AI Policy Analyst VBP

Job Summary

The City of Virginia Beach is seeking a highly analytical and principled AI Policy Analyst to guide the city’s responsible adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. This role will develop and enforce policies, governance frameworks, ethical guidelines, and compliance standards to ensure AI systems are transparent, fair, secure, and aligned with public-sector values.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain citywide AI governance frameworks, policies, and standards.
• Establish guidelines for responsible AI use, including transparency, accountability, fairness, and human oversight.
• Draft policies addressing data use, model lifecycle management, algorithmic risk, and AI procurement requirements.
• Evaluate AI proposals and projects for alignment with city governance principles.
• Conduct ethical impact assessments for AI systems, including bias evaluation, fairness analysis, and risk mitigation.
• Ensure AI applications uphold public-sector values such as equity, accessibility, and non-discrimination.
• Promote ethical design practices, including explainability, human-in-the-loop controls, and community-centered considerations.
• Provide guidance on emerging ethical concerns such as generative AI, automated decision-making, and surveillance technologies.
• Monitor federal, state, and local regulations related to AI, data privacy, cybersecurity, and algorithmic accountability.
• Ensure city AI systems comply with applicable laws, standards, and best practices.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for AI-related operational, legal, and ethical risks.
• Maintain documentation for auditability, transparency, and public reporting.
• Collaborate with city departments, legal teams, IT staff, and community stakeholders to ensure responsible AI adoption.
• Support public transparency initiatives, including communication materials and community engagement efforts.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on responsible AI practices.

Requirements

• Must be a US citizen.
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Law, Ethics, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or related field; OR 6 or more years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• 3–5+ years of experience in policy analysis, compliance, governance, or AI/technology-related fields.
• Strong understanding of AI ethics, algorithmic accountability, and responsible AI frameworks.
• Familiarity with data governance, privacy standards, and risk management practices.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear policy guidance for non-technical audiences.
• Successful background and drug screening check.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience working in local government, public administration, or public-sector compliance.
• Knowledge of municipal operations, public-service workflows, or government data systems.
• Experience with AI/ML concepts, data analysis, or technology policy development.
• Certifications in AI ethics, data governance, compliance, or risk management.
• Familiarity with NIST AI Risk Management Framework, federal AI guidance, or state-level AI legislation.

Core Competencies

• Ethical Judgment & Integrity
• Policy Analysis & Governance
• Risk Assessment & Compliance
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
• Analytical and Critical Thinking
• Public-Service Orientation & Accountability

Physical Demands

The majority of the time is spent in an office setting. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

About ZelTech

Zel Technologies is a trusted leader in national security, providing comprehensive research, development, engineering, and operational support to the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and federal agencies. Founded in 1988 by Ret. Col. Jack L. Ezzell Jr., Zel Technologies has advanced its capabilities to provide turnkey ISR support services to US Special Operations Forces (SOF), as well as advanced technical & operational intelligence, physical & data science, and engineering support services to the greater Intelligence and SOF Communities supporting global counterterrorism and CWMD operations. Today, Zel Technologies remains at the forefront of intelligence missions, advancing CWMD and global counterterrorism efforts, while also addressing emerging threats posed by near-peer adversaries.