AI Ethics and Responsible AI Lead

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Stock options

Unlimited PTO

Remote work

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an AI Ethics and Responsible AI Lead to shape the ethical strategy for cutting-edge AI initiatives. This fully remote role in South Africa focuses on governance, risk, and responsible deployment across products and platforms.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to embed ethical principles, manage external policies, and champion responsible innovation at the highest level.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field with technology ethics focus.
• Minimum 7 years developing or implementing ethical frameworks or governance programs.
• Deep understanding of AI capabilities, societal impact and regulations.
• Strong analytical, communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a Responsible AI strategy, framework and roadmap.
• Establish ethical guidelines and best practices for AI deployment.
• Conduct ethical risk assessments and impact analyses for AI systems.
• Collaborate with AI/ML, product, legal and policy teams to embed ethics.
• Oversee transparency, explainability, fairness and accountability mechanisms.
• Monitor global AI regulations and industry debates; adapt strategy accordingly.
• Create training programs to raise AI ethics awareness across the company.
• Lead investigations into ethical concerns and implement corrective actions.

Skills

AI ethics knowledge

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder influence

Policy & governance

Risk assessment

Education

Master's or PhD in Ethics/Philosophy/Law/Public Policy/CS with tech ethics focus

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a visionary and experienced AI Ethics and Responsible AI Lead to join their pioneering team. This position is fully remote, offering a unique opportunity to shape the ethical landscape of artificial intelligence from anywhere in South Africa. You will be responsible for establishing and guiding the company's strategy for responsible AI development and deployment, ensuring our innovations align with societal values and ethical principles. This leadership role requires a deep understanding of AI technologies combined with expertise in ethical frameworks, policy, and governance. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, drive initiatives, and champion the ethical considerations of AI across the organization. If you are passionate about building trustworthy AI and leading impactful change, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Responsible AI strategy, framework, and roadmap for the organization.
• Establish ethical guidelines, principles, and best practices for AI development and deployment.
• Conduct thorough ethical risk assessments and impact analyses for AI systems and products.
• Collaborate with AI/ML teams, product managers, legal, and policy experts to ensure ethical considerations are integrated throughout the AI lifecycle.
• Develop and oversee mechanisms for AI transparency, explainability, fairness, and accountability.
• Monitor evolving AI regulations, industry standards, and ethical debates globally.
• Create and deliver training programs to foster AI ethics awareness and competence across the company.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and thought leader on AI ethics and responsible innovation, both internally and externally.
• Manage and investigate ethical concerns or incidents related to AI systems, recommending and implementing corrective actions.
• Advocate for human-centric AI design and deployment.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in a relevant field such as Ethics, Philosophy, Law, Public Policy, Computer Science, or a related discipline with a strong focus on technology ethics.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in developing or implementing ethical frameworks, governance strategies, or responsible innovation programs, with a significant portion focused on AI or advanced technologies.
• Deep understanding of AI/ML concepts, capabilities, and potential societal impacts.
• Proven expertise in ethical theories, AI fairness, bias mitigation, explainability (XAI), privacy, and accountability.
• Knowledge of current and emerging AI regulations and policy landscapes.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working in a technology-driven environment.
• Ability to lead initiatives and drive consensus in a complex, remote setting.
• Demonstrated passion for ethical technology and societal impact.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and executive-level compensation package.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Generous stock options or performance-based bonuses.
• Flexible unlimited paid time off policy.
• Significant budget for professional development, including conference attendance and specialized training.
• Fully remote work flexibility, enabling you to work from anywhere in South Africa.
• Opportunity to lead and define the ethical direction of cutting-edge AI innovation.
• Work with a talented, forward-thinking global team.
• Impactful role shaping the future of responsible technology.