Senior AI Risk & Advisory Manager

About the role

McDermott, Will & Schulte LLP is embedding Artificial Intelligence across core workflows, vendor platforms, and client-facing services. As adoption accelerates—including agentic AI systems that can independently access and act on data—the Firm needs dedicated expertise to ensure leadership has clear visibility into how these technologies function and what implications they carry.

Why MWS

• Shape the Firm's AI strategy at the intersection of technology and risk
• Dual reporting to CIO and General Counsel—uniquely positioned for impact
• Security and innovation treated as mutually reinforcing priorities
• Define a new function at the frontier of enterprise AI governance

What You'll Do

• Serve as subject matter expert on AI technologies, including large language models and emerging AI systems
• Advise leadership on technical implications of AI initiatives and translate AI architecture into business and legal risk considerations
• Evaluate proposed AI use cases and tools across the Firm
• Identify and assess risks related to data privacy, intellectual property, bias and fairness, hallucination and reliability, and security vulnerabilities
• Recommend controls, guardrails, and oversight mechanisms—with particular attention to agentic AI systems that may access data subject to regulatory or ethical requirements
• Assess and advise on AI-driven threats, including AI-enhanced social engineering and automated attack techniques
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI to improve threat detection, incident response, and defensive operations

Technologies

• LLMs
• Generative AI
• Agentic Systems
• NIST AI RMF
• ISO 42001
• EU AI Act
• AI Security Privacy Frameworks
• Threat Detection
• Security Operations

What You Bring

• 10+ years of experience in technology, security, risk, or related fields
• Deep understanding of AI/ML systems, particularly LLMs and generative AI
• Ability to explain complex technical systems to non-technical executives
• Strong judgment and risk assessment capability
• Experience working cross-functionally with IT and Legal
• Familiarity with AI security, privacy, and regulatory considerations

Preferred

• Background in ML engineering, data science, cybersecurity, or AI architecture
• Familiarity with AI-driven cyber threats and the application of AI/ML to security operations
• Experience with AI governance frameworks and regulatory compliance

Pay

Target Hiring Range: $193,000 - $301,000