AI Program Manager

About the role

The AI Program Manager at K&L Gates leads critical technology initiatives, coordinating across engineering, data, security, and architecture teams with decision-making autonomy. This role translates business goals into actionable program plans, manages vendors, and ensures responsible AI governance at every milestone.

Responsibilities

• Leading end-to-end planning and execution of complex technical programs spanning multiple engineering, data, security, and architecture teams.
• Translating business objectives into actionable technical plans and milestones by leading requirement sessions, documenting needs, and coordinating timelines, dependencies, and deliverables.
• Owning backlog governance and user story standards within Azure DevOps, ensuring Epics, Features, and Stories have consistent structure and traceability.
• Managing vendor relationships and third-party delivery accountability involving tracking SOW milestones, addressing escalations, and overseeing contract performance across technology engagements.
• Facilitating decision-making among stakeholders to address obstacles and trade-offs, ensuring accountability for meeting delivery commitments, timelines, and outcomes.
• Managing program visibility and tracking delivery in Azure DevOps, including work item organization, Delivery Plans, sprint velocity reports, and executive dashboard setup.
• Serving as an example for the Enterprise Applications team philosophy, promoting enterprise processes, procedures, security, standards, and knowledge-first support principles.
• Defining and overseeing testing strategies at the program level, including quality standards, user acceptance frameworks, and end-user validation processes.
• Establishing and maintaining program governance, reporting, and communication standards, including AI-specific checkpoints, while ensuring alignment with security, compliance, and enterprise technology standards.
• Identifying, tracking, and mitigating program risks, issues, and dependencies while enabling stakeholder decisions to address blockers and ensure delivery outcomes.
• Leveraging AI tools, contributing to AI-powered solutions, and adhering to governance standards, including responsible use, data classification, and model deployment review processes.

Requirements

• Possess Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Communications, Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields or exhibit equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrate understanding of software development lifecycles and technical architectures, effectively evaluating technical risks and conveying impacts to senior stakeholders.
• Obtain or hold applicable professional certifications, such as PMP, PMI-ACP, or SAFe.
• Have familiarity with Microsoft AI Foundry, Microsoft Fabric, or similar enterprise AI and data platforms in regulated and compliance-driven industries.
• Support release windows and production support events while showcasing background in Business Administration, Project Management, Communications, Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields.
• Exhibit equivalent professional experience and hold relevant certifications.
• Demonstrate ability to manage cross-functional dependencies and stakeholder alignment across operations, engineering, data, security, and vendor teams.
• Exhibit effective communication skills by translating business needs into program plans, visually presenting technical concepts, and collaborating across offices and time zones.
• Possess experience delivering programs within professional services, legal, or comparable sectors requiring strict confidentiality, governance, and adherence to compliance standards.
• Bring over five years overseeing complex enterprise technical programs, including 2 years focused on AI, data platforms, or enterprise applications.
• Possess experience managing vendors, contractors, and third-party deliveries, including SOW oversight, escalation management, and contract performance accountability.
• Possess experience applying AI-assisted tools in a professional engineering or enterprise technology environment.
• Possess experience establishing and maintaining backlog structure, user story guidelines, and acceptance criteria within Azure DevOps or similar platforms.
• Apply Agile, hybrid, or scaled delivery methods to efficiently oversee enterprise programs and associated delivery activities.

Skills

• Possess Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Communications, Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields or exhibit equivalent professional experience.
• Obtain or hold applicable professional certifications, such as PMP, PMI-ACP, or SAFe.
• Have familiarity with Microsoft AI Foundry, Microsoft Fabric, or similar enterprise AI and data platforms in regulated and compliance-driven industries.
• Support release windows and production support events while showcasing background in Business Administration, Project Management, Communications, Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields.
• Exhibit equivalent professional experience and hold relevant certifications.
• Possess experience delivering programs within professional services, legal, or comparable sectors requiring strict confidentiality, governance, and adherence to compliance standards.
• Possess experience managing vendors, contractors, and third-party deliveries, including SOW oversight, escalation management, and contract performance accountability.
• Possess experience applying AI-assisted tools in a professional engineering or enterprise technology environment.
• Possess experience establishing and maintaining backlog structure, user story guidelines, and acceptance criteria within Azure DevOps or similar platforms.
• Apply Agile, hybrid, or scaled delivery methods to efficiently oversee enterprise programs and associated delivery activities.

Benefits

K&L Gates offers a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

• Medical/Prescription Drug Coverage (including a Health Savings Account feature)
• Back-up Child/Elder Care and access to a caregiving concierge
• Dental Insurance
• Wellness Program
• Vision Insurance
• Pre-tax Commuting Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Plan and Profit Sharing
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Short- and Long-term Disability Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Life Insurance (including Basic, Supplemental, Spouse, Child, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment)
• Health Advocacy Services
• Paid Time Off (25-30 days per year)
• Identity Protection/Restoration and Fraud Insurance
• Parental Leave (18 weeks of which 6 are paid; short-term disability may provide additional paid time off)
• Student loan refinancing options and access to a student loan concierge service
• Paid Holidays (12)
• Addiction Resources
• Family Building Benefits
• Breast Milk Delivery and Lactation Support Services
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employees also may be eligible to receive bonuses and certain expense reimbursements
• Employee Assistance Program
• CLE Credit Opportunities
• 529 Deductions
• Relocation Accident Insurance
• Employee Referral Program
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Perks including: Technology, Entertainment, and Travel Discount Programs
• Bereavement Leave
• All other benefits (such as leaves of absence) required by law

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com .