Human Centered Design Lead, RAI Ops

Bank of Montreal; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 122,400 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement savings plans

Job summary

Bank of Montreal seeks a senior leader to drive responsible AI design and governance, leading a human-centered design function across RAIOps and governance programs.

You will translate research into actionable roadmaps and collaborate with engineering, risk and data science teams to deliver guardrails and accountable AI solutions in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in data science with focus on responsible AI.
• 7 years in related field with at least 3 years in responsible AI.
• Experience in human-centered design, deep research and user research.

Responsibilities

• Drive cross-functional collaboration with engineering, data science, risk, and platform teams to design and deliver embedded guardrails and intuitive experiences that operationalize Responsible AI at scale and strengthen stakeholder trust.
• Lead the integration of human-centered design principles into BMO’s RAIOps platform and enterprise playbooks, patterns, and best practices to embed empathy and usability into AI governance and accelerate safe AI adoption across the organization.
• Own and direct a comprehensive product research program-spanning user, market, competitor, and academic domains-to inform RAIOps strategy and platform design.
• Translate complex research findings into compelling narratives and actionable recommendations that influence product roadmaps, risk policies, user training, and management decision-making.
• Facilitate participatory research (focus groups, interviews, and in-field sessions) to capture stakeholder needs and validate design hypotheses, ensuring solutions align with ethical, regulatory, and operational objectives.
• Maintain deep expertise in RAI, HCI, and emerging technology risk; advance thought leadership through academic collaborations, publications, and conference participation to position BMO as an industry leader in responsible innovation, design thinking, and human-centered AI.

Skills

Data science

Human-centered design

AI/ML frameworks

Communication

Education

Master’s or PhD in data science

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Application Deadline:

11/23/2025

Address:
151 W 42nd Street

Job Family Group:
Data Analytics & Reporting

Please note this role is subject to Hybrid Work Model (2-3 days per week in office)

This role sits within the AI Research & Commercialization (ARC) team reporting to the Head of Responsible AI (RAI) Innovation & Governance. A dynamic opportunity for skilled professionals who are passionate about shaping the future of responsible AI in financial services, this role will lead the human-centered design function in the development of guardrails, evaluation frameworks, and technical governance strategies to ensure that AI solutions are performant, safe, and aligned with risk and regulatory expectations.

This position requires expertise in machine learning and AI testing and evaluation methods, combined with a strong understanding of responsible innovation and underlying principles, such as fairness, explainability, and reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive cross-functional collaboration with engineering, data science, risk, and platform teams to design and deliver embedded guardrails and intuitive experiences that operationalize Responsible AI at scale and strengthen stakeholder trust.
• Lead the integration of human-centered design principles into BMO’s RAIOps platform and enterprise playbooks, patterns, and best practices to embed empathy and usability into AI governance and accelerate safe AI adoption across the organization.
• Own and direct a comprehensive product research program-spanning user, market, competitor, and academic domains-to inform RAIOps strategy and platform design.
• Translate complex research findings into compelling narratives and actionable recommendations that influence product roadmaps, risk policies, user training, and management decision-making.
• Facilitate participatory research (focus groups, interviews, and in-field sessions) to capture stakeholder needs and validate design hypotheses, ensuring solutions align with ethical, regulatory, and operational objectives.
• Maintain deep expertise in RAI, HCI, and emerging technology risk; advance thought leadership through academic collaborations, publications, and conference participation to position BMO as an industry leader in responsible innovation, design thinking, and human-centered AI.

Requirements

• Master’s or PhD degree in data science or a related field is required, with a preference for candidates that have specialized in responsible AI / responsible innovation (e.g., fairness and explainability techniques, responsible AI evaluation and alignment research, etc.).
• 7 years of experience in a related field is required, with a defined specialization in responsible AI / responsible innovation for at least 3 years.
• Experience in human-centered design principles and practices, deep research background and user research
• Strong grasp of AI and ML frameworks and stacks.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and CI/CD pipelines is advantageous.
• Track record of research, publications, or other contributions to the field of Responsible AI (e.g., responsible AI, AI safety, alignment, or interpretability research) would be an asset.

Key Behaviors

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an aptitude for data-driven decision-making.
• Strong communication skills to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor team members, with a commitment to fostering professional growth, knowledge sharing, and a culture of continuous development.
• Demonstrated passion for advancing responsible innovation.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to lead pioneering responsible AI initiatives in a forward-thinking, innovative banking environment.
• A unique opportunity to apply your expertise in a high-impact data science role.
• Commitment to professional growth, continuous learning, and career development.
• Collaborative culture focused on diversity, inclusion, and innovation.

Salary

$122,400.00 – $228,000.00

Pay Type

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en

BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.