AI Governance & Program Manager

About the role

Norton Rose Fulbright seeks an experienced AI Governance and Program Manager to lead and operationalize the firm’s AI governance framework across U.S. operations. The role is responsible for developing and implementing a scalable, firmwide governance model that enables the safe, responsible use of AI tools.

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 our 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 US 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, standardized 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.