Executive Director of Artificial Intelligence and Risk Management (Director V )

Job Description

Position Overview

The Executive Director of Artificial Intelligence and Risk performs advanced (seniorlevel) information technology and enterprise strategy work and serves as the agency's lead executive for the practical implementation of artificial intelligence across business and technical operations. Reporting to the Executive Director of IT Administration and Compliance in the Office of Information Technology, this role works in close partnership with the Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer, and division leadership to identify, prioritize, and implement highvalue AI use cases that improve operational effectiveness and support the agency's mission.

This position is explicitly accountable for establishing the agency's AI implementation roadmap; standing up governance, risk management, and operational guardrails for responsible AI use; and leading AI initiatives from pilot and proof of concept through production deployment and ongoing optimization. The role ensures AI capabilities are integrated into existing systems, workflows, and decisionmaking processes in ways that are secure, sustainable, and aligned with agency priorities. This role establishes and maintains a formal AI risk management lifecycle, including model validation, performance monitoring, model drift detection, and periodic reassessment of deployed AI systems. It also oversees the standards, processes, and vendor relationships necessary to support compliant, scalable adoption of AI and related emerging technologies, consistent with guidance from the Texas Department of Information Resources and riskmanagement practices reflected in the NIST AI Risk Management Framework. The role ensures alignment with evolving federal and state AI policies, regulatory guidance, and executive directives, and adapts agency practices as requirements mature.

The Executive Director of Artificial Intelligence and Risk is responsible for translating AI strategy into measurable business outcomes by embedding AI into operational workflows, enabling workforce adoption, and defining performance measures for value realization. This role requires a leader who can bridge strategy, governance, architecture, and execution, ensuring that AI investments deliver tangible improvements in efficiency, service quality, decision support, and organizational capacity. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position also oversees the TEA AI portfolio, including prioritization, funding alignment, and performance tracking across AI initiatives, and provides regular executivelevel reporting on AI value, risk posture, and adoption metrics. Additionally, this position serves as a liaison between the agency and legislative stakeholders on matters related to artificial intelligence in state government and public education. Will provide subject matter expertise to inform policy discussions, support the development and review of proposed legislation, and ensure alignment between emerging AI capabilities, regulatory requirements, and agency priorities.

Flexible work location in Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume is a required attachment for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Essential Functions
Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Enterprise AI Strategy and UseCase Prioritization: Lead the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of highvalue artificial intelligence use cases across the agency to improve efficiency, service delivery, decision support, and operational effectiveness. Partner with agency leadership, program areas, and technical teams to assess business needs, determine implementation feasibility, and develop an enterprise AI roadmap aligned with agency priorities. Ensure AI initiatives are selected based on strategic value, measurable impact, risk profile, and readiness for adoption. Establish and manage the agency's enterprise AI portfolio, including governance of intake, prioritization, funding alignment, and lifecycle tracking of AI initiatives.

2. Responsible AI Governance, Risk Management, and Guardrails: ¿Establish and maintain the agency's enterprise framework for responsible AI adoption, including policies, standards, and oversight to ensure AI systems are secure, ethical, transparent, and compliant with applicable laws and agency priorities. Define and implement an AI risk management approach that classifies systems by risk level and applies appropriate controls across the lifecycle, including validation, monitoring, drift detection, and periodic review.

Ensure safeguards for fairness, bias mitigation, explainability, and human oversight are embedded in AIsupported processes. Integrate AI governance with enterprise data governance practices, including data classification, lineage, and appropriate use of sensitive or regulated data.

Collaborate with cybersecurity, legal, procurement, data, and compliance stakeholders to address AIrelated risks, including adversarial threats, model misuse, and data protection concerns. Establish standards for thirdparty AI solutions, including vendor transparency, data handling, security controls, and contractual protections.
Ensure alignment with evolving federal and state AI policies, regulatory requirements, and recognized frameworks, adapting governance practices to maintain compliance, accountability, and public trust.

