Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Governance Officer

Northwest Bank; Bellevue (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwest Bank is seeking an AI Governance Officer to manage the enterprise AI governance framework and oversee AI use cases throughout their lifecycle. The role requires senior-level judgment in risk assessment, cross-functional coordination, and regulatory compliance to enable responsible innovation while maintaining accountability.

The officer will lead the AI risk program, coordinate the AI Working Group, and develop governance policies, reports, and dashboards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in risk management, business, economics, statistics, mathematics, information systems, computer science, law, or related discipline.
• Master's degree in risk management, business, economics, statistics, mathematics, information systems, computer science, law, or related discipline.
• 8-12 years experience in a financial institution or consulting environment, with demonstrated exposure to AI governance.
• 3-5 years experience evaluating or governing AI/ML use cases across the lifecycle, including pre-implementation assessment, control design, and post-deployment monitoring.
• Experience with generative AI, machine learning, or decision-support systems and related risks.
• Experience supporting or interacting with internal audit, regulators, or independent model review functions.

Responsibilities

• Leads administration of the enterprise AI risk governance framework and coordinates activities across lines.
• Coordinate intake, assessment, and governance for proposed AI use cases and classify solutions.
• Serve as coordinator for the AI Working Group with agendas, logs, and action items.
• Maintain the enterprise inventory of AI use cases and governance records.
• Assess proposed AI implementations to determine governance requirements and controls.
• Develop management reporting and dashboards on AI inventory, approvals, issues, and risks.
• Promote awareness of AI governance across the institution.
• Develop and maintain enterprise AI risk policies, standards, and procedures.
• Participate as a senior member of the Model Risk team evaluating model risk and approvals.
• Research emerging modeling techniques and assess applicability and risk.
• Review relevant regulations and translate into governance requirements.
• Coordinate regulatory examinations, audits, and independent reviews of AI governance.

Skills

AI governance

Risk governance

Regulatory compliance

Model risk management

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in risk management, business, economics, statistics, mathematics, information systems, computer science, law, or related discipline

Master's degree in risk management, business, economics, statistics, mathematics, information systems, computer science, law, or related discipline

Job description

IN0534 Fishers, OH0523 Independence Bus Office, OH0713 NW Bancshares HQ, PA0258 Bellevue, PA0736 Administration Center

Job Description

The AI Governance Officer is a senior-level contributor responsible for administering the Bank's enterprise AI governance framework and supporting the oversight of artificial intelligence use cases throughout their lifecycle. The role exercises sound judgment in assessing AI-related risks, facilitating risk-based governance decisions, coordinating cross-functional review processes, and ensuring compliance with internal standards and regulatory expectations. The position plays a critical role in enabling responsible innovation while maintaining transparency, accountability, and effective oversight of AI capabilities deployed across the institution.

Essential Functions

• Leads administration of the Bank's enterprise AI risk governance framework and supporting procedures. Coordinates activities across all business lines and corporate functions.
• Coordinate intake, assessment, and governance activities for proposed AI use cases. Determine and document the classification of solutions as models, agents, tools, job aids, or other categories defined by policy.
• Serve coordinator for the AI Working Group, including preparation of agendas, meeting materials, decision logs, and action item tracking.
• Maintain the enterprise inventory of AI use cases and associated governance records.
• Assess proposed AI implementations to determine applicable governance requirements and control expectations.
• Develop management reporting and dashboards related to AI inventory, approvals, issues, and emerging risks. Monitor compliance with AI governance standards and elevate material issues to executive leadership.
• Promote awareness and understanding of AI governance requirements throughout the institution.
• Develops and maintains enterprise policies, standards, and procedures governing AI risk.
• Serve as a senior member of the Model Risk team, exercising sound judgment in evaluating model risk and making decisions on model approvals and issue closures as a delegate of the Chief Model Risk Officer.
• Participate in the research and evaluation of emerging modeling techniques, including AI/ML, and assess their applicability and risk implications within the institution.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of the model risk management framework, including validation methodologies, documentation standards, and governance practices.
• Review academic and industry research, summarize key insights, and propose practical applications to improve model risk oversight and innovation.
• Ensure compliance with Northwest's policies and procedures, as well as applicable federal and state regulations including SR26-2, interagency AI/ML guidance, and the U.S. Treasury Financial Services AI Risk Management Framework.
• Interprets evolving regulatory expectations relating to artificial intelligence and translates them into practical governance requirements.
• Serves as the primary coordinator for regulatory examinations, audits, and independent reviews of AI governance.

Additional Essential Functions

• Ensure compliance with Northwest's policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations
• Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and software specific to the department in order to maximize technology tools and gain efficiency
• Work as part of a team
• Work with on-site equipment

What You Bring to the Team

• Participate in enterprise initiatives involving emerging technologies and advanced analytics.
• Own the design, implementation, and enhancement of governance workflows within Archer or similar systems.
• Recommend customer service enhancements

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree Undergraduate degree in risk management, business, economics, statistics, mathematics, information systems, computer science, law, or related discipline.
• Master's Degree Master's degree in risk management, business, economics, statistics, mathematics, information systems, computer science, law, or related discipline.

Work Experience

• 8 - 12 years Experience in a financial institution or consulting environment, with demonstrated exposure to AI governanceAnd
• 3 - 5 years Experience evaluating or governing AI/ML use cases across the lifecycle, including:
• pre-implementation assessment
• control design
• post-deployment monitoring
• Experience with generative AI, machine learning, or decision-support systems, including understanding of associated risks (e.g., bias, explainability, data dependency, automation risk)
• Experience supporting or interacting with internal audit, regulators, or independent model review functions
• Experience supporting or interacting with internal audit, regulators, or independent model review functions

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to apply risk-based judgment in ambiguous situations, particularly in evaluating AI use cases where regulatory expectations and governance standards are evolving
• Ability to analyze complex AI/ML concepts and communicate risks, limitations, and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to challenge and influence business and technology stakeholders to ensure appropriate risk identification, control design, and governance outcomes
• Ability to identify patterns, emerging risks, and systemic issues across multiple AI use cases rather than evaluating them in isolation.
• Ability to make sound governance decisions in gray areas, including classification (model vs agent vs tool), control requirements, and escalation thresholds
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional governance processes and drive clear outcomes across Risk, Technology, Compliance, Legal, and Business teams
• Ability to develop and interpret risk metrics, monitoring outputs, and performance indicators for AI systems

Licenses and Certifications

• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
• Financial Risk Manager (FRM)
• Certified Third-Party Risk Professional (CTPRP)
• Relevant AI governance certifications

Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.