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.
Obtain or hold applicable professional certifications, such as PMP, PMI-ACP, or SAFe.
Familiarity with Microsoft AI Foundry, Microsoft Fabric, or similar enterprise AI and data platforms in regulated and compliance-driven industries.
Experience delivering programs within professional services, legal, or comparable sectors requiring strict confidentiality, governance, and adherence to compliance standards.
Experience managing vendors, contractors, and third-party deliveries, including SOW oversight, escalation management, and contract performance accountability.
Experience applying AI-assisted tools in a professional engineering or enterprise technology environment.
Experience establishing and maintaining backlog structure, user story guidelines, and acceptance criteria within Azure DevOps or similar platforms.
Experience delivering programs using Agile, hybrid, or scaled delivery methods to efficiently oversee enterprise programs and associated delivery activities.
Skills
Understanding of software development lifecycles and technical architectures, effectively evaluating technical risks and conveying impacts to senior stakeholders.
Effective communication skills by translating business needs into program plans, visually presenting technical concepts, and collaborating across offices and time zones.
Ability to manage cross-functional dependencies and stakeholder alignment across operations, engineering, data, security, and vendor teams.
Benefits
K&L Gates offers a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future, including:
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
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
Pay
$128,000 - $249,000 / year
Schedule
Full-Time