* Full Time Permanent Contract position
* Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices
What we offer
We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.
Further details on our benefits package can be accessed here Benefits (life-)
At Irish Life, our purpose is to help people build better futures. Our company values shape everything we do and underpin our vision of being the driving force behind Ireland's financial, physical, and mental well-being.
We believe in doing the right thing—acting with integrity and making fair, responsible decisions. We aim high, setting ambitious goals and constantly find better ways to innovate and improve. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we are dedicated to understanding their needs and exceeding their expectations. We believe that as a team we work best together, in a supportive, collaborative environment where every idea and contribution is valued.
Role Overview
The AI Governance Lead will play a pivotal role in the Office of the CIO, responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining a robust governance framework for artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives across the Irish Life Group.
The role ensures that all AI systems and processes comply with Irish, EU, and global regulatory requirements, including the EU AI Act, GDPR, Central Bank of Ireland guidelines, and EIOPA recommendations.
The successful candidate will collaborate with business, EXO (Innovation and AI team), technology, legal, risk, and compliance teams to drive responsible and ethical AI adoption, ensuring alignment with both regulatory obligations and the company's strategic objectives.
Responsibilities and Duties
As AI Governance Lead, you will:
Develop & Maintain AI Governance Frameworks
Design, implement, and continuously improve the organisation's AI governance framework, ensuring compliance with Irish/EU regulations and industry best practices.
Support AI Use Case Development
Partner with lines of business and first-line functions to assess AI use case risks, enabling innovation without unnecessary friction.
Implement AI Risk Governance
* Oversee and challenge AI risk management activities, ensuring transparency, explainability, ethical use of personal data, bias mitigation, hallucination control, and human-in-the-loop requirements.
* Secure executive sign-off for risk-assessed cases.
* Ensure LoB procedures adopt a risk-based approach, integrating feedback, monitoring emerging risks, and adapting to evolving tech/regulatory landscapes.
* Provide training, guidance, and clear accountability for safe AI use.
* Ensure third-party vendors comply with corporate AI policies and standards.
Support ILG Senior Leadership
* Assist CIO in embedding the European AI Framework, aligning with local risk policies for consistent ethical and compliant AI practices.
* Maintain ILG Central AI Register, escalate material issues, and review per AI Risk Management Framework.
* Coordinate regulatory responses and annual reporting to ILG Executive Committee on AI risk profile and adoption stages.
* Drive forward-thinking governance processes that enable rapid yet safe AI adoption aligned with business objectives.
European Governance & Compliance
* Align with European AI Governance Committee, ensuring LoB frameworks reflect evolving EU regulations and best practices.
* Escalate high-risk AI use cases to the European Committee.
* Report annually on ILG adherence to AI Risk Management Framework and AI risk profile.
* Ensure compliance with EU AI Act, GDPR, Central Bank of Ireland guidelines, EIOPA recommendations, and other relevant regulations.
Risk Management & Policy Development
* Identify, assess, and mitigate AI risks (bias, explainability, data quality, ethics).
* Draft, review, and update policies for AI development, deployment, monitoring, and decommissioning in collaboration with Irish Life LoBs and European Technology teams.
Stakeholder Engagement & Regulatory Interaction
* Act as primary contact for AI governance with internal/external stakeholders, including regulators and auditors.
* Manage increasing regulatory engagement as AI becomes a focus area.
Training, Monitoring & Incident Management
* Lead training and awareness initiatives on responsible AI use and compliance.
* Establish monitoring and reporting structures for AI performance, compliance, and incidents.
* Oversee AI-related incident response, including breaches, notifications, and remediation.
Continuous Improvement
* Stay ahead of evolving AI regulations, standards, and best practices, proactively updating governance frameworks and policies.
* Enhance and grow emerging technology knowledge of the marketplace, trends and capabilities that can be applied to business needs
Key Skills and Capabilities
* Excellent collaboration skills, essential for working within your team and engaging with peers across the organisation.
* Ability to influence and provide effective support to Senior IT and Business leaders.
* Proficient in partnering with senior management both within Irish Life and across the wider group.
* Proven track record of delivering high-quality, complex technical solutions within a large enterprise environment.
* Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
* Experience in designing solutions that drive business value and address complex issues.
* Significant experience with integration patterns, security best practices, and applications development environments.
* Regulatory Expertise - deep understanding of Irish and EU regulatory frameworks relevant to AI, including the EU AI Act, GDPR, Central Bank of Ireland, and EIOPA guidelines.
* AI & Data Governance - experience in developing and implementing AI governance frameworks, policies, and procedures, with a focus on risk management, transparency, and ethical considerations.
* Technical Acumen - familiarity with AI/ML technologies, data management, model lifecycle management, and AI risk assessment methodologies.
* Stakeholder Management - proven ability to engage, influence, and collaborate with cross-functional teams, regulators, auditors, and external partners.
* Communication - excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory and technical concepts for diverse audiences.
* Continuous Learning - commitment to staying abreast of emerging AI regulations, standards, and best practices.
Essential Requirements
* Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Law, Risk Management, or a related field.
* Minimum of 7 years of experience in technical design of strategic solutions.
* Minimum 5 years' experience in AI governance, risk, compliance, or related roles within financial services, insurance, or other regulated industries.
* Demonstrable experience with EU and Irish regulatory frameworks (EU AI Act, GDPR, Central Bank of Ireland, EIOPA, etc.).
* Experience working in multinational or matrixed organisations.
* Understanding of AI/ML systems and data governance.
* Familiarity with AI risk assessment tools and methodologies.
* Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, necessary for articulating complex ideas and demystifying technology and systems.
* Understanding of AI/ML systems and data governance and familiarity with AI risk assessment tools and methodologies.
* Ability to assess complex AI risks, interpret regulations, and develop effective governance solutions.
* Strong commitment to ethical AI practices, fairness, and transparency.
* Proactive in identifying issues and implementing practical, compliant solutions.
* High level of accuracy in policy development, documentation, and compliance monitoring.
* Capable of leading cross-functional initiatives, driving change, and championing responsible AI use.
* Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to evolving regulatory landscapes.
Key Competencies
Drive for Results Innovation and Change Leadership Communication & Influencing Building and Maintaining Relationships Problem Solving and Decision Making Commercial Awareness
About us
Irish Life is one of Ireland's largest financial institutions with a presence across a range of financial services markets. We are one of Ireland's leading financial services groups with over 1.5 million customers. For over 80 years, we've been helping people to look after their life insurance, pension and investment needs, and more recently their health insurance.
It is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco and a member of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies.
We are proud of our culture of developing and supporting the growth and professional development of our people. The focus has resulted in a team of top talent with high standards, positioning us at the forefront of our industry.
The company reserves the right to draw up a shortlist as part of the selection process. Where Agency assistance is required the Irish Life Recruitment Team will engage directly with suppliers. Unsolicited CVs / profiles supplied to Irish Life by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.
Irish Life is proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. We have created an environment of inclusion and growth to help people achieve their potential, to ensure they can bring their whole selves to work and to feel valued. We celebrate diversity of thought and perspective and want all of our employees to feel valued, respected and supported.
We have built a culture that promotes equality and inclusion for all of our current and future employees and strive to ensure that our behaviours, processes and practices are aligned to this culture.
If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process please contact and we will be delighted to ensure you are fully supported to be your best.
ILGL supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.