AI Ethicist and Governance Specialist

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 950,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work

AI ethics leadership

Professional development

Inclusive environment

Paid time off

Wellness program

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an AI Ethicist and Governance Specialist to lead ethical governance for AI initiatives in Port Elizabeth. You will craft policies, guide risk assessments, and ensure responsible practices across product lifecycles.

Collaboration with legal, compliance, and engineering teams is essential to embed ethics into development, training, and monitoring, driving trustworthy AI deployment.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and ethical reasoning required.
• Excellent communication across stakeholder groups.
• Familiarity with data privacy regulations (GDPR, POPIA) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement ethical AI principles and governance policies.
• Conduct ethical risk assessments for AI projects and mitigate biases and harms.
• Stay updated on AI regulations, standards, and best practices.
• Collaborate with legal, compliance, engineering, and product teams to embed ethics in development.
• Create training materials and run workshops on AI ethics.
• Monitor AI systems for compliance and report metrics.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Policy & privacy awareness

Education

Advanced degree in Ethics/Philosophy/Law/Public Policy/CS with tech ethics focus

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a principled and forward-thinking AI Ethicist and Governance Specialist to join their team in Port Elizabeth . As AI technologies become more integrated into society, ensuring their responsible development and deployment is paramount. You will be responsible for developing and implementing ethical guidelines, policies, and frameworks to govern the use of AI within the organization. This role requires a deep understanding of AI's societal implications, regulatory landscapes, and best practices for ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability. You will play a crucial role in building trust and ensuring sustainable AI adoption.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and enforce ethical AI principles and governance policies across the organization.


• Conduct ethical risk assessments for AI projects and provide guidance on mitigating potential biases and harms.


• Stay informed about evolving AI regulations, industry standards, and best practices related to AI ethics and responsible innovation.


• Collaborate with legal, compliance, engineering, and product teams to integrate ethical considerations into the AI development lifecycle.


• Develop training materials and conduct workshops to educate employees on AI ethics and responsible AI practices.


• Monitor AI systems for adherence to ethical standards and report on compliance metrics.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Ethics, Philosophy, Law, Public Policy, Computer Science, or a related field with a focus on technology ethics.


• Proven experience in developing or implementing ethical frameworks, governance policies, or compliance programs, preferably in the tech or AI sector.


• Strong understanding of AI concepts, machine learning, and their potential ethical implications (e.g., bias, fairness, privacy, transparency).


• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.


• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.


• Familiarity with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, POPIA) is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.


• Hybrid work model offering flexibility between office and remote work.


• Opportunity to shape the ethical future of AI within a leading organization.


• Professional development and continuous learning opportunities.


• Collaborative and inclusive work environment in Port Elizabeth .


• Generous paid time off and wellness initiatives.