AI Governance Lead

At McCormick, we bring our passion for flavor to work each day. We encourage growth, respect everyone's contributions and do what's right for our business, our people, our communities and our planet. Join us on our quest to make every meal and moment better.

Founded in Baltimore, MD in 1889 in a room and a cellar by 25-year-old Willoughby McCormick with three employees, McCormick is a global leader in flavour. With over 14,000 employees around the world and more than $6 Billion in annual sales, the Company manufactures, markets, and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavourful products to the entire food industry, retail outlets, food manufactures, food service businesses and consumers.

While our global headquarters are in the Baltimore, Maryland, USA area, McCormick operates and serves customers from nearly 60 locations in 25 countries and 170 markets in Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and the Americas, including North, South and Central America

Position Overview

The AI Governance Manager establishes, implements, and advances McCormick’s enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance framework to ensure that AI is developed, deployed, and used responsibly, ethically, and transparently across the organization. This role delivers the structures, policies, and practices that enable trusted, compliant, and value-driven AI innovation consistent with McCormick’s global standards for data and technology integrity.

As part of the Enterprise Data & AI Trust Team, the AI Governance Manager drives the operationalization of responsible AI governance as a service—partnering across Data & Analytics, Technology, Legal, Privacy, and business functions to embed AI governance principles into McCormick’s evolving digital and data ecosystem. The role ensures that AI systems are explainable, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations and enterprise risk tolerance, fueling innovation while maintaining trust and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• AI Governance Framework Implementation: Establishes, implements, and advances McCormick’s enterprise AI governance framework, including the design and application of policies, standards, and processes that guide responsible AI development and use across global functions. Defines governance processes across the AI lifecycle (design, development, deployment, monitoring, and retirement) to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability.
• AI Risk Management and Assessment: Conducts AI risk assessments for new or evolving AI use cases to evaluate ethical, regulatory, and operational risks. Defines and monitors key risk indicators for AI systems (e.g., bias, model drift, explainability, hallucination). Oversees AI model inventory, classification, and tiering based on risk and business impact, ensuring alignment with McCormick’s enterprise risk management and compliance frameworks.  
• AI Governance Technology Enablement: Partners with Technology and Data & Analytics teams to implement and optimize AI governance tools and platforms (e.g., model registry, documentation and monitoring tools, compliance dashboards). Ensures governance capabilities—such as model lineage tracking, transparency reporting, and automated policy enforcement—are effectively integrated into McCormick’s broader data and analytics ecosystem. Supports continuous improvement and scalability of these tools to enable trusted and efficient AI oversight. 
• Responsible AI Governance Operations: Leads the cross‑functional Responsible AI Forum, coordinating participation from Data & Analytics, Technology, Legal, Privacy, and business functions to ensure consistent application of responsible AI principles. Facilitates governance reviews, documentation, and decision‑making processes related to AI use cases. Supports the development of AI transparency reports, audit artifacts, and governance dashboards that demonstrate compliance and ethical standards.  
• Continuous Improvement and Performance Measurement: Defines and tracks metrics to assess AI governance maturity, compliance, and effectiveness. Identifies opportunities for automation, process optimization, and integration between AI and data governance activities. Continuously improves governance capabilities to support scalable, transparent, and trusted AI innovation that accelerates business value and ensures responsible use of AI across the enterprise.

Required Qualifications

Level of Education and Discipline    

• Bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science, Business Analytics, or other applicable field
• Candidates with strong AI governance or responsible AI experience may be considered in lieu of the above degree requirements

   
Experience

• 5+ years of combined experience in AI governance, data governance, technology risk, compliance, or related domains within a complex enterprise environment
• 2+ years focused on responsible AI, AI risk management, or adjacent AI/ML (Machine Learning) oversight activities
• In‑depth knowledge of AI governance principles, frameworks, and practices, including model lifecycle management, risk assessment, transparency, and accountability standards.
• Strong working knowledge of AI/ML risks (e.g., bias, explainability, model drift, robustness) and associated controls that ensure ethical and reliable AI system performance.
• Familiarity with AI governance tools and platforms such as model registries, documentation and monitoring systems, or compliance dashboards, and their integration within enterprise data and analytics ecosystems.
• Demonstrated ability to connect AI governance outcomes to business value—improving innovation, decision‑making, and regulatory assurance through trusted and responsible AI.
• Solid understanding of core business operations and value drivers, enabling AI governance decisions that align with enterprise priorities such as innovation, supply chain effectiveness, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
• Awareness of data privacy, security, and ethical AI use considerations relevant to global operations and regional regulatory environments.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate complex AI governance and risk concepts into actionable insights for business leaders and functional teams.
• Experience influencing and collaborating across cross‑functional teams, balancing governance rigor with agility to meet evolving business and technology needs.
• Understanding of analytics and AI enablement, including how governance supports the reliability, scalability, and responsible deployment of advanced analytics and AI initiatives.

Interpersonal Skills

• Relationship building and credibility are essential for this role to advance McCormick’s mission of ensuring trusted and responsible use of AI across the enterprise.
• The role requires cultivating strong relationships across functions, regions, and levels of the organization to foster confidence in AI governance practices.
• Establishing credibility through transparency, reliability, and subject‑matter expertise will be critical to positioning AI governance as a business enabler and earning trust among both business and technical stakeholders.

Change leadership and advocacy are equally important, as this role will serve as a catalyst for embedding responsible AI principles into McCormick’s culture and ways of working. The AI Governance Manager must communicate a compelling vision for ethical and accountable AI use, inspire adoption of new practices, and guide others through change with empathy and persistence. Success will depend on influencing without authority, navigating uncertainty constructively, and championing the business value of responsible AI across global teams.

Collaboration and facilitation are vital to translate AI governance principles into coordinated action. This role will bring together colleagues across Data & Analytics, Technology, Legal, Privacy, and functional areas such as Supply Chain, Finance, Commercial, Research & Development and Quality & Regulatory (RDQR), and HR to design and implement practical governance solutions. The ability to facilitate alignment among diverse perspectives—balancing governance rigor with agility and innovation—will be key to achieving sustainable adoption and measurable impact.

Other Skills 

• Builds inclusive and collaborative relationships across functions, fostering shared ownership of AI governance principles and enabling cross‑functional decision‑making.
• Communicates complex AI and governance concepts in clear, accessible language tailored to technical and non‑technical audiences, including senior executives.
• Applies strong analytical and problem‑solving skills to evaluate complex AI risks, synthesize diverse inputs, and recommend practical governance solutions that align with business objectives.
• Demonstrates ethical judgment and integrity in balancing innovation with governance rigor, ensuring that AI systems are developed and deployed responsibly and transparently.
• Acts as a change leader and advocate for responsible AI, promoting a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous learning across global teams.
• Demonstrates strategic agility, adapting governance frameworks and tools to evolving technologies, regulations, and business priorities.
• Drives continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline governance processes, automate oversight mechanisms, and strengthen integration between AI, data, and risk management practices.
• Encourages innovation and experimentation within ethical boundaries, enabling responsible AI adoption that delivers measurable business value.
• Commits to continuous learning and professional development, staying current with emerging AI technologies, governance frameworks, and regulatory trends to proactively evolve McCormick’s AI governance capabilities.

Certification and/or Licenses

• IAPP Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) or equivalent credential in responsible or ethical AI governance
• Completion of recognized Responsible AI or AI Risk Management training programs through academic, industry, or professional organizations (e.g., NIST, ISO, or major cloud providers)

Experience 

• Experience designing and operationalizing enterprise‑level AI governance frameworks, including policies, risk controls, and oversight mechanisms across multiple business functions or regions.
• Exposure to AI assurance or model risk management activities, including collaboration with internal audit, risk, or compliance teams.

Dimensions

The AI Governance Manager influences enterprise decisions related to the responsible and compliant use of artificial intelligence across McCormick’s global operations. The role contributes to the development and execution of AI governance strategy and provides expert advice to business and technical leaders on ethical AI practices, risk management, and regulatory alignment.

Accountable for establishing and maintaining AI governance standards, this position impacts enterprise‑level policies and decision‑making that guide AI model development, deployment, and monitoring. While implementation accountability is shared with functional and technical teams, the role provides authoritative direction on governance frameworks, risk thresholds, and compliance expectations.

Operating within a complex, cross‑functional environment, the AI Governance Manager balances innovation with ethical and regulatory considerations. Decisions made in this role influence business integrity, data trust, and operational efficiency across global functions. The position does not manage a direct budget or headcount but has broad impact across the Enterprise Data & AI Trust function and related business areas worldwide.

McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a general policy, McCormick does not offer employment visa sponsorships upon hire or in the future.