Vice President, Data and AI Governance and Protection

International Justice Mission•Virginia - Remote, VA

3d•Remote

About The Position

International Justice Mission (IJM) is seeking a Vice President, Data and AI Governance and Protection to help shape and operationalize its global approach to data governance, privacy, responsible AI, and data protection. This role reports to the Chief Data & Technology Officer (CDTO) and collaborates with Legal Counsel, Risk & Compliance, Cybersecurity, and business teams to establish the necessary governance and protection foundations for IJM’s data and AI strategy. The objective is to ensure IJM’s data is trusted, accessible, and responsibly used, fostering innovation in analytics and AI while safeguarding sensitive information and complying with legal and regulatory expectations. The position focuses on translating privacy, governance, and data protection requirements into practical, scalable business and technology practices, embedding these across the organization. Legal interpretation, enterprise risk acceptance, and formal regulatory determinations will be managed collaboratively. This is a remote position based in the U.S. and is only available for candidates with the right to work in the US.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field such as: Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Management, Cybersecurity, Information Security, Business Administration, Public Policy / Law / Risk / Compliance (if paired with strong data governance experience)
Demonstrated ability to originate and organize programs that align AI strategy, technology, governance, risk, and operations with business growth, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
Ability to conceive and position enterprise AI governance and protection strategies that drive innovation and resilience across global systems.
Proven skill in leading and advocating for technology governance initiatives that influence executive decision-making and sector-wide standards.
Eager commitment to IJM's Core Values: Christian, Professional and Bridge-Building
Demonstrated expertise leading cross-functional organizations at scale and operating in regulated or global environments.
Strong capacity to build strategic relationships across internal and external stakeholder audiences to promote AI strategy and technology, governance, risk, and operations excellence.
Self-starter with strong initiative
Disciplined with priorities
Strong interpersonal skills and self-awareness
Exceptional verbal and written communication
Flexible, collaborative and eager to support others
Effective team player who fosters collaborative environment
Adept at creative problem solving.
Right to work in the US.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred, in areas such as: Information Management, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration / Policy, Law / Privacy / Compliance-related discipline

Responsibilities

Partner with stakeholders across IJM to mature the enterprise Data Governance program, defining how data is classified, managed, shared, and retained across its lifecycle.
Help establish and scale a global Data Stewardship model, enabling business ownership, data quality, and trusted data practices.
Collaborate with Data & Technology teams to embed governance into data platforms, architecture, analytics, and AI initiatives.
Support the development of common definitions, standards, lineage, and stewardship practices that strengthen trust in data.
Position governance as a strategic enabler of IJM’s data and AI roadmap, balancing accessibility, usability, and protection.
Partner with business and technology leaders to reduce friction for responsible innovation while maintaining appropriate safeguards.
Support scalable, mission-aligned AI use cases by promoting clear governance, transparency, and responsible data practices.
Partner with AI, Legal, and Technology leaders to establish practical guardrails for Agentic AI systems and emerging technologies.
Support frameworks for responsible data access, minimization, consent, and appropriate use in autonomous and semi-autonomous workflows.
Help governance practices evolve alongside innovation to responsibly enable new capabilities without unnecessarily slowing progress.
Partner closely with Legal Counsel to operationalize IJM’s global privacy and data protection practices.
Help translate legal and regulatory requirements into scalable processes, controls, and technology practices.
Promote Privacy by Design, data minimization, and responsible data handling across systems, products, and AI solutions.
Collaborate with Risk & Compliance partners to help develop and maintain data-specific risk frameworks, controls, and metrics.
Support integration of data-related risks into enterprise risk management processes and reporting.
Partner across teams to strengthen readiness for evolving data and AI-related obligations.
Work closely with Cybersecurity teams to align data protection requirements with technical security controls.
Help translate governance and privacy needs into practical guidance for access management, encryption, DLP, and sensitive data handling.
Support prioritization of protections for IJM’s most sensitive and mission-critical information.
Partner with Cybersecurity, Legal, and Risk teams to coordinate the data privacy and governance aspects of incidents involving sensitive information.
Support lessons learned and continuous improvement in data handling, governance, and protection practices.
Collaborate with Procurement, Risk, and Legal teams to support third-party data protection and privacy assessments.
Help promote responsible and compliant data practices across digital channels, including web, mobile, and emerging engagement platforms.
Partner with learning and business teams to promote data governance, privacy, and responsible AI awareness.
Equip Data Stewards and business leaders with tools and practices to responsibly manage and leverage data.
Foster a culture of stewardship, trust, responsible innovation, and ethical AI use.