AI Enablement & Governance Lead

Axos Bank

Target Range:

$150,000.00 /Yr. - $180,000.00 /Yr.

Actual starting pay will vary based on factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

Eligible for an Annual Discretionary Cash Bonus Target: 10%

Eligible for an Annual Discretionary Restricted Stock Units Bonus Target: 10%

These discretionary target bonuses may be awarded semi-annually based upon your achievement of performance goals and targets.

About This Job

The FVP, AI Enablement and Governance Lead is a new role responsible for building and operating the Company's AI governance program from the ground up. This individual will operationalize the AI Governance Management Directive, and serve as the Company's primary authority on AI risk, policy, lifecycle management and enterprise AI enablement. They will partner directly with the CISO, CRO, Head of CoE, and the broader organization to ensure that all AI use cases across the enterprise are identified, assessed, controlled, and deployed in a manner consistent with the Company's risk appetite, regulatory obligations, and Responsible AI Principles. This is a technical leadership role requiring knowledge of emerging AI tools, systems architecture and security practices in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Own and operate the AI Governance Management Directive, ensuring all AI use cases across the enterprise follow the mandatory operationalization process.

• Develop and maintain the AI Use Case Inventory and AI Tool Catalog; assign tracking IDs, manage lifecycle status, and ensure audit readiness.

• Set and communicate risk tier classifications in coordination with the CISO and CRO; escalate high-risk determinations as required.

• Report AI governance posture, program metrics, and risk trends to the IT Steering Committee on a quarterly basis.

• Continuously improve the governance framework: refine intake processes, update risk tier criteria as the regulatory environment evolves, and integrate new AI categories (agents, agentic workflows, embedded vendor AI) as they emerge. Build AI/Automation tools to ensure governance capability is streamlined and scalable.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as the primary liaison to CISO, ERM, TPRM, Compliance, Legal, and Model Risk Management (MRM) for all AI governance activities.

• Partner with business line owners to drive the operationalization process forward, removing blockers and escalating delays.

• Engage external regulators, auditors, and examiners on AI governance posture; own examination readiness for AI-related findings.

Team & Operational Management

• Hire, develop, and manage two Governance Analysts; set performance expectations, provide coaching, and build team capability.

• Design and implement the intake tooling, workflow automation, and templates that enable the team to process efficiently.

• Manage the Shadow AI remediation program, ensuring use cases discovered outside the formal process are addressed per the directive.

• Develop and deliver AI governance training and acceptable use communications across the organization.

• Build the 12-month operational plan, headcount forecast, and budget for the CoE function; present re-staffing needs as monitoring load grows.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business, Finance, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certifications preferred (CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, or equivalent).

• 8+ years of experience in AI/ML technology delivery management, information security, or AI/ML governance in a regulated industry.

• Direct experience designing or operating AI governance programs, model risk management frameworks, or technology risk management processes in financial services.

• Deep understanding of the AI risk landscape: generative AI, machine learning models, AI agents, and the regulatory expectations governing their use in banking and financial services.

• Demonstrated ability to work across CISO, ERM, Legal, Compliance, and business lines — communicating risk in terms that resonate with each audience.

• Experience managing or significantly contributing to IT steering committee.

• Strong project management discipline; proven track record of building programs and processes from scratch with minimal infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in a fintech, bank, or Financial Services firm

• Hands-on familiarity with AI governance tooling, GRC platforms, and TPRM workflows.

• Familiarity with agentic AI frameworks and the emerging regulatory landscape for AI in financial services.

• AI Agent development and delivery management experience.

• Experience building intake and workflow automation using tools such as ServiceNow, Jira Service Management, Power Automate, or similar platforms.

• Track record of hiring and developing governance, risk, or compliance talent.

Axos Employee Benefits May Include:

About Axos

Born digital-first, Axos delivers financial tools and services that allow individuals, small businesses, and companies to access and manage their money how, when, and where they want. We’re a diverse team of dynamic, insightful, and independent innovators who are excited to provide technology-driven solutions that offer unbeatable value to our customers.

Axos Financial is our holding company and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AX" (NYSE: AX).

Learn more about working at Axos

Pre-Employment Background Check and Drug Test:

All offers are contingent upon the candidate successfully passing a credit check, criminal background check, and pre-employment drug screening, which includes screening for marijuana. Axos Bank is a federally regulated banking institution. At the federal level, marijuana is an illegal schedule 1 drug; therefore, we will not employ any person who tests positive for marijuana, regardless of state legalization.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Axos is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religious creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, breast feeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military and veteran status, marital status, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, physical disability, mental disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Job Functions and Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to sit for extended periods of time. Manual dexterity and coordination are required while operating standard office equipment such as computer keyboard and mouse, calculator, telephone, copiers, etc.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

E-Verify and Right to Work Notices

Axos participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program in all facilities located in the United States. The E-Verify program is an internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

IER Right to Work Poster (English/Spanish)

E-Verify Participation Poster (English/Spanish)