AI Security and Governance Lead

Job Description

Job Summary:

The AI Security and Governance Lead is responsible for establishing and advancing the secure, compliant, and responsible use of AI across enterprise platforms and client environments. This role designs and leads governance frameworks, security controls, and risk management practices for AI and agent-based systems deployed on Azure AI and Azure AI Foundry. The incumbent partners with architecture, engineering, product, legal, privacy, and compliance stakeholders to embed security, resilience, and ethical AI principles across the full AI lifecycle-from design and development through deployment, monitoring, and incident response. This position serves as a strategic advisor on AI governance and security, helping to innovate with confidence while protecting sensitive data, models, and business processes from emerging threats and regulatory risk.

Job Duties:

• Designs and implements enterprise AI governance frameworks that promote secure, ethical, and compliant use of AI across products, platforms, and client deployments
• Leads secure architecture for Azure AI and Azure AI Foundry environments, including identity, access control, private networking, encryption, monitoring, and operational safeguards
• Develops and enforces AI security standards, policies, and control requirements aligned to frameworks such as NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001, ISO 27001, OWASP, SANS, and cloud security benchmarks
• Conducts AI risk assessments, threat modeling, model and agent security reviews, and red team exercises for generative AI, predictive AI, and autonomous agent workflows
• Establishes governance processes for the AI lifecycle, including LLM/traditional model onboarding, evaluation, approval, deployment, continuous monitoring, and retirement
• Secures AI agents and orchestration workflows by defining guardrails, safety baselines, identity boundaries, data access controls, and runtime monitoring expectations
• Partners with product, engineering, legal, privacy, risk, and compliance teams to ensure responsible AI principles and regulatory obligations are embedded from design through production operations
• Supports AI security incident response, investigations, corrective actions, and remediation planning for AI systems, data exposures, model misuse, or policy violations
• Defines governance reporting, audit readiness, and evidence collection processes to support internal oversight, client requirements, and external reviews
• Advises stakeholders on responsible AI adoption, security best practices, privacy considerations, and secure deployment patterns for Azure-hosted AI solutions
• Other duties as required

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Mentors team members and contribute to the development of reusable standards, playbooks, and training materials for AI governance and security
• Monitors work of onshore and offshore developers (employees and contractors)

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or Data Science, required
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or Data Science, preferred

Experience:

• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in enterprise architecture, information security, technology governance, or AI engineering, required
• Experience designing and implementing AI governance programs, risk management strategies, or compliance controls for emerging technologies, required
• Strong understanding of AI/ML lifecycle management, including model evaluation, deployment, monitoring, incident response, and change management, required
• Experience conducting threat modeling, security assessments, or red teaming for AI systems, LLM applications, or agent-based workflows, preferred
• Experience collaborating with auditors, regulators, legal, privacy, or compliance teams to satisfy governance and assurance requirements, preferred

Certifications/Licensure:

• Relevant Microsoft Azure, cybersecurity, architecture, or governance certifications (for example: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure Security Engineer Associate, CISSP, CISM, CCSP, or equivalent), preferred
• Certifications or formal training related to AI governance, responsible AI, privacy, or risk management, preferred
• Project or program governance certifications, preferred

Software:

• Demonstrated experience leading security and governance initiatives for enterprise-grade cloud platforms, with strong emphasis on Microsoft Azure, required
• Hands-on experience with Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, and Azure AI Foundry, including secure deployment patterns, governance controls, and monitoring practices, required
• Advanced knowledge of cloud-native AI/ML platforms and services, required; advanced knowledge of Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, and Azure AI Foundry, preferred
• Experience with LLMs, generative AI, agent-based systems, evaluation frameworks, model monitoring, and orchestration tools (LangChain / Semantic Kernal), preferred

Language:

• N/A

Other Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Deep understanding of AI security, responsible AI, privacy, and governance principles
• Strong knowledge of cloud architecture, distributed systems, identity and access management, network isolation, encryption, logging, and monitoring controls
• Ability to translate regulatory, compliance, and security requirements into practical engineering and operational controls for AI systems
• Knowledge of industry frameworks and standards such as NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, OWASP guidance for LLM applications, and Microsoft cloud security guidance
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to advise technical and business leaders at all levels
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment while fostering collaboration, sound judgment, and creative problem-solving
• Leadership capability to mentor team members and drive cross-functional alignment on secure AI adoption
• Ability to travel and work in a BDO office up to 20%

Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.

National Range: $150,500 - $192,750
Maryland Range: $150,500 - $192,750
NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $150,500 - $192,750

About Us

Join us at BDO, where you will find more than a career, you'll find a place where your work is impactful, and you are valued for your individuality. We offer flexibility and opportunities for advancement. Our culture is centered around making meaningful connections, approaching interactions with curiosity, and being true to yourself, all while making a positive difference in the world.

At BDO, our purpose of helping people thrive every day is at the heart of everything we do. Together, we are focused on delivering exceptional and sustainable outcomes and value for our people, our clients, and our communities. BDO is proud to be an ESOP company, reflecting a culture that puts people first, by sharing financially in our growth in value with our U.S. team. BDO professionals provide assurance, tax and advisory services for a diverse range of clients across the U.S. and in over 160 countries through our global organization.

BDO is the first large accounting and advisory organization to implement an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). A qualified retirement plan, the ESOP offers participants a stake in the firm's success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well-being. The ESOP stands as a compelling addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits* offerings. The annual allocation to the ESOP is fully funded by BDO through investments in company stock and grants employees the chance to grow their wealth over time as their shares vest and grow in value with the firm's success, with no employee contributions.

We are committed to delivering exceptional experiences to middle market leaders by sharing insight-driven perspectives, helping companies take business as usual to better than usual. With industry knowledge and experience, a breadth and depth of resources, and unwavering commitment to quality, we pride ourselves on:

• Welcoming diverse perspectives and understanding the experience of our professionals and clients
• Empowering team members to explore their full potential
• Our talented team who brings varying skills, knowledge and experience to proactively help our clients navigate an expanding array of complex challenges and opportunities
• Celebrating ingenuity and innovation to transform our business and help our clients transform theirs
• Focus on resilience and sustainability to positively impact our people, clients, and communities
• BDO Total Rewards that encompass so much more than traditional "benefits." Click here to find out more!

*Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets

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