Senior Lead AI Risk Governance Officer

About this role:

Model Risk Management (MRM) at Wells Fargo is seeking a Senior Lead Enterprise Risk Officer - Executive Director (Senior Lead AI Risk Governance) to join the Policy and Program Governance team and play a critical role in advancing the firm’s AI Risk Management Policy and governance framework. This role will drive effective implementation of AI risk requirements through strong cross-functional engagement, connecting enterprise AI governance, model risk governance, and front-line execution to strengthen governance, controls, and oversight of AI-enabled use cases and services.

The Senior Lead Enterprise Risk Officer will serve as a technical and policy advisor, translating the intent and objectives of AI Risk Management and Model Risk Management requirements into practical implementation strategies. The role will partner closely with front-line stakeholders, connect priorities across AI and model risk programs, and drive alignment from policy through execution.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in AI governance and AI policy, with strong knowledge of technology and cybersecurity risk, model risk management, program execution, and regulatory compliance.

Success requires a customer-focused mindset, accountability for outcomes, a data-driven approach to measuring effectiveness and demonstrating continuous improvement, and proactive stakeholder engagement to ensure solutions and work products are effectively socialized before implementation or publication.

In this role, you will:

Policy and Program Governance

• Lead implementation of enterprise AI and Model Risk Management policies, procedures, and governance, translating requirements into practical procedures, training, guidance, and tools.
• Serve as an AI and model risk policy subject matter expert, driving consistent front-line understanding and execution of governance requirements.
• Provide oversight, credible challenge, and monitoring of front-line processes, policy adherence, and execution quality.
• Develop and monitor key metrics and reporting to measure the effectiveness of AI governance and policy implementation, identify trends and gaps, and demonstrate measurable improvements in risk management and control effectiveness.
• Advise businesses on risk issues, corrective actions, policy violations, exceptions, and governance priorities.
• Drive alignment and integration of AI risk governance across model risk, technology risk, and other enterprise risk programs.
• Build and coordinate strong partnerships across Model Risk Officers, Group Model Risk Officers, front-line AI model owners, developers, and governance teams.
• Deliver clear, actionable executive reporting and communications related to AI model risk exposure, policy compliance, governance priorities, and data integrity issues

Required Qualifications:

• 7+ years of Risk Management experience (Compliance, Financial Crimes, Operational Risk, Audit, Legal, Credit Risk, Market Risk, IT Systems Security, Business Process Management) or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education

Desired Qualifications:

• Deep expertise in AI governance and AI risk, with strong knowledge of technology and cybersecurity risk, and experience establishing or implementing enterprise AI governance frameworks, policies, standards, and controls.
• Deep knowledge of AI regulatory requirements, supervisory expectations, and industry frameworks, with demonstrated experience interpreting emerging AI regulation and translating requirements into enterprise policies, governance standards, controls, and implementation guidance. Experience with frameworks such as NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001, EU AI Act, and applicable model risk management requirements preferred.
• Strong knowledge of technology risk frameworks, SDLCgovernance, production readiness, and third-party risk management, including governance of externally developed or vendor-provided AI solutions.
• Proven ability to proactively identify emerging risks, governance gaps, and implementation challenges, escalate issues appropriately, and drive practical solutions.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex AI, technology, regulatory, and risk topics into clear, actionable guidance for senior leaders and business stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across AI, technology, cybersecurity, risk, legal, compliance, and business stakeholders in a complex enterprise environment.
• Self-starter with demonstrated agility and sound judgment, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, changing regulatory expectations, and evolving AI technologies.
• Experience supporting organizational or governance change, including implementing new policies, standards, controls, or risk-management processes across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and accuracy.
• Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) or higher.

Job Expectations:

• Willingness to work on-site at stated location on the job opening
• This position currently offers a hybrid work schedule

Pay Range
 

Benefits

Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, many of which are listed below. Visit Benefits - Wells Fargo Jobs for an overview of the following benefit plans and programs offered to employees.

• Health benefits
• 401(k) Plan
• Paid time off
• Disability benefits
• Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
• Parental leave
• Critical caregiving leave
• Discounts and savings
• Commuter benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Scholarships for dependent children
• Adoption reimbursement

Posting End Date:

*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

We Value Equal Opportunity

Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.

Applicants with Disabilities

To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace.  Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.

Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements:

a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.

b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.

c. Please be prepared to provide accurate information and supporting documentation in connection with any lawful employment and education verification conducted by Wells Fargo.