AI Governance Lead

About Astellas

Astellas is a global life sciences company committed to turning innovative science into VALUE for patients. We provide transformative therapies in disease areas that include oncology, ophthalmology, urology, immunology and women's health. Through our research and development programs, we are pioneering new healthcare solutions for diseases with high unmet medical need. Learn more at Astellas.com.

Are you driven to make a real difference in the lives of patients?

We're seeking passionate individuals who thrive in dynamic environments, embrace new ideas, and aren't afraid to take intelligent risks. People who act with unwavering integrity and are deeply committed to making a tangible impact.

Purpose and Scope:

• The AI Governance Lead is a global role within the DigitalX organization's Enterprise AI Enablement team, based in India. The role reports directly to the Pod Lead, Enterprise AI Enablement, and indirectly to the existing AI Governance Lead, working in close partnership with them to deliver the global AI Governance agenda. The role is accountable for designing, operationalizing and continuously improving Astellas' global AI Governance framework so that AI and Generative AI solutions across all regions are developed and used safely, ethically, transparently and in compliance with global regulations. The role exists to embed AI Governance into the AI lifecycle, from intake and risk assessment through deployment and monitoring, enabling the business to scale AI with trust worldwide.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• In partnership with the AI Governance Lead, shape the global strategy, roadmap and OKRs for AI Governance and drive their execution in partnership with value teams, product owners and stakeholders across Japan, the US, Europe and other regions.
• Design, operationalize and maintain the global AI Governance framework, including principles, policies, standards, controls and playbooks aligned to Astellas values and enterprise risk appetite.
• Own the global AI Governance intake and risk assessment process for AI and GenAI use cases, including risk tiering, impact assessments and approval workflows, and track dependencies with partner teams who build supporting tooling (for example, intake agents).
• Monitor and interpret global AI regulations and standards (EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001, Japan's AI guidelines, India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act and emerging MeitY guidance, and GxP expectations) and translate them into practical requirements for delivery teams in every region.
• Define and embed technical guardrails and evaluation practices for fairness, bias, explainability, robustness, privacy, security, hallucination and content safety, including red teaming and model monitoring for GenAI and agentic solutions.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Information Security, Quality and Data Governance to run global AI governance forums and ensure clear accountability and audit-ready documentation (model cards, AI inventory, risk registers).
• Collaborate closely with the Data Governance Lead to align AI governance with enterprise data policies, data quality, lineage, ownership and stewardship, ensuring consistent controls and clear accountability for data used across the AI lifecycle.
• Partner with the AI Security team and extended Responsible AI (RAI) specialists in Legal, Data Privacy, Copyright and Intellectual Property (IP) to align governance policies, use-case reviews, risk assessments, controls and approvals with security and specialist requirements, and coordinate lifecycle monitoring, incident response, remediation and escalation.
• Build AI Governance literacy across the global enterprise through training, expert sessions, workshops and communities of practice.
• Advise product owners, value teams and vendors on AI Governance by design, and review high-risk solutions before release.
• Identify, escalate and respond to AI risks, incidents and issues, and drive remediation.
• Report AI Governance metrics, maturity and progress to DigitalX and Enterprise AI leadership.
• Lead, coach and develop a direct report based in India, providing regular feedback and input on development and performance.
• Follow and promote the DigitalX operating model and associated processes and policies.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Law, Public Policy or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in technology, data science, risk or compliance, including at least 4 years in AI governance, AI ethics or AI risk management.
• Hands-on understanding of the machine learning and GenAI lifecycle, including LLMs, RAG and agentic AI, and common failure modes.
• Working knowledge of AI regulations and frameworks such as the EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF and ISO/IEC 42001, and data privacy laws including GDPR and India's DPDP Act.
• Proven experience leading global, cross-functional programs and people, and influencing senior stakeholders in a matrixed organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical and ethical topics to non-technical audiences.
• Strong use of Microsoft Office applications and agile project management toolsets.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in a relevant discipline.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, life sciences or other highly regulated industries, including GxP and computerized system validation.
• Certifications such as IAPP AIGP, CIPP/CIPM, ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer or Auditor, or equivalent.
• Experience with AI Governance tooling (for example, Azure AI Content Safety, Microsoft Purview, fairness and explainability toolkits, LLM evaluation and red teaming tools).
• Experience with Microsoft Copilot, Copilot Studio and Azure OpenAI governance.
• Experience establishing an AI management system or AI governance program from the ground up.

Working Environment

• At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimize the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. This is a global role based in India, working closely with colleagues across Japan, the US, Europe and other regions, which may require regular meetings outside standard local business hours. Occasional domestic and international travel (up to 10%) may be required.

What awaits you at Astellas

• Global collaboration: Become part of a connected global business of like-minded life science leaders, all dedicated to improving patients' lives worldwide. 
• Real-world patient impact: Contribute to transformative therapies that reach patients around the world, knowing your work makes a difference every day.
• Relentless Innovation: Join a company at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs, where you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of healthcare. 
• A Culture of Growth: Chart your own course within a supportive environment that values your contributions, champions your development, and empowers you to pursue your passions. 
  

Our Organizational Values and Behaviors

Values: Innovation, Integrity and Impact sit at the heart of what we do. 

Behaviors: We come together as ‘One Astellas’, working with courage and a sense of urgency. We are outcome focused and consistently take accountability for our personal contribution.