3. PilottoProduction AI Implementation and Integration: Lead the design, delivery, and operationalization of AI solutions from concept, pilot, and proof of value through production deployment and ongoing improvement. Oversee the integration of AI capabilities into existing business processes, systems, applications, and technical workflows in ways that are scalable, maintainable, and aligned with enterprise architecture and support models. Ensure that AI systems include monitoring capabilities for performance, drift, and unintended outcomes, with defined processes for remediation and continuous improvement. Coordinate with internal teams and vendors to ensure effective solution design, implementation, testing, deployment, lifecycle management, and operational support. Establish and enforce AIspecific vendor management standards, including evaluation of thirdparty AI solutions for transparency, data usage practices, security controls, and contractual protections for agency data.

4. AI Adoption, Workforce Enablement, and Performance Measurement: Provide individualized technical assistance, consultation, and customer support to LEAs, ESCs, families, residential providers, and other stakeholders regarding day and residential placements, focused monitoring, HighCost Fund programs, APEX processes, and related special education requirements. Coordinate stakeholder engagement activities, respond to complex inquiries, develop technical resources and guidance, and support targeted presentations, meetings, and workgroups as necessary.

5. Team Management and Supervision: Supervise assigned staff and provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development to support a highperforming, collaborative team. Establish clear expectations, monitor work quality and outcomes, allocate resources effectively, and promote accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement. Foster an inclusive and innovative work environment that supports employee growth and successful execution of the agency's AI priorities.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited fouryear college or university
Degree field(s): Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or related field
Experience: At least eight (8) years of executivelevel leadership experience overseeing enterprise cloud strategy, architecture, and operations utilizing AWS, Azure, or comparable platforms within a largescale IT organization, with a proven record of driving AI/ML innovation and leading complex, enterprisewide digital transformation initiatives that deliver measurable business outcomes

Other Qualifications

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
• Experience working in the public sector or large, complex enterprise environments is highly preferred
• Proven ability in contract negotiation and stakeholder management
• Ability to articulate technical requirements to non technical stakeholders
• Strong understanding of cloudnative architectures, data pipelines and security frameworks
• Experience translating AI potential into tangible business value, aligning initiatives with company goals
• Masters or PhD preferred

New hires, rehires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees within the same classification. Offers are based on the candidate's experience and qualifications and consider internal pay equity across employees performing similar work.

The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates whose qualifications exceed the role's requirements. The maximum of the range is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the required and preferred qualifications.

Benefits

TEA employees receive a comprehensive benefits package through the State of Texas and the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS), supporting health, financial security, and worklife balance.
Benefits include:

• Retirement through ERS and employerpaid health insurance for eligible employees
• Optional dental, vision, and dependent coverage
• Paid state holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, and longevity pay
• Wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and professional development opportunities
• Eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

To learn more about benefits available to State of Texas employees, please review the State of Texas Employee Benefits brochure and visit the TEA Compensation and Benefits page .

Military/Veteran Information

Applicants eligible for Military Employment Preference (MEP) will be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

To claim Military Employment Preference, applicants must:

• Select the applicable Military Employment Preference category in the employment application.
• Upload supporting documentation verifying eligibility in the Attachments section of the application before submitting the application.

Important: Selfidentifying as eligible for Military Employment Preference does not by itself establish eligibility. Supporting documentation is required for TEA to verify eligibility before Military Employment Preference can be applied during the selection process. Applicants who do not submit sufficient documentation may not be considered eligible for Military Employment Preference. This requirement is consistent with TEA's Military Employment Preference procedures.

For information about eligibility requirements, required supporting documentation, and instructions for claiming Military Employment Preference, please review the Military Employment Preference page, which outlines eligible categories, documentation requirements, and the eligibility verification process.

To explore how military experience may align with this role, applicants may review Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes within the State's Position Classification Plan. Please refer to the Military Crosswalk and select the occupational category that most closely corresponds with the classification listed in this job posting.