AI Governance & Program Manager

Job Description At Norton Rose Fulbright has a long-standing commitment to leveraging technology to enhance legal services and streamline operations. About the Role We are seeking an experienced AI Governance and Program Manager to lead and operationalize the firm's AI governance framework across U.S. operations. This role is responsible for developing and implementing a scalable, firmwide governance model that enables the safe, responsible, and compliant use of AI tools. As generative AI has moved from pilot programs to broader adoption, the focus is on transitioning from tool-specific guardrails to a cohesive framework that supports enterprise‑wide use without introducing unnecessary complexity or friction. Positioned at the intersection of governance, program management, and legal operations, this role serves as a key liaison among the Innovation function, Office of General Counsel, IT, Information Governance, Compliance, and global stakeholders. The role reports to the U.S. Director, Head of Innovation, and collaborates closely with legal teams, Knowledge Management, and business services functions, as well as the firm's U.S. and Global AI Committees. The successful candidate will bring strong legal acumen, a practical understanding of AI technologies, and the ability to lead complex, cross‑functional initiatives. The role is ideally in Texas, but can be located in any city where the firm has a U.S. office. The position may be remote on a regular basis, but flexibility to come to the office as needed for meetings, training, or other business requirements pursuant to our hybrid working policy is required. Responsibilities Value & Impact Partner across Client Value & Innovation, General Counsel, IT, and Information Security to advance the firm's AI governance and program strategy. Lead the execution of initiatives that enable responsible, ethical, and sustainable adoption of generative AI tools. Build strong relationships with attorneys and business services professionals to drive alignment, trust, and adoption across the firm. Support the measurement of ROI and value for AI‑enabled technologies across the firm. Responsible AI & Governance, Risk Management Evolve and operationalize a firmwide AI governance framework that enables safe, responsible use of AI while meeting client, regulatory, and ethical expectations. Establish, in collaboration with IT and Compliance, a repeatable governance and operating model for AI agents and workflows, including standing up guardrails and infrastructure controls, and monitoring/surfacing use cases for prioritization. Draft, refine, and operationalize the firm's AI policies, working with Information Governance and General Counsel to set clear expectations on benefits, risks, required training, prohibited uses, escalation paths, and consequences for non‑compliance. Manage ongoing governance responsibilities, including responding to RFPs, RFIs, and Third‑Party Risk Management (TPRM) questionnaires; managing the global AI opt‑out list; and responding to emerging governance needs related to user behavior and AI tools. Ensure legal and ethical compliance of AI tools, particularly in areas of data privacy and confidentiality. Consult on client engagement letters and other governance questions raised by partners and the General Counsel's office. Program Management and Enablement Manage the AI Champion Network to drive adoption, build capabilities, and unlock value from the firm's AI tools by enabling peer support, validating use cases, and building an evidence base for ongoing AI investment, while providing leadership with a clear structure covering communities, escalation paths, and decision‑making. Develop and deliver targeted AI training programs for attorneys and staff, with emphasis on supervision, disclosure, and appropriate AI use in day‑to‑day legal work, beginning with targeted audiences, and defining a broader rollout strategy based on feedback. Assist with evaluating use cases and feasibility analysis for generative AI tools and manage the use case development process including needs assessments, cross‑tool testing, documentation, and communication with stakeholders. Support agent engagements to design, build, and deploy high‑value AI agents for U.S. use cases, while defining a repeatable framework for agent intake, prioritization, governance, and rollout across the firm. Manage and maintain AI governance workflows and databases, curating the best responses over time and refreshing content so the firm's tools are drawing on the latest and most accurate materials. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the success, value, and impact of AI tools and programs on the firm's operations and client services. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement Serve as a primary point of contact for AI governance queries from internal stakeholders, including Business Development, legal teams, IT, Information Governance, and Compliance. Maintain regular engagement with key cross‑functional stakeholders, including IT, Information Governance, Knowledge Management, and global Innovation counterparts. Communicate regularly with firm leadership and stakeholders to provide updates on AI initiatives and progress. Create a comprehensive and cohesive stakeholder feedback forum to ensure all teams engaged with AI tools understand and are connected to the strategic roadmap. Support the development and maintenance of AI resources, including user‑facing and client‑facing content. Support client conversations about AI with concise, practical guidance on how our tools work and the safeguards in place. Qualifications Bachelor's degree; JD preferred; equivalent experience in AI governance, risk, management consulting, or emerging technology environments will also be considered. Preferred certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) or an equivalent governance or compliance certification. Minimum five years of experience in program management, AI governance, legal operations, or a related field, ideally within the legal tech industry. Demonstrated interest in the transformative impact of AI on legal practice, with a focus on governance, ethics, and policy development; deep understanding of legal processes, terminology, and the challenges faced by legal professionals. Strong understanding of generative AI technologies, including familiarity with tools such as Microsoft Copilot, Anthropic Claude, Legora, and Harvey. Familiarity with data privacy and ethical considerations in AI, including information governance principles. Excellent project management skills with a track record of successfully leading cross‑functional teams. Exceptional communication skills, capable of translating technical and policy concepts to non‑technical stakeholders. Ability to identify and respond to emerging governance risks and gaps in a fast‑moving technology environment. Proactive, collaborative, and adaptable approach to problem‑solving: ability to navigate ambiguity, tackle complex challenges, and build scalable, standardised solutions in a rapidly evolving space. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders, including attorneys and senior leadership. Strong analytical and critical‑thinking abilities, high level of accountability, discretion, and sound decision‑making, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently. Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is committed to providing employees with a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Benefit packages include access to three medical plans, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Employees can also access pre‑tax benefits such as health savings and flexible spending accounts. Norton Rose Fulbright helps provide financial security by allowing employees to participate in a 401(k) savings plan and profit‑sharing plans if eligible. Full‑time employees are eligible to access fertility benefits designed to support fertility and family‑forming journeys. In addition to the firm’s health and welfare benefits above, we offer a competitive paid time off plan, which provides a minimum of 20 days off based on your role and tenure with the firm. The firm offers a generous paid parental leave benefit allowing parents to take a minimum of 14 weeks of paid leave to bond with your newborn, or adopted child(ren). Employees are also entitled to 11 firm holidays. Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal laws and their implementing regulations that require the collection and recording of certain data and information. The information we receive will not be used to make any decision regarding employment and will be kept separate from your application. Similarly, self‑identification information is kept confidential and used only in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Norton Rose Fulbright is committed to providing reasonable accommodation as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation to complete your application, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case‑by‑case basis. E‑Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E‑Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce. Equal Employment Opportunity #J-18808-Ljbffr