Senior AI Risk & Advisory Manager

Build your big career with the firm that does Big Law, Better. McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,750 lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work. At McDermott, we don't just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office. With us, you'll find:

• A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!
• Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We're smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.
• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That's why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance.
• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.

Job Description:

McDermott, Will & Schulte LLP is embedding Artificial Intelligence across core workflows, vendor platforms, and client-facing services. As adoption accelerates—including agentic AI systems that can independently access and act on data—the Firm needs dedicated expertise to ensure leadership has clear visibility into how these technologies function and what implications they carry.

WHY MWS

• Shape the Firm's AI strategy at the intersection of technology and risk
• Dual reporting to CIO and General Counsel—uniquely positioned for impact
• Security and innovation treated as mutually reinforcing priorities
• Define a new function at the frontier of enterprise AI governance

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Serve as subject matter expert on AI technologies, including large language models and emerging AI systems
• Advise leadership on technical implications of AI initiatives and translate AI architecture into business and legal risk considerations
• Evaluate proposed AI use cases and tools across the Firm
• Identify and assess risks related to data privacy, intellectual property, bias and fairness, hallucination and reliability, and security vulnerabilities
• Recommend controls, guardrails, and oversight mechanisms—with particular attention to agentic AI systems that may access data subject to regulatory or ethical requirements
• Assess and advise on AI-driven threats, including AI-enhanced social engineering and automated attack techniques
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI to improve threat detection, incident response, and defensive operations

TECHNOLOGIES

• LLMs
• Generative AI
• Agentic Systems
• NIST AI RMF
• ISO 42001
• EU AI Act
• AI Security
• Privacy Frameworks
• Threat Detection
• Security Operations

WHAT YOU BRING

• 10+ years of experience in technology, security, risk, or related fields
• Deep understanding of AI/ML systems, particularly LLMs and generative AI
• Ability to explain complex technical systems to non-technical executives
• Strong judgment and risk assessment capability
• Experience working cross-functionally with IT and Legal
• Familiarity with AI security, privacy, and regulatory considerations

Preferred

• Background in ML engineering, data science, cybersecurity, or AI architecture
• Familiarity with AI-driven cyber threats and the application of AI/ML to security operations
• Experience with AI governance frameworks and regulatory compliance

Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses.

Target Hiring Range $193,000 - $301,000

Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWE provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. #LI-JL1 #LI-Hybrid

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear. Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds.

Work Environment:

Typical indoor office environment

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people within this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.

Build your big career with the Firm that does Big Law, Better. We don't just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office. Bringing together more than 1,750 lawyers and 1,400 business professionals, we celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work.