AI Risk & Compliance Specialist

Are you passionate about responsible innovation, emerging technologies and strengthening risk governance? Do you have the expertise to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is adopted responsibly, securely and in compliance with regulatory requirements?

Co-op Bank is seeking an experienced AI Risk & Compliance Specialist to support the responsible adoption of AI across the Bank. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the governance, risk and compliance frameworks that enable innovation while safeguarding customer trust, protecting the Bank’s interests and ensuring adherence to applicable laws, regulations and internal policies.

Reports to: Head of Artificial Intelligence

The successful candidate will operationalise the Bank’s responsible AI governance framework, ensuring that AI solutions are appropriately assessed, approved, monitored and managed throughout their lifecycle. The role will provide specialist risk and compliance guidance, strengthen controls and promote accountability in the development and use of AI technologies.

The Role

Specifically, the successful jobholder will be required to:

• Implement and maintain the Bank’s responsible AI governance framework, policies, standards, controls and approval processes.
• Maintain an enterprise-wide inventory of AI use cases, models, providers and third-party AI tools, ensuring appropriate ownership, risk classification, approvals and lifecycle monitoring.
• Conduct AI risk and impact assessments covering data protection, cybersecurity, model risk, bias and fairness, explainability, human oversight, third-party risk and regulatory compliance.
• Establish risk-based control, testing and evidence requirements, including model validation, bias testing, generative AI safeguards and incident management.
• Coordinate independent reviews and approvals with Risk, Legal, Compliance, Data Protection, ICT Security, Model Risk and relevant business control owners.
• Monitor AI risks, control effectiveness, model performance, incidents, complaints and remediation actions, preparing reports for management and Board governance forums.
• Support investigations and resolution of AI-related incidents, control breaches and performance concerns, ensuring lessons learned inform improved controls and practices.
• Monitor emerging AI regulations and industry developments, maintain governance documentation, and promote responsible AI awareness through targeted training and guidance.

Skills, Competencies and Experience

The successful candidate will be required to have the following skills and competencies:

• A bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Law, Compliance, Information Systems, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics or a related field.
• At least six (6) years of relevant experience in risk management, compliance, audit, privacy, model risk, technology risk, data governance or AI governance.
• Demonstrated experience designing or implementing governance and control frameworks within a regulated environment.
• Practical exposure to AI/ML risk, model lifecycle controls, data protection and third-party technology risk will be an added advantage.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification and professional certification in risk, compliance, privacy, information security, audit, data governance or responsible AI will be an added advantage.

How to Apply

Join Co-op Bank and play a pivotal role in building the governance and trust that enable responsible AI innovation. If you are analytical, forward-thinking and passionate about balancing technological advancement with sound risk management, we invite you to apply.

Forward your application letter enclosing a detailed Curriculum Vitae to jobs@co-opbank.co.ke , indicating the job reference number AIRCS/IID/2026, by 9 November 2026.