AI Strategy & Solutions Architect

Human Rights Watch; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Human Rights Watch seeks an AI Strategy and Solutions Lead to lay the foundation for responsible AI adoption across our organization. You will shape strategy, build governance, and deliver value through AI projects, balancing strategic planning with hands-on implementation.

Based in the US, the role collaborates with the CIO and IST leadership, assesses readiness, prototypes solutions, and coordinates cross‑functional efforts to advance responsible AI while upholding HRW's mission and values.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree or relevant work experience in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, AI/ML implementation or related technical field is required.
• Seven years of relevant work experience, including 2–3 years working on AI.
• Experience implementing AI/ML solutions in production environments.
• Experience contributing to technology strategies and assessing organizational readiness for new technology adoption (AI‑specific experience strongly preferred).
• Strong Python coding skills with ML libraries and frameworks.
• Hands‑on experience with predictive modeling, data science, and statistical analysis.
• Experience building solutions with low‑code/no‑code AI platforms (Microsoft Copilot Studio, Power Platform, or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to identify use cases, scope projects, and deliver working solutions under resource constraints.
• Strong understanding of both generative AI and traditional ML approaches.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear language for diverse audiences.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and ability to build relationships across organizational boundaries.
• Experience supporting and leading business change and technology adoption, ideally as an internal partner to business teams.

Responsibilities

• Build a comprehensive AI strategy that includes data foundation requirements, infrastructure gaps, and organizational readiness assessment.
• Inform roadmap development balancing quick wins with long‑term capacity building.
• Research what peer nonprofit organizations are doing with AI and identify collaboration opportunities.
• Translate business needs into technical approaches with departments.
• Build and deploy AI/ML solutions that demonstrate measurable value.
• Develop solutions using Microsoft AI ecosystem (Copilot Studio, Azure AI, Power Platform) and other appropriate tools.
• Oversee consultants and vendors to extend delivery capacity where needed.
• Design onboarding approach for AI tools and identify use cases where custom solutions amplify what we do best.
• Create training materials tailored to different work areas and skill levels on effective prompting and responsible use.
• Support working groups and communities of practice.
• Build playbooks and guides that make AI accessible to non‑technical staff.
• Develop risk assessment frameworks with IST leadership and ensure alignment with security, infrastructure, and architecture requirements.
• Contribute to AI policy development and operationalization.
• Create standards for POC and MVP evaluation in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Engage with business units to understand priorities and build co‑ownership of outcomes.
• Balance innovation with data quality, security, and resources, in line with HRW’s values.

Skills

Python

ML frameworks

Predictive modeling

Data science

Low-code/no-code AI

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or relevant work experience in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, AI/ML implementation or related technical field

Tools

Microsoft Copilot Studio

Power Platform

Job description

Human Rights Watch seeks an AI Strategy and Solutions Lead to lay the foundation for responsible AI adoption across our organization. You will shape strategy, build governance, and deliver value through AI projects, balancing strategic planning with hands-on implementation.

Based in the US, the role collaborates with the CIO and IST leadership, assesses readiness, prototypes solutions, and coordinates cross‑functional efforts to advance responsible AI while upholding HRW's mission and values.