Director of AI SOX Governance (REMOTE in USA)

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

The Director of AI SOX Governance is responsible for managing required SOX responsibilities of the department focusing on technology initiatives which drive change to the control environment to ensure ongoing regulatory compliance. The role will also help establish and manage the internal control framework supporting AI-enabled processes, third-party outsourcing, and enterprise transformation initiatives. This role plays a critical part in ensuring compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) by building the governance structures, risk frameworks, and control mechanisms required for emerging technologies and vendor-managed environments and then executing and sustaining those controls within the SOX program. The position requires cross collaboration with finance, technology, and risk, partnering closely with business process owners, IT, data teams, and third-party providers to ensure that innovation is implemented in a controlled, auditable, and compliant.

Essential Responsibilities Include

Ensure Ongoing SOX Compliance – Drive assessment and risk mitigation of key changes to the control environment and ensure SOX compliance.

Support existing internal controls process to assess CRL technology initiatives for SOX impact and implementation of required changes to the control environment.
Support SOX UK requirements to meet critical SOX deadlines.

Framework Development - Design and implement an AI SOX governance framework aligned to the COSO Internal Control Framework.

Develop a structured AI risk taxonomy, including risks related to data completeness and accuracy, model outputs and reliability, over-reliance and explainability.
Establish control design standards for AI-enabled processes, including human-in-the-loop review controls, validation thresholds, and exception handling.

Vendor & Outsourcing Controls - Design a third-party SOX controls framework for environments where SOC 1 reliance is limited or unavailable.

Define and implement Complementary User Entity Controls (CUECs) and internal monitoring controls. Establish control expectations for outsourced operations, including segregation of duties, access and security, data transfer, and integrity.
Develop governance processes to monitor vendor performance and control effectiveness.

Control Implementation - Perform risk assessments for AI-enabled and outsourced processes.

Design and implement manual and automated controls to mitigate identified risks.
Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (Finance, IT, Data, Vendors) to ensure controls are embedded into processes.
Support go-live readiness for AI and transformation initiatives by validating control design and execution.

Control Monitoring & SOX Integration - Establish and execute ongoing monitoring activities for AI systems and vendor-managed processes.

Perform or oversee control testing procedures, including validation of AI outputs and data integrity.
Identify, track, and remediate control deficiencies, including root cause analysis and corrective actions. Integrate new controls into the broader SOX compliance program, including quarterly certifications and audit support.

Governance & Stakeholder Engagement - Support governance leadership reporting related to AI, vendor, and transformation risks.

Collaborate with internal audit, external auditors and controllership and finance leadership.
Communicate complex risks in a clear manner, linking operational risks to financial reporting impact.

Continuous Improvement - Enhance and mature AI and vendor control frameworks.

Identify opportunities to improve control efficiency and effectiveness. Stay informed on emerging risks, regulatory expectations, and leading practices related to AI and outsourcing.

Team Development – Lead and develop a high-performance team.

Responsible for leading and developing a high performing team through effective goal setting, performance management, and ongoing coaching; establishing clear, measurable objectives aligned to SOX and enterprise transformation initiatives; providing timely feedback; supporting employee development; and ensuring accountability for results.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree (B.A. /B.S.) or equivalent in accounting or related discipline. Masters degree in Business Administration or Finance preferred.
Experience: 10+ years of experience in: SOX compliance, internal controls, audit (Big 4 + industry).
Certification/Licensure: CPA highly preferred.
Experience with: COSO Internal Control Framework, financial processes, risk/controls, ERP systems (SAP, S4 Hana, etc.), Data platforms (e.g., Azure-based environments).
Exposure to: AI / automation / data analytics initiatives, Third-party outsourcing environments (limited training will be provided).
Familiarity with: AI risk concepts (e.g., data quality, model risk, explainability), Vendor risk management frameworks.

Work Environment

Position is remote.
Occasional domestic or international travel.

Compensation Data

The pay range for this position in the USA is $190K - $215K USD. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, location and any collective agreements, if applicable. Remote candidates located outside the USA should be aware that the relevant pay range varies based on country and location.

About Corporate Functions

The Corporate Functions provide operational support across Charles River in areas such as Human Resources