Head of Responsible AI & Governance (Finance)

Job Description:

The Head of Responsible AI & Governance leads the development and implementation of ethical, transparent, and accountable AI practices across the enterprise. This role is responsible for establishing governance frameworks, risk mitigation strategies, and compliance standards that ensure AI systems are aligned with legal, regulatory, and societal expectations.

As a core pillar of the centralized AI Hub, this leader partners with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Technology teams to embed responsible AI principles into the full AI lifecycle-from design and development to deployment and monitoring. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in AI ethics, governance, and cross-functional leadership to drive enterprise-wide trust in AI.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Governance & Framework Development

• Define and operationalize the enterprise-wide Responsible AI framework, grounded in the principles of fairness, transparency, and privacy.

• Establish governance structures such as AI Ethics Review Boards and model risk committees.

• Develop and maintain AI risk assessment methodologies and audit protocols.

Policy & Compliance Leadership

• Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, and Enterprise Risk Management to ensure AI systems meet regulatory, privacy, and ethical standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with AI product, data science, and engineering teams to embed responsible AI practices into model development workflows.

• Work closely with the Readiness & Adoption and Workforce Transformation leads to ensure responsible AI is reflected in training, communications, and change management.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to business units on ethical considerations in AI use cases.

Monitoring & Transparency

• Define and implement model monitoring standards for fairness, explainability, robustness, and bias mitigation.

• Develop dashboards and reporting mechanisms to track compliance with responsible AI metrics.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• May lead a team of AI governance specialists, risk analysts, and compliance advisors.

• Define team goals, performance metrics, and development plans aligned with enterprise AI strategy.

• Provide mentorship and succession planning for Responsible AI talent.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Deep expertise in AI ethics, governance, and regulatory compliance.

• Strong understanding of AI/ML technologies, model lifecycle, and risk management.

• Experience developing and implementing governance frameworks in complex organizations.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences.

• Familiarity with global AI regulations (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, OECD principles).

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity in emerging domains.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Bachelor's degree required ; advanced degree in Law, Ethics, Data Science, Public Policy, or related field preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in governance, risk, compliance, or AI-related roles.

• Experience in regulated industries (e.g., finance, healthcare, tech) is a plus.

• Certifications in AI ethics, risk management, or compliance frameworks are desirable.

Other Qualifications

The Winning Way behaviors that all Vertex employees need in order to meet the expectations of each other, our customers, and our partners.

• Communicate with Clarity - Be clear, concise and actionable. Be relentlessly constructive. Seek and provide meaningful feedback.

• Act with Urgency - Adopt an agile mentality - frequent iterations, improved speed, resilience. 80/20 rule - better is the enemy of done. Don't spend hours when minutes are enough.

• Work with Purpose - Exhibit a "We Can" mindset. Results outweigh effort. Everyone understands how their role contributes. Set aside personal objectives for team results.

• Drive to Decision - Cut the swirl with defined deadlines and decision points. Be clear on individual accountability and decision authority. Guided by a commitment to and accountability for customer outcomes.

• Own the Outcome - Defined milestones, commitments and intended results. Assess your work in context, if you're unsure, ask. Demonstrate unwavering support for decisions.

COMMENTS:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals in this position. Other functions may be assigned, and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.

Pay Transparency Statement:

US Base Salary Range: $157,900.00 - $205,400.00

Base pay offered to new hires may vary based upon factors including relevant industry and job-related skills and experience, geographic location, and business needs.* The range displayed does not encompass the full potential of the role, which allows for further growth and career progression.

In addition, as a part of our total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Vertex Bonus Plan (VOB), a role-specific sales commission/bonus, and/or equity grants.

Learn more about Life at Vertex and connect with your recruiter for more details regarding Vertex's compensation and benefit programs.

*In no case will your pay fall below applicable local minimum wage requirements .