Director, AI & Technology Governance, Ethics and Compliance

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Cambridge, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Cambridge, MA, seeks an experienced leader to establish and mature the company’s enterprise AI governance.

Reporting to the Head of Privacy, AI and Data Governance, Training, and Communications within Ethics & Compliance, this role will drive policies, standards, and risk-based controls for responsible AI adoption across the organization. The successful candidate will partner with IT, HR, Legal and business stakeholders to enable innovation while maintaining

Qualifications

• 12+ years of legal or compliance experience at a law firm and/or in-house.
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required.
• Experience designing, or operationalizing governance, risk management, or oversight programs within a regulated organization.
• Experience advising on AI, cybersecurity, data governance, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of enterprise risk management, governance principles, and emerging AI regulatory expectations.
• Ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical business processes and controls.
• Strong executive communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Experience designing or operating AI governance, responsible AI, or technology governance programs.
• Biotechnology, pharmaceutical or related life sciences experience, strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and maturation of the enterprise AI governance program across IT, HR and business functions.
• Establish methodologies for AI intake, risk scoring, review, approval, assessment, monitoring and risk-based controls.
• Lead AI governance forums and review processes with documentation, transparency and human oversight for higher-risk use cases.
• Advise business leaders on AI, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and technology governance matters.
• Establish and scale an AI and Technology Governance Center of Excellence within Ethics & Compliance.
• Develop training, communications, and awareness initiatives to promote responsible AI usage.
• Foster a culture of responsible innovation by embedding governance into day-to-day decision making.

Skills

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Influencing skills

Legal/regulatory knowledge

AI governance

Risk management

Regulatory awareness

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Director, AI & Technology Governance, Ethics and Compliance

Cambridge, MA

Overview

Alnylam is seeking an experienced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technology governance leader to establish and mature the Company's enterprise AI governance. Reporting to the Head of Privacy, AI and Data Governance, Training, and Communications within Ethics & Compliance, this individual contributor role will lead the development of governance frameworks, risk management processes, controls, and oversight mechanisms that enable responsible AI adoption across Alnylam.

This role combines strong legal judgment, technology fluency, and enterprise program-building experience. The role will focus on developing and operationalizing Alnylam's AI governance program, as well as providing strategic risk management advice related to AI, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and related third-party solutions.

The successful candidate will partner closely with IT, HR, Legal and other business stakeholders enterprise-wide to enable innovation while maintaining effective governance and risk management practices.

This is a hybrid position and will primarily be based in Cambridge, MA.

Responsibilities

Enterprise AI and Emerging Technology Governance Leadership

• In partnership with key stakeholders across IT, HR and business functions, lead the design, implementation, and continuous maturation of Alnylam's enterprise AI governance program, including the operating model, policies, standards, procedures, oversight mechanisms, and program metrics.
• Establish and oversee practical methodologies for AI intake, risk scoring, review, approval, assessment, monitoring, escalation and risk-based controls. Proactively monitor evolving AI and other technology related laws, regulations, standards, and industry expectations, and implementing controls and governance necessary to operationalize these requirements.
• Lead AI governance forums and review processes for AI and emerging technology use cases across the enterprise, ensuring appropriate documentation, transparency, monitoring and human oversight for higher-risk use cases.
• Partner with Ethics & Compliance leadership to incorporate AI and emerging technology risks into enterprise risk assessment, monitoring, and compliance activities.

Strategic Legal and Technology Counsel

• Advise business and functional leaders on AI, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, digital innovation, and technology governance matters.
• Provide practical, risk-based legal guidance that enables responsible innovation while supporting business objectives
• Draft and review technology-related contractual provisions.

Center of Excellence & Change Enablement

• Establish and scale an AI and Technology Governance Center of Excellence within Ethics & Compliance, driving education, awareness, adoption and a culture of responsible innovation
• Develop training, communications, and awareness initiatives that promote responsible AI and emerging technology use across the company.
• Foster a culture of responsible innovation by helping stakeholders understand governance expectations and integrate them into day-to-day decision making

Qualifications

• 12+ years of legal or compliance experience at a law firm and/or in-house experience.
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required.
• Experience designing, or operationalizing compliance, governance, risk management, or oversight programs within a regulated organization.
• Experience advising on emerging technologies, AI, technology transactions, cybersecurity, data governance, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of enterprise risk management, governance principles, and emerging AI regulatory expectations
• Ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical business processes and controls.
• Strong executive communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Proven ability to lead initiatives across highly matrixed organizations.
• Experience designing or operating AI governance, responsible AI, or technology governance programs.
• Familiarity with AI governance frameworks and standards and emerging AI regulatory requirements.
• Biotechnology, pharmaceutical or related life sciences experience, strongly preferred.

About Alnylam

We are the leader in RNAi therapeutics- a revolutionaryapproach with the potential to transform the lives of people with rare and common diseases. Built on Nobel Prize-winning science, Alnylam has delivered the breakthroughs that made RNAi therapeutics possibleand are just at the beginning of what’s possible. Our deep pipeline, late-stage programs, and bold vision reflect our core values: fierce innovation, passion for excellence, purposeful urgency, open culture and commitment to people. We're proud to be a globally recognized top employer, wherean authentic, inclusive culture and breakthrough thinkingfuel one another.

At Alnylam, we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equal employment opportunity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their sex, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, pregnancy status or related conditions, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital or familial status, political affiliation, age, or any other factor protected by federal, state, or local law. Alnylam is an E-Verify Employer.

The pay range below reflects the full-time base salary range we expect to pay for this role at the time of posting. Base pay will be determined based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, and education. This role is eligible for an annual short-term incentive award (e.g., bonus or sales incentive) and an annual long-term incentive award (e.g., equity).

Alnylam’s robust Total Rewards package is designed to support your overall health and well-being.

• We offer comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, a lifestyle reimbursement program, flexible spending and health savings accounts and a 401(k)with a generous company match.
• Eligible employees enjoy paid time off, wellness days, holidays, and two company-wide recharge breaks.
• We also offer generous family resources and leave.

Our commitment to your well-being reflects our belief that caring for our people fuels the impact we create together.