Responsible AI Lead

RWE Americas; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) match

Parental Leave

Paid time off

Job summary

RWE Americas, LLC is seeking a senior leader to own the enterprise Responsible AI (RAI) program. You will partner with the ELT to set AI priorities, embed ethical and regulatory controls into product lifecycles, and drive governance across the portfolio while coordinating with IT, Legal, and Compliance teams.

The role demands deep expertise in AI governance, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate complex requirements into practical policies for the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Ethics, Law, or a related field, with a focus on AI/ML, ethics, or governance
• Certifications or specialized training in Responsible AI, AI ethics, or governance frameworks are preferred

Responsibilities

• Own the enterprise Responsible AI (RAI) framework, embedding legal, regulatory, and ethical controls including risk classification / assessments throughout the lifecycle of AI products
• Serve as the company's RAI expert and strategic advisor to the ELT, leading the RAI working team - a governance committee that reports to the AI SteerCo (including the CEO) - to oversee portfolio-level risk and drive consistency of responsible AI application across the enterprise
• Shape the organization's position on RAI standards while engaging with internal and external stakeholders
• Maintain and operationalize the RAI handbook in partnership with legal, IT/OT, and other stakeholders, ensuring controls are practical, enforceable, and aligned with evolving regulatory requirements
• Embed RAI controls, risk scoring, and ongoing monitoring directly into the product lifecycle and stage gates, ensuring ethical and regulatory requirements are tested and validated at each stage of delivery, and that remediation processes are in place when issues are identified
• Review and approve RAI assessments for AI products and manage third-party vendor compliance across the portfolio, evaluating risk across established ethical AI principles
• Track and report AI-related incidents to the ELT, maintaining a structured incident log, assessing risk implications, and ensuring timely escalation, remediation, and closure in line with the enterprise RAI framework
• Drive RAI awareness and capability-building across the organization, design training / guidance materials and engagement programs that embed responsible AI thinking into squad-level delivery

Skills

RAI governance

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Executive communications

Ethics in AI

AI product lifecycle

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in CS/Data Science/Ethics/Law

Job description

RWE Americas, LLC

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Corporate Development / Strategy; IT / Digital; Legal / Compliance

Remuneration: Exempt

The AI Transformation team, part of the broader Strategy department, leads the company's AI agenda from ambition setting through blueprinting (designing AI-enabled workflows) and execution. The team partners with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to define AI priorities and works closely with IT and business functions to deliver against the strategy. It also monitors the evolving AI landscape, translating emerging trends into actionable opportunities in collaboration with relevant business units.

Role Responsibilities

• Own the enterprise Responsible AI (RAI) framework, embedding legal, regulatory, and ethical controls including risk classification / assessments throughout the lifecycle of AI products
• Serve as the company's RAI expert and strategic advisor to the ELT, leading the RAI working team - a governance committee that reports to the AI SteerCo (including the CEO) - to oversee portfolio-level risk and drive consistency of responsible AI application across the enterprise
• Shape the organization's position on RAI standards while engaging with internal and external stakeholders
• Maintain and operationalize the RAI handbook in partnership with legal, IT/OT, and other stakeholders, ensuring controls are practical, enforceable, and aligned with evolving regulatory requirements
• Embed RAI controls, risk scoring, and ongoing monitoring directly into the product lifecycle and stage gates, ensuring ethical and regulatory requirements are tested and validated at each stage of delivery, and that remediation processes are in place when issues are identified
• Review and approve RAI assessments for AI products and manage third-party vendor compliance across the portfolio, evaluating risk across established ethical AI principles
• Track and report AI-related incidents to the ELT, maintaining a structured incident log, assessing risk implications, and ensuring timely escalation, remediation, and closure in line with the enterprise RAI framework
• Drive RAI awareness and capability-building across the organization, design training / guidance materials and engagement programs that embed responsible AI thinking into squad-level delivery

Job Requirements and Experience

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Ethics, Law, or a related field, with a focus on AI/ML, ethics, or governance
• Certifications or specialized training in Responsible AI, AI ethics, or governance frameworks are preferred
• Minimum 11 years of relevant professional experience in responsible AI, technology governance, regulatory compliance, ethics, or related roles
• Deep expertise in responsible RAI best practice, frameworks, and the AI regulatory landscape, with the ability to translate complex requirements into practical, enforceable controls
• Superior, structured problem-solving ability, navigating highly ambiguous challenges at the intersection of technology, law, ethics, and business needs to deliver clear policy recommendations
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for C-suite and board-level audiences on governance risk and strategic RAI positioning
• Highly skilled at engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, building consensus across cross functional stakeholders on RAI standards
• Consistent commitment to excellence and innovation, identifying and embedding emerging best practices in responsible AI as the regulatory and technical landscape evolves
• Courage and decisiveness, willing to challenge AI product and delivery teams where ethical or regulatory controls are insufficient, and maintain those positions under pressure
• Experience in the power, utilities, or clean energy sector, including knowledge of U.S. power markets, renewable project development, and clean energy technologies preferred
• Solid understanding of AI product development processes, including model lifecycle management, stage-gate governance, and deployment practices, sufficient to evaluate RAI compliance at each stage and engage credibly with technical teams and product squads
• This position is an office-based role with some travel and visits to other RWE Americas offices and field locations
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

[e-mail] ([e-mail])

Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $200,000 - $240,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors – Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.