Director/Principal Counsel, AI Governance

Director/Principal Counsel, AI Governance

The opportunity We are seeking an experienced AI Governance Lead to design, implement, and oversee privacy-centric governance for AI development and deployment. Reporting into the VP, Deputy General Counsel, Privacy & AI Governance, this role acts as a framework owner, advisor, and process architect, ensuring compliance with international AI laws, privacy regulations, and ethical standards through close collaboration with Product, Security, Legal, and Engineering teams.

What you'll be doing

• Lead AI Program Governance and Policy: Determine the applicability of international AI laws, lead policy development, act as the Framework Owner, and establish ethical standards and clear guidelines for AI development. Streamline substantial assessments (Privacy, Safety, AI) and propose AI-enabled tooling to reduce effort.
• Manage AI Incident Response: Review and modify incident response processes to incorporate AI-specific triggers and regulatory reporting lines, aligning them with existing roles and Security’s AI Acceptable Use Policy.
• Oversee AI Risk Management: Maintain the AI Risk Management Policy and define a standard risk taxonomy (rights-based versus technical risks).
• Establish Data Governance Standards: Define standards for dataset governance, including design, origin review, labeling, bias assessment, and data quality. Conduct Privacy reviews and advise on legal standards related to bias and discrimination.
• Maintain Documentation and Record keeping: Own templates for AI technical and transparency documentation and update retention schedules to include AI-related records.
• Ensure Accuracy, Robustness, and Cybersecurity: Advise on adapting security and compliance programs to meet AI-specific legal obligations and collaborate with technical teams to ensure models satisfy defined accuracy metrics and compliance standards.
• Drive Accessibility: Provide an overview of AI-related accessibility requirements and partner with UX/UI and Product to ensure outputs and interfaces meet legal standards.
• Implement Quality Management and Monitoring: Review and adjust standard Quality Management System (QMS) protocols for AI design, testing, validation, and post-market monitoring. Maintain standard processes and reporting templates for continuous model performance and compliance.
• Manage User Transparency and Disclosures: Develop standard guidance on language and timing for disclosures (e.g., “AI Generated”) and coordinate implementation in the UI with Product.
• Uphold AI Ethics: Uphold organizational principles for ethical AI, maintain the AI/Model Ethics Assessment template, and contribute to operating an AI Ethics Board.
• Advise on Contractual Provisions: Provide guidance on contractual safeguards and draft standard clauses and pass-through terms for High-Risk components, supporting vendor/customer negotiations.
• Handle Registration and Training: Manage required regulatory filings and registrations. Develop and deliver role-based training on AI policies/compliance.
• Specialist Consultation: Coordinate specialized legal analysis (e.g., IP, Employment) with appropriate co-counsel.

What we're looking for

• At least seven (7) years experience in privacy, compliance, or governance roles, with three (3) years focused on AI or data-centric products.
• Strong knowledge of international AI regulatory frameworks (e.g., EU AI Act), global privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), and discrimination/bias standards.
• Experience designing policies, templates, QMS, and documentation for regulated technologies.
• Familiarity with incident response, risk management taxonomies, and model performance monitoring.
• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Legal counterparts, and Security teams; excellent communication skills.

You might also have

• Experience with accessibility standards, cybersecurity frameworks, and contractual provisions for technology products.

Additional information

• Relocation support is not available for this position
• Work visa/immigration sponsorship is not available for this position

Benefits

At Unity, we want our team members to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support well-being and work-life balance. Please note: Benefits eligibility, specific offerings, and coverage vary based on the country and employment status.

While specific benefits vary, here are some of the ways we strive to take care of our eligible team members globally:

• Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance
• Commute subsidy
• Employee stock ownership
• Competitive retirement/pension plans
• Generous vacation and personal days
• Support for new parents through leave and family-care programs
• Office food snacks
• Mental Health and Wellbeing programs and support
• Employee Resource Groups
• Global Employee Assistance Program
• Training and development programs
• Volunteering and donation matching program

Life at Unity

Unity [NYSE: U] is the world’s leading game engine, powering play for more than 3 billion consumers each month. The top mobile games in the world, the most played PC indie titles, the most innovative console games, and virtually all of the top XR and Web Games are developed, deployed, and grown in Unity. Unity also enables teams across industries like automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare to design, simulate, and collaborate in 3D — closing the gap between ideas and reality. For more information, please visit www.unity.com.

Unity is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment and celebrate our employees across age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our differences are strengths that enable us to support the growing and evolving needs of our customers, partners, and collaborators. If you have a disability that means there are preparations or accommodations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please fill out this form to let us know.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

This position requires the incumbent to have a sufficient knowledge of English to have professional verbal and written exchanges in this language since the performance of the duties related to this position requires frequent and regular communication with colleagues and partners located worldwide and whose common language is English.

Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this Web site or directly to managers. Unity does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes. Unity will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with Unity.

Your privacy is important to us. Please take a moment to review our Prospect Privacy Policy and Applicant Privacy Policy. Should you have any concerns about your privacy, please contact us at DPO@unity.com.

#DIR *Note: Certain locations require a good faith disclosure of the base salary range for the role. The actual salary for the successful candidate may differ based on location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Key skills/competency

• AI Governance
• Privacy Law
• Regulatory Compliance
• Policy Development
• Risk Management
• Data Governance
• AI Ethics
• Incident Response
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Legal Counsel