Microsoft is committed to ensuring that we develop and deploy our Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in ways that uphold our AI principles and warrant people’s trust. The Office of Responsible AI plays a leading role in this effort as part of Microsoft’s Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) division. With a cross-company mandate, we establish internal policy for how our engineering and sales teams implement responsible AI practices, enable our community of Responsible AI Champs to support the rollout of our responsible AI program, and review engineering and customer projects that require additional input based on potential impact. We also help to shape new laws, norms, and standards to advance responsible AI for the benefit of society at large.

The Sensitive Uses program within the Office of Responsible AI is responsible for collaborating with engineering and research teams across Microsoft to provide expertise consulting and issue policy guidance for Microsoft’s most sensitive and cutting-edge AI products, initiatives, and partnerships. From working alongside engineering colleagues on product development to engaging with research and sales teams from around the world, Sensitive Uses is where responsible AI principles meet real-word practices.

As a Senior Program Manager, Responsible AI on the Sensitive Uses team within the Office of Responsible AI, you will provide internal consulting and assessment of high-impact AI use cases and support all facets of the Sensitive Uses program. You will evaluate AI-driven products to assess risks, define requirements, develop strategic initiatives, manage sensitive use case management programs and processes, and socialize policies that support Microsoft’s ability to develop and deploy AI systems safely and responsibly. In doing so, you will partner with policy, research, sales, and engineering stakeholders to rapidly adjust to the changing AI and policy landscape, drive new requirements across product teams, and cutting-edge AI technology at the forefront of a new computing paradigm.

Responsibilities

• Support the Sensitive Uses team within the Office of Responsible AI to evaluate and develop internal guidance for Microsoft’s highest-impact AI products, services and use cases from across Microsoft, including upcoming product releases using generative AI or state-of-the-art foundation models.

• Develop insights, recognize patterns, and strive to develop generalizable, scalable guidance and policies to account for the risks and impacts of AI systems deployed in an increasingly wide range of social contexts.

• Spend significant time with engineering teams, evaluating their upcoming product releases for responsible AI risks and evidence of mitigation effectiveness.

• Develop a deep understanding of generative AI technology, customer use cases, and responsible AI practices.

• Help administer, maintain, and improve our tools, systems, and processes to maximize impact and efficiency.

• Improve operations of existing programs by developing and applying best practices, defining complex program issues, assessing various scenarios, and selecting the optimal scenario to resolve issues. Drive clarity in complex program issues and strive for simplification.

• Manage, document, and drive progress to uphold responsible AI requirements across a diverse group of Microsoft engineering, sales, and research teams implementing AI systems in products, features, and customer engagements.

• Think through global challenges and drive accountability and results through others.

• Manage and support programs and collaborations among Office of Responsible AI colleagues, internal Microsoft stakeholders, and key external partners. Establish the rhythm of business, internal communications, and other processes to ensure that such collaborations operate smoothly and are well-positioned to deliver on their scope.

• Embody Microsoft’s culture (https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/culture) and a demonstrated commitment to the company’s core values (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/corporate-values) , including a commitment to high ethical standards, unquestioned integrity, and a commitment to advancing the company’s diversity & inclusion commitments.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Operations, Finance or related field AND 6+ years experience in program management, engineering, software development, research, corporate affairs, governance, legal affairs, technology policy, applied science, or related area

• OR equivalent experience

• 2+ years experience on issues pertaining to artificial intelligence, machine learning (ML), or responsible innovation, such as AI/ML engineering, AI product development, data science with AI/ML components, inclusive design, ethics, safety, fairness,explainability, accessibility, privacy, security, AI governance, and/or AI policy.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with generative AI a plus but not required.

• Specific experience in fields of responsible AI, AI ethics, AI safety, digital safety, or security a plus but not required.

• 2+ years experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.

• Program Management: Experience in strategic program management, execution, operations, and evaluation. Ability to think strategically and execute on tactics to drive and scale programs that advance impact to the organization. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines simultaneously. You can quickly spot technical and process blockers towards achieving outcomes and work collaboratively to develop strategies to overcome them.

• Agility: The ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to rapidly changing environments and demands is critical. When dealing with emergent and complex topics, you strive to create structure and process that will support progress while remaining flexible as positions evolve.

• Stakeholder Engagement: A proven track record of being able to engage and influence a variety of stakeholders, both within and outside Microsoft. Ability to collect and reason through multi-stakeholder perspectives, including those of executives, engineers and developers, sellers, researchers, civil society organizations, and regulators, all of whom grapple with new and complex technologies and their implications for society.

• Collaborative: A record of being an effective team player dedicated to collective successes. The ability to promote cooperation and solve problems in a timely, creative, and professional manner.

• Growth Mindset: A record of curiosity, experimentation, and openness to feedback, you learn from both successes and failures.

• Company Values: Demonstrated commitment to the company’s core values, including a commitment to high ethical standards, unquestioned integrity, and a commitment to advancing Microsoft’s diversity & inclusion commitments.

Business Program Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $112,200 - $194,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $142,200 - $213,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until May 18, 2024.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .