Head of AI Operations

Lazard is one of the world’s preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms. Our people and culture make the difference. While global in presence and reach, ours is a close, collaborative community of just over 3,000 professionals. Lazard is a place of continuous knowledge sharing, skill development and relationship building, where professionals grow and succeed together. Our entrepreneurial culture, flat structure and embrace of individual differences, allow creative ideas, original concepts, and unique perspectives to drive our business forward — and for careers to take flight.

AI is the central pillar of Lazard’s 2030 Growth Strategy. Our ambition is to become the leading AI-enabled independent Financial Services firm. This is to say we are interested in AI beyond the scope of operational efficiency. We see AI and Contextual Alpha as two primary factors underpinning our future success and better outcomes for our clients.

In light of this focus, we are looking for a Head of AI Operations to establish and drive the operating framework that enables the effective, scalable, and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence across the firm. This role will be responsible for translating AI strategy into durable operating capabilities, ensuring that AI models and tools are developed, tested, deployed, monitored, catalogued, supported and governed to the highest institutional standards. 

We’ll trust you to

• Define and own the end‑to‑end AI operational model, from development and evaluation through deployment, monitoring, lifecycle management, and retirement. Establish consistent operational standards across multiple AI initiatives, agents, teams, and business lines 
• Oversee production readiness for AI models, agents and applications, including testing, documentation, validation coordination, access control, documentation standards, deployment controls, and performance monitoring 
• Establish evaluation practices for generative AI applications, including measures for accuracy, relevance, and alignment with source material, harmful or inappropriate outputs, and performance against business requirements.
• Partner with engineering, data science, and security teams to threat-model and harden generative AI systems, including RAG applications and agents that use external tools or connect to firm data. Address risks such as prompt injection, jailbreaks, sensitive data exposure, unsafe outputs, and unauthorized access.
• Monitor the performance, data quality, usage, and security of AI systems in production; identify changes in behavior and coordinate remediation when needed.
• Implement governance practices for explainability, documentation, human oversight, and accountability, and support internal and external reviews of AI systems and processes.
• Coordinate AI operational matters across technology, business, and control functions, