AI Governance Principal

Blackbaud

1d•$133,700 - $173,800

About The Position

Blackbaud is seeking an AI Governance Principal to shape responsible AI governance across the enterprise. The role designs, builds, and owns the frameworks, policies, standards, risk methodologies, and controls that guide AI from concept through deployment and ongoing oversight. It works across product, engineering, risk, and business teams to turn regulatory requirements and industry frameworks into practical expectations. This hands-on role is suited to someone who has built programs and policies from the ground up and can balance responsible innovation with effective risk management. The Principal owns governance for AI initiatives, including intake, inventory, risk classification, assessment, review, approval, and ongoing oversight. The role evaluates proposed AI solutions, validates controls, establishes documentation and monitoring requirements, develops governance effectiveness metrics, and communicates risks, requirements, decisions, and tradeoffs to technical and executive stakeholders. The program should evolve as AI technology, regulation, and industry standards change. Blackbaud describes its purpose as powering social impact through purpose-driven technology and responsible AI. Its stated vision is to bring innovation, trust, and human expertise together to help organizations make a greater difference. The company is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Starting base pay is $133,700 to $173,800. Pay may vary based on qualifications, market value, company finances, and other operational considerations.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience across governance, risk, compliance, technology risk, or policy, including direct experience building or leading AI governance, responsible AI, or AI risk programs.
Hands-on experience applying NIST AI RMF and working knowledge of the EU AI Act.
Experience building a governance program, control framework, or major governance capability from the ground up, including authoring and implementing policies and standards.
Experience providing independent or second-line oversight in a software, SaaS, or technology environment and partnering directly with product and engineering teams.
Strong understanding of the AI/ML lifecycle, generative AI, and agentic AI patterns, with technical fluency to participate in design and architecture discussions.
Ability to influence technical and executive audiences, translate complex requirements into practical guidance, and drive adoption without relying on direct authority.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with ISO/IEC 42001, ISO 27001, ISO/IEC 42005, or similar frameworks.
IAPP AIGP or a comparable AI governance credential.

Responsibilities

Design, document, and continuously improve enterprise AI governance frameworks, policies, standards, and methodologies, including for generative AI and agentic AI.
Own governance for AI initiatives from intake and inventory through risk classification, assessment, review, approval, and ongoing oversight.
Translate frameworks and regulatory requirements, including NIST AI RMF and the EU AI Act, into actionable controls and expectations for product and engineering teams.
Partner with teams to evaluate proposed AI solutions, validate control design and implementation, and identify areas requiring additional risk treatment.
Establish documentation, evidence, evaluation, and monitoring requirements for a consistent and traceable governance process.
Develop metrics to measure the effectiveness and adoption of AI governance, including coverage, review cycle times, and exception management.
Communicate AI risks, requirements, decisions, and tradeoffs clearly and actionably to executives, product leaders, engineers, and other stakeholders.
Evolve the governance program as AI technologies, regulatory expectations, and industry standards change.