AI Program Manager

Location: Kansas City, MO. Mandatory 3 days a week in the Office. Experience required: 7-10 years Rate: Open Job Description: The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating enterprise AI programs from initial planning through delivery, including cross-team and cross-organizational activities, outcomes, risks, and results. You will lead complex AI transformation initiatives that align enterprise strategy, governance expectations, business priorities, and technology capabilities. You will help establish and operationalize program structures that support responsible AI, including enforcing and understanding governance routines, stakeholder decision forums, risk and issue management, adoption planning, communications, and executive-level status reporting. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure AI initiatives are delivered with clear objectives, appropriate oversight, measurable business value, and alignment to enterprise standards. This role does not require hands-on AI model development. However, the successful candidate should bring a high-level understanding of AI concepts, critical thinking, data governance, model risk, and responsible AI practices, with the ability to translate these concepts into effective program planning, governance, communication, and execution. This hybrid contractor role will be based out of our Kansas City, MO office. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship, now or in the future. How You Will Make an Impact: Lead enterprise AI programs including program strategy, operating routines, status meetings, timelines, budget oversight, program milestones, dependencies, and deliverables Partner with business and technology leaders to align AI initiatives with enterprise strategy, business priorities, client value, operational readiness, and responsible adoption expectations Coordinate cross-functional AI governance activities across business, technology, data, risk, compliance, legal, security, product, and operations teams to support consistent decision-making and effective oversight Establish and manage program-level governance routines, including steering forums, decision logs, risk and issue reviews, dependency tracking, escalation paths, readiness reviews, and executive status reporting Use and support the development of PMO templates, standard methodologies, and training the organization to improve current processes Integrating the business strategy and knowledge of software capabilities (current and future) into vision and direction for all programs Collaborating with team members and partners to ensure business and functional requirements are available to the team for execution Demonstrate understanding of, contribute to, and communicate the product's vision to the team, from the point of view of the end-user Communicate effectively with all levels of leadership regarding AI program progress, risks, issues, scope, milestones, decisions, and value realization. What You Bring to the Team (Required): Bachelor’s degree or relevant equivalent work experience 7-10 years of program management experience in an Agile environment Experience managing and leading enterprise-scale technology, product, transformation, governance, or strategy-based programs, including development of strategic program plans High-level familiarity with AI concepts and enterprise AI considerations Experience facilitating meetings to secure decisions and identifying next steps Effective communicator (written and verbal) Desire to drive collaboration across teams Ability to build relationships with leadership, resources and partners through essential aspects such as influencing, communication, facilitation, and trust Proven experience with working with programs in an Agile (Scrum) and/or SAFe framework Prior experience with project management software Demonstrates the American Century Investments Winning Behaviors: Client Focused, Courageous and Accountable, Collaborative, Curious and Adaptable, Competitively Driven Additional Assets (Preferred) Experience with financial management is preferred Proficient in Microsoft Office, including MS PowerPoint, MS Project, and MS Visio Experience supporting enterprise AI, automation, data, analytics, or technology modernization programs Familiarity with AI responsible frameworks, model inventory / intake processes, risk assessment approaches, data governance practices, or change management for emerging technology adoption What you will do Lead phases of the program lifecycle, including, but not limited to program planning, leadership presentations, steering committee and internal status meetings, handling timeline, budget oversight, achievements and deliverables Work with the program team to identify risks and issues, cross-functional dependencies, plan for risk and issue response, mitigation and proactively monitor program risks and resolutions #J-18808-Ljbffr Aptimized