Associate Director, AI Governance

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts • Boston, MA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

About the Role: The Associate Director of AI Governance is a key leader in operationalizing BCBSMA’s AI Governance strategy as the organization scales responsible AI adoption in service of its mission. This role leads AI governance operations and orchestration, ensuring AI solutions—including generative AI, predictive models, and vendor-enabled AI capabilities—are designed, deployed, and monitored in ways that are compliant, secure, reliable, and aligned to BCBSMA’s risk appetite. This role is eligible for our Flex Persona. For candidates local to our Boston, MA and Hingham MA offices. Your mission is to develop and execute the enterprise AI Governance strategy and lead an AI Governance operations core team to orchestrate the processes required to ensure clear accountability, risk-based reviews, appropriate controls, detailed documentation, and ongoing monitoring.

Requirements

• Governance Operations & Program Leadership Deep understanding of AI governance operations and frameworks, with hands-on experience leading best practices for AI solution design.
• Experience running AI governance, model governance, risk and compliance governance, or adjacent control programs in regulated environments.
• Demonstrated operational rigor in process design, documentation standards, evidence collection, control tracking, and metrics-driven continuous improvement.
• Proven people leadership experience managing a blended team of full-time employees and contractors.
• Cross-Functional Partnership & Enablement Proven ability to coordinate and drive decisions across Risk, Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Information Security, Audit, Data Governance, and delivery teams.
• Strong facilitation and decision-enablement skills, with a talent for building consensus among diverse groups.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills to enable AI product teams and end users to succeed.
• Ability to design and lead AI education and training programs tailored to different user personas, from business users to technical teams.
• Ability to influence and consult executive leadership on strategic decision making and escalation for critical compliance, security, and business risks.
• Technical & Industry Knowledge Working knowledge of AI and machine learning (AI/ML) and generative AI across the full lifecycle (design, development, validation, deployment, monitoring, and retirement).
• Knowledge of healthcare data domains, including enrollment, claims, provider, clinical, and financial data, and their implications for AI use.
• Experience with cloud-based AI technology stacks (e.g., Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services) supporting predictive modeling, automation, and custom model development.
• Experience implementing and operating governance workflows using enabling tools (e.g., governance, risk, and compliance platforms; workflow and intake systems).
• 10+ years of experience in AI, analytics and data science, AI governance, or related roles.
• 5+ years of experience in the healthcare industry.
• 5+ years of experience in leadership and people management.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI governance operations end-to-end: intake, triage, risk tiering, review coordination, approvals, decision logging, action tracking, and closure for AI use cases.
• Translate policies into execution by building repeatable workflows, templates, and checklists (e.g., use case intake, risk assessment, human oversight plan, documentation and evidence requirements).
• Maintain the enterprise AI inventory/registry of AI use cases and systems, including ownership, risk classification, required controls, and governance status.
• Conduct cross-functional forums by setting agendas, creating pre-reads, facilitating discussions, and ensuring follow-through on decisions.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders including Risk, Legal, Enterprise Architecture, Procurement, Security, and other enabling groups to align governance checkpoints with enterprise controls.
• Coordinate with the AI CoE, data product owners, and delivery teams to embed governance into product and delivery lifecycles (from design through monitoring and retirement).
• Support governance for third-party/vendor AI (tools, platforms, embedded features) through intake requirements, due diligence inputs, control expectations, and ongoing oversight.
• Define and report on operational KPIs (e.g., throughput, cycle time, exception rates, common control gaps) and drive continuous improvement to reduce friction without weakening controls.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations and briefings on the AI governance program's progress, challenges, and strategic direction.
• Develop and deliver targeted enablement (training, office hours, playbooks) to improve AI Governance literacy, responsible use, and consistent adoption of AI governance processes.
• Promote a culture of strengthened responsible AI adoption across the organization through collaboration with change management efforts and support of AI fluency efforts.

Benefits

• We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and a suite of well-being benefits to eligible employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees