Risk Consulting - Senior (Data Governance/Responsible AI/AI Governance)

EY – Risk Consulting – Senior (Data Governance/Responsible AI/AI Governance)

As part of our Risk Consulting – Digital Risk (DR) team, we are looking for a Senior with strong consulting and technical skills to join the DR team and work with our clients on some of the most prestigious projects catering to various sectors across the MENA region. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a leading firm while contributing significantly to the growth of Risk Consulting – Responsible AI domain service offerings and solutions, creating authentic customer experiences.

The opportunity

As a Senior, you will engage with clients to assess, validate and enhance Responsible AI frameworks and AI governance models, ensuring they align with regulatory expectations and ethical standards. You will lead multi-disciplinary teams on engagements, delivering high-quality outputs and exceptional service to our clients. The role involves evaluating AI systems for fairness, transparency, accountability and robustness, while also helping clients implement governance structures that support trustworthy AI adoption.

You will be responsible for:

• Design and implement robust data governance frameworks
• Designing and implementing AI governance frameworks tailored to client needs.
• Advising clients on regulatory developments and best practices in AI risk management.
• Performing assessments of AI models and algorithms to ensure compliance with Responsible AI principles.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to embed ethical AI practices into business processes.
• Contributing to innovation in AI domain and contributing to thought leadership in the Responsible AI space.

Your key responsibilities

• Develop a tailored data governance framework aligned with the client’s business objectives.
• Define governance operating models, including roles (e.g., data stewards, owners) and workflows.
• Draft data governance policies, data quality standards, and metadata management guidelines.
• Recommend and support implementation of data governance tools (e.g., Collibra, Informatica, Alation).
• Define data quality metrics, monitoring processes and remediation workflows.
• Help establish governance bodies (e.g., Data Governance Council) and define escalation paths, decision rights and accountability structures.
• Set up dashboards and reporting mechanisms to track governance KPIs.
• Develop and implement AI governance frameworks and policies aligned with organizational goals, regulatory requirements and emerging global standards.
• Conduct risk assessments and impact analyses for AI systems to ensure ethical and responsible deployment.
• Help define and roll out AI use case intake, approval and review processes.
• Support the development of lightweight, scalable governance for AI and ML systems (e.g., internal checklists, documentation templates, model cards).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including data science, legal, compliance and IT to identify high-risk AI systems to ensure AI use aligns with existing regulations and risk frameworks.
• Support in monitoring AI systems for fairness, transparency, accountability and bias mitigation to embed responsible AI practices.
• Help bridge technical and non-technical stakeholders on responsible AI issues.
• Contribute to identifying or piloting open-source tools or third-party platforms that support AI fairness, auditability or monitoring.
• Build awareness across the organization by developing training materials, FAQs and resources on responsible AI practices.
• Conduct training and awareness programs on responsible AI principles and practices.
• Conduct workshops or sessions for teams deploying or developing AI to embed ethics-by-design principles early in the pipeline.
• Support audits and assessments of AI systems to ensure compliance with internal and external standards.
• Stay updated on emerging AI regulations, standards and best practices to inform governance strategies.
• Stay abreast of regulatory changes and advancements in AI Governance techniques.
• Contribute to multiple assignments and related initiatives.
• Develop strong working relationships with the client and onshore client teams.
• Coach junior team members, enabling them to meet their performance goals and successfully grow their careers.

Skills and attributes for success

• Familiarity with database management and data analysis tools.
• Experience in system implementation/fine-tuning, cloud deployment and project management.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML technologies and their societal implications.
• Knowledge of ethical AI principles, data privacy, and regulatory landscapes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to assess complex systems and identify risks.
• Proactive and adaptable in a fast-evolving technological environment.
• Exceptional command over spoken and written English.
• Globally mobile and flexible to travel to onsite locations at a short notice.
• Highly analytical, organised, and meticulous consulting skills; attention to detail and quality assurance.
• Demonstrate strong project management skills, inspiring teamwork, and responsibility with engagement team members.
• Ability to multi-task, work well under pressure with commitment to deliver under tight deadline.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize effectively.
• Work experience in similar industry (Big 4 preferred).
• Good to have experience in Risk Management or other Risk Consulting engagements.
• The job would require travel (Over 50%) to client locations in Middle East and North Africa such as Dubai, Kuwait, Riyadh, Doha, etc.

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science or a related field.
• Experience AI/ML, tech risk, data governance, or compliance, with at least 2 years involving AI-related governance or ethical reviews.
• Knowledge of data governance, data management, risk management and compliance.
• Familiarity with AI/ML lifecycle and model governance tools.
• Background in policy development or AI initiatives.
• 3 to 5 years of relevant experience working with business consulting firms.
• A valid passport for travel.

Preferably, you may also have

• Experience in SQL and Python.
• Certifications in AI ethics, data privacy or risk management.
• Experience / certifications in Data Governance, Data Management, Cloud Data Architecture or Data Engineering.

What working at EY offers

At EY, we’re dedicated to helping our clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies — and the work we do with them is as varied as they are.

You get to work with inspiring and meaningful projects. Our focus is education and coaching alongside practical experience to ensure your personal development. We value our employees, and you will be able to control your own development with an individual progression plan. You will quickly grow into a responsible role with challenging and stimulating assignments. Moreover, you will be part of an interdisciplinary environment that emphasizes high quality and knowledge exchange. Plus, we offer:

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around.
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career.
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that is right for you