Vice President, Data and AI Governance and Protection

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,300 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM's Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking a Vice President, Data and AI Governance and Protection.

The Vice President, Data & AI Governance & Protection will help shape and operationalize International Justice Mission's (IJM) global approach to data governance, privacy, responsible AI, and data protection. Reporting to the Chief Data & Technology Officer (CDTO), this role will work collaboratively across Legal Counsel, Risk & Compliance, Cybersecurity, and business teams to establish the governance and protection foundations needed to responsibly enable IJM's data and AI strategy.

This leader will help ensure IJM's data is trusted, accessible, and responsibly used-unlocking innovation in analytics and AI, including emerging agentic AI capabilities-while helping safeguard sensitive information and align with applicable legal and regulatory expectations.

Operating in close partnership with Legal, Risk, Compliance, and Cybersecurity, this role focuses on translating privacy, governance, and data protection requirements into practical, scalable business and technology practices.

The Vice President will help operationalize and embed governance, privacy, and responsible AI practices across IJM. Legal interpretation, enterprise risk acceptance, and formal regulatory determinations will be managed collaboratively in alignment with IJM's governance model.

This is a remote position based in the U.S. and reports to the Chief Data & Technology Officer. This role is only available for candidates with the right to work in the US.

Responsibilities:

Data Governance & Stewardship (Foundation for Data & AI)

• Partner with stakeholders across IJM to mature the enterprise Data Governance program, helping define how data is classified, managed, shared, and retained across its lifecycle.
• Help establish and scale a global Data Stewardship model, enabling business ownership, data quality, and trusted data practices.
• Collaborate with Data & Technology teams to embed governance into data platforms, architecture, analytics, and AI initiatives.
• Support the development of common definitions, standards, lineage, and stewardship practices that strengthen trust in data.

Data & AI Enablement Through Governance

• Help position governance as a strategic enabler of IJM's data and AI roadmap, balancing accessibility, usability, and protection.
• Partner with business and technology leaders to reduce friction for responsible innovation while maintaining appropriate safeguards.
• Support scalable, mission-aligned AI use cases by promoting clear governance, transparency, and responsible data practices.

Agentic AI Governance & Innovation

• Partner with AI, Legal, and Technology leaders to help establish practical guardrails for Agentic AI systems and emerging technologies.
• Support frameworks for responsible data access, minimization, consent, and appropriate use in autonomous and semi-autonomous workflows.
• Help governance practices evolve alongside innovation to responsibly enable new capabilities without unnecessarily slowing progress.

Data Privacy & Protection (In Partnership with Legal Team)

• Partner closely with Legal Counsel to operationalize IJM's global privacy and data protection practices.
• Help translate legal and regulatory requirements into scalable processes, controls, and technology practices.
• Promote Privacy by Design, data minimization, and responsible data handling across systems, products, and AI solutions.

Data Risk & Compliance (In Partnership with Risk & Compliance Teams)

• Collaborate with Risk & Compliance partners to help develop and maintain data-specific risk frameworks, controls, and metrics.
• Support integration of data-related risks into enterprise risk management processes and reporting.
• Partner across teams to strengthen readiness for evolving data and AI-related obligations.

Security Partnership (Enabling Cybersecurity)

• Work closely with Cybersecurity teams to align data protection requirements with technical security controls.
• Help translate governance and privacy needs into practical guidance for access management, encryption, DLP, and sensitive data handling.
• Support prioritization of protections for IJM's most sensitive and mission-critical information.

Incident Response (Data-Focused Partnership)

• Partner with Cybersecurity, Legal, and Risk teams to coordinate the data privacy and governance aspects of incidents involving sensitive information.
• Support lessons learned and continuous improvement in data handling, governance, and protection practices.

Third-Party & Digital Data Governance

• Collaborate with Procurement, Risk, and Legal teams to support third-party data protection and privacy assessments.
• Help promote responsible and compliant data practices across digital channels, including web, mobile, and emerging engagement platforms.

Training, Awareness & Culture

• Partner with learning and business teams to promote data governance, privacy, and responsible AI awareness.
• Equip Data Stewards and business leaders with tools and practices to responsibly manage and leverage data.
• Foster a culture of stewardship, trust, responsible innovation, and ethical AI use.

Key Differentiators of This Role

• Positions governance as a strategic enabler of mission impact, AI, and innovation-not simply compliance.
• Balances protection with usability, helping ensure data is both safeguarded and actionable.
• Acts as a connector across Legal, Technology, Cybersecurity, and business teams to operationalize responsible data practices.
• Helps translate legal and regulatory expectations into scalable, practical implementation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required in a relevant field such as:

• Information Systems

• Computer Science

• Data Management

• Cybersecurity

• Information Security

• Business Administration

• Public Policy / Law / Risk / Compliance (if paired with strong data governance experience)

• Master's degree preferred, in areas such as:

• Information Management

• Data Science

• Cybersecurity

• Business Administration (MBA)

• Public Administration / Policy

• Law / Privacy / Compliance-related discipline

• Demonstrated ability to originate and organize programs that align AI strategy, technology, governance, risk, and operations with business growth, compliance, and operational effectiveness.

• Ability to conceive and position enterprise AI governance and protection strategies that drive innovation and resilience across global systems.

• Proven skill in leading and advocating for technology governance initiatives that influence executive decision-making and sector-wide standards.

Critical Qualities:

• Eager commitment to IJM's Core Values: Christian, Professional and Bridge-Building;
• Demonstrated expertise leading cross-functional organizations at scale and operating in regulated or global environments.
• Strong capacity to build strategic relationships across internal and external stakeholder audiences to promote AI strategy and technology, governance, risk, and operations excellence.
• Self-starter with strong initiative;
• Disciplined with priorities;
• Strong interpersonal skills and self-awareness;
• Exceptional verbal and written communication;
• Flexible, collaborative and eager to support others;
• Effective team player who fosters collaborative environment; and
• Adept at creative problem solving.

Application Process:

Upload Resume, Cover Letter & Statement of Faith* in one PDF document.

• What is a statement of faith?

A statement of faith should describe your Christian faith and how you see it as relevant to your involvement with IJM. The statement can either be incorporated into the cover letter or submitted as a separate document and should include, at a minimum, a description of your spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, etc.) and your current fellowship or place of worship.

What does IJM have to offer?

• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision benefits
• Monthly commuter and parking benefits in the DC metro area
• Retirement benefit options
• Paid leave starting at 23 days
• 12 holidays (plus early release the day prior)
• Daily, quarterly, and annual community spiritual formation
• Robust staff care resources

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.

At IJM, we're committed to building a diverse workforce through fair and equitable employment practices. IJM encourages people of any race, color, age, sex, marital status or political ideology to apply for employment. While we welcome everyone into this work, we truly believe that the work we are doing is God's work, not our own, and practice spiritual disciplines together daily. That's why we legally require under SEC. 2000e-1 [Section702] of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that all employees practice a mature orthodox Christian faith, as defined by the Apostles' Creed.