Director, AI Governance & Policy

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (US); United States; Hybrid; USD 184,000 - 276,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Job summary

Vertex is seeking a Director, AI Governance & Policy to lead the enterprise AI governance program and establish policies, operating models, and platforms for safe, compliant AI adoption across the company. You will oversee governance for generative AI, AI agents, ML, and AI-enabled business solutions while partnering with Legal, Privacy, Compliance, and Data teams.

The role requires deep expertise in governance, risk, regulatory requirements, and enterprise platforms, with 10+ years in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in technology, governance, risk, compliance, data management, AI.
• 5+ years leading enterprise governance or AI programs.
• Experience in biopharmaceutical, healthcare, or other highly regulated industries preferred.
• Professional certifications such as AIGP, CIPP, CRISC, CISM, ISO 42001 preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the enterprise AI governance strategy.
• Establish and evolve Responsible AI policies and framework.
• Advise senior leaders on governance, risk, and compliance.
• Monitor regulations and best practices for AI governance.
• Oversee AI governance processes, risk, and platform operations.
• Lead AI Policy Council and governance reviews.
• Partner with Legal, Privacy, Compliance, Security and Data teams.

Skills

AI governance

Responsible AI

Risk management

Enterprise governance

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Regulatory awareness

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, Law, Public Policy

MBA, Master’s, JD or equivalent

Job description

Job Description General / Position Summary

Vertex is entering a transformative phase in its AI journey, where responsible, trusted, and compliant AI is foundational to accelerating innovation, improving patient outcomes, and enabling enterprise-wide productivity. We are seeking a visionary and execution-focused Director, AI Governance & Policy to lead Vertex’s enterprise AI Governance program and establish the policies, operating models, and technology platforms that enable safe, ethical, and business-enabling adoption of AI across the company. This role will lead the governance of generative AI, agentic AI, machine learning, and AI-enabled business solutions. The Director will oversee AI policy development, risk management, governance operations, technology platforms, regulatory compliance, and Responsible AI practices while partnering closely with Data Governance, Information Security, Privacy, Legal, Compliance, Quality, and business stakeholders. The role will ensure AI innovation scales responsibly while balancing risk management with business value realization.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Define and execute the enterprise AI Governance strategy aligned with Vertex’s business, data, and AI priorities.
• Establish and evolve Vertex’s Responsible AI framework, policies, standards, and governance operating model.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on AI governance, risk, compliance, and emerging AI technologies.
• Monitor industry trends, regulations, and best practices to continuously mature Vertex’s AI governance capabilities.

AI Governance, Risk & Platform Ownership

• Lead enterprise AI governance processes, including AI intake, review, approval, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Define and maintain AI risk management frameworks, controls, and governance standards aligned with regulatory and industry expectations.
• Own the strategy, roadmap, implementation, and operation of the enterprise AI Governance platform, including AI inventories, policy management, risk assessments, workflow automation, monitoring, reporting, and compliance evidence management.
• Establish governance approaches for emerging AI technologies including generative AI, AI agents, knowledge graphs, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) solutions.
• Ensure appropriate oversight, documentation, auditability, and accountability for AI systems, models, and agents deployed across the enterprise.

Responsible AI, Compliance & Cross-functional Leadership

Develop and maintain enterprise AI policies, standards, and guidelines supporting both regulated and non-regulated use cases.

Ensure compliance with evolving AI regulations, industry frameworks, and internal governance requirements.

Partner with Legal, Privacy, Compliance, Quality, Information Security, Data Governance, and Data & AI Product teams to embed governance-by-design into AI solutions.

Lead the AI Policy Council and AI Review process, ensuring effective governance, decision-making, and stakeholder alignment across the enterprise.

Culture, Training & Enablement

Promote AI literacy and Responsible AI adoption through training, communications, and stakeholder engagement programs.

Build a culture that enables innovation while maintaining trust, transparency, compliance, and accountability.

Knowledge & Skills

• Deep expertise in AI governance, Responsible AI, risk management, and enterprise governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of generative AI, large language models (LLMs), AI agents, machine learning, knowledge graphs, and RAG architectures.
• Experience designing and operating enterprise AI governance programs, policies, operating models, and governance technology platforms.
• Knowledge of AI-related regulatory requirements and standards, including FDA, EMA, EU AI Act, HIPAA, GDPR, and GxP environments.
• Strong understanding of data governance, privacy, security, and enterprise technology controls.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders, lead cross-functional initiatives, and drive organizational change in a matrixed environment.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and strategic leadership skills.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, Law, Public Policy, or a related field required. Advanced degree (MBA, Master’s, JD, or equivalent experience) preferred. 10+ years of experience in technology, governance, risk, compliance, data management, AI, or related disciplines. 5+ years of experience leading enterprise governance, risk management, compliance, AI governance, or technology platform programs. Experience owning or managing governance, risk, compliance, workflow, or policy management platforms strongly preferred. Experience in biopharmaceutical, healthcare, or other highly regulated industries strongly preferred. Professional certifications such as AIGP, CIPP, CRISC, CISM, ISO 42001, or related credentials are preferred.

Pay Range

$184,000 - $276,000

Disclosure Statement

The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Benefits

At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations. From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

Flex Designation

Hybrid-Eligible Or On-Site Eligible Flex Eligibility Status: In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as: 1. Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select 2. On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail]

Help Us Achieve Our Mission

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases and conditions. The company has approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, acute pain and acromegaly, and it continues to advance clinical and research programs in these areas. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including IgA nephropathy, neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, primary membranous nephropathy, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes, generalized myasthenia gravis, and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 16 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of innovation, visit www.vrtx.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.

Our Culture

We believe our culture is one of Vertex’s greatest strengths and a key enabler of our ability to deliver transformative medicines for patients who need them. Rooted in innovation, purpose and collaboration, our culture empowers people to take smart risks, challenge conventional thinking and do their best work. The diversity of our people is central to that culture. By bringing together individuals with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, we foster an environment where new ideas thrive, better decisions are made and breakthrough innovation is possible. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, included and connected to our shared mission, because we know that our unique culture and the collective strength of our people are what set Vertex apart.