AI Governance Lead

About the organisation: A large, internationally operating organisation in the Netherlands with critical 24/7 operations, where innovation plays a key role.

The challenge: AI plays a growing role within the organisation, and the ambition is to expand its use further. As impact, risks and regulatory requirements increase, AI Governance needs to take its next step in maturity. Governance disciplines such as Data Governance, Privacy, Security, Risk and Compliance are already in place, along with an initial governance model and first steps in AI risk classification. The goal is not a new standalone structure, but AI Governance integrated into existing processes and ways of working.

Your assignment: Together with the Data & AI Governance Lead and the AI Lead, you’ll design and implement a pragmatic, scalable AI Governance Target Operating Model (TOM): a workable foundation that fits the organisation’s current maturity and can grow over the coming years. What you’ll do: Define roles, ownership and decision-making, and what sits centrally versus within domain and product teams; Develop and roll out the AI risk classification, controls, assessments and escalation processes; Further develop the central AI Registry and the processes around it; Align with Privacy, Security, Risk, Compliance, Enterprise Architecture and the AI CoE, avoiding duplicate processes; Translate governance into practical guidelines for product, data and technology teams; Create a road map and reporting on AI risks and use cases for leadership and governance boards.

What you bring: Proven experience in AI Governance, Responsible AI or comparable governance challenges; Experience designing and implementing governance models and TOMs in complex organisations; Strong background in Data Governance, risk management and controls; Solid knowledge of AI, Generative AI, Agentic AI and the EU AI Act; Strong stakeholder management and change management experience; Strong plus: you’ve previously held an AI Governance role or led an AI Governance transformation.

We’re not primarily looking for an advisor, but for someone who has demonstrably organised, implemented and embedded governance in practice.

Who you are: A senior expert and pragmatic change agent who structures complex issues quickly without over complicating them. You’re just as comfortable discussing risk and decision-making with senior management as working out a practical process with a product owner or engineer. You’re persuasive, independent in your judgement, and know the difference between what’s needed now and what can wait.