Policy leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business, Risk Management, Law, or a related field

Tools

AI tools

Job description

At Leatherman, we build tools that people depend on when it matters most. For more than 40 years, we've earned that trust through thoughtful design, uncompromising quality, and a commitment to solving real-world problems. As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly important part of how we work, we're applying that same philosophy to AI—using it responsibly, intentionally, and in ways that empower people.

We're looking for an AI Governance Manager to help shape how AI is adopted across our business. This is a unique opportunity to establish the standards, oversight, and governance practices that enable teams to innovate confidently while managing risk responsibly. You'll work with leaders across Technology, Legal, Security, and the business to build an AI governance program that supports innovation, accountability, and trust.

Position Summary

The AI Governance Manager establishes the standards, oversight, and operating practices that enable Leatherman to use artificial intelligence broadly, responsibly, and with appropriate risk management. This role defines how AI should be evaluated, approved, monitored, and used across varying levels of risk—from everyday assistive tools to AI-enabled workflows that make recommendations, automate decisions, or act on behalf of the business.

Working closely with the Applied AI team, IT Security, Legal, and leaders across the organization, this role develops and embeds governance expectations into AI platforms, tools, workflows, policies, and processes. The AI Governance Manager maintains visibility into where AI is operating across the company, how it is performing, and when risks or changes require a response.

Done well, this role provides the clear standards, practical oversight, and performance management needed to build trust in AI and help teams use it confidently and responsibly.

Essential Functions

AI Standards and Policy Leadership

• Create and maintain Leatherman's AI governance framework, including risk tiers, decision rights, and oversight standards for AI use across the company.
• Keep Leatherman's AI use policy clear, practical, and current as AI capabilities, usage, and risks evolve.
• Partner with the AI Platform Lead on emerging AI capabilities so governance is ready before new capabilities are deployed.
• Define who builds and owns AI solutions at each level of risk, what training is required, and how accountability is ensured.

AI Workflow Oversight and Accountability

• Partner with the AI Transformation Manager to classify AI involvement in redesigned workflows and define appropriate oversight.
• Set standards for monitoring AI solutions in use, including output quality, risk indicators, and response actions.
• Lead governance response efforts when an AI workflow, capability, risk profile, or business context changes.
• Maintain the AI inventory, incident register, and lessons-learned documentation.
• Develop training content related to the safe use of and accountability for AI tools and workflows, and integrate it into the broader AI curriculum.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with the IT Security Manager on AI tooling reviews. IT Security ensures AI is used securely by protecting infrastructure, identity, and data; this role ensures AI is used effectively and responsibly.
• Partner with Legal on compliance with AI-related regulations.
• Partner with leaders across the organization on expectations, accountability, and the changing role of AI in how work gets done.

Additional Functions

• Stay informed and ahead of AI policy, evolving regulations, and responsible AI practices through research, conferences, and continued professional development.

What Success Looks Like

• Leatherman teams confidently adopt AI within clear governance standards.
• AI solutions are appropriately classified, monitored, and managed throughout their lifecycle.
• Governance enables innovation by providing practical guardrails—not unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Leaders have visibility into AI use, associated risks, and organizational accountability.
• Employees understand how to use AI responsibly and have confidence in the policies that support them.
• Manages complexity
• Ensures accountability
• Balances stakeholders
• Demonstrates agile learning
• Tech savvy

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business, Risk Management, Law, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in IT governance, risk and compliance, information governance, or a related discipline.
• Working knowledge of AI tools and the practical risks associated with AI, including model drift, hallucination, bias, and data exposure. Hands-on personal use of modern AI tools is required.
• Experience designing governance as systems and standards rather than approval gates.
• Change management experience and comfort building practices in areas without an established playbook.
• Familiarity with the regulatory landscape relevant to AI use is preferred.
• Experience in manufacturing or the consumer products industry is a plus.

Why Leatherman

At Leatherman, you'll help shape how a global manufacturer responsibly adopts one of the most transformative technologies of our time. You'll work alongside passionate teammates who value craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and practical innovation while helping build an AI governance program that enables the business to move faster—with confidence and trust.