Lead AI Ethicist

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary incentives

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Hybrid work model

Annual leave & public holidays

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead AI Ethicist to guide the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies. This hybrid role balances remote flexibility with in-person collaboration in Centurion, Gauteng, and requires building frameworks, policies, and best practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and societal benefit.

You will lead ethics guidelines, risk assessments, cross‑functional collaboration with engineering, product, and legal, and provide training.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Philosophy, Ethics, Law, CS, or related field focused on technology ethics.
• 4+ years experience in AI ethics, responsible technology, or related areas.
• Deep understanding of AI concepts, machine learning, and societal implications.
• Proven ability to develop and implement ethical frameworks and policies.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and risk management is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive AI ethics guidelines and policies for the organization.
• Conduct ethical risk assessments and audits for AI projects and products.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and legal teams to integrate ethical principles into AI design and development.
• Provide training and guidance to teams on responsible AI practices.
• Engage with external stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers on AI ethics issues.
• Stay current with evolving global regulations and ethical standards in AI.

Skills

AI ethics

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Advanced degree in Philosophy, Ethics, Law, Computer Science, or related field with focus on technology ethics

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and thoughtful Lead AI Ethicist to guide the responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies. This role involves a hybrid work arrangement, balancing remote flexibility with essential in-person collaboration in Centurion . You will establish frameworks, policies, and best practices to ensure our AI systems are fair, transparent, accountable, and beneficial to society. This position is critical for embedding ethical considerations into the entire AI lifecycle, from conceptualization to implementation, and requires a unique blend of technical understanding, philosophical inquiry, and practical application in the fast-evolving AI landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive AI ethics guidelines and policies for the organization.
• Conduct ethical risk assessments and audits for AI projects and products.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and legal teams to integrate ethical principles into AI design and development.
• Provide training and guidance to teams on responsible AI practices.
• Engage with external stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers on AI ethics issues.
• Stay current with evolving global regulations and ethical standards in AI.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Philosophy, Ethics, Law, Computer Science, or a related field with a focus on technology ethics.
• Significant experience (4+ years) working on AI ethics, responsible technology, or related areas.
• Deep understanding of AI concepts, machine learning, and their societal implications.
• Proven ability to develop and implement ethical frameworks and policies.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and risk management is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package with performance incentives.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility and in-office collaboration.
• Generous annual leave and paid public holidays.
• Professional development budget for relevant courses and conferences.
• Opportunity to shape the ethical future of AI within a leading organization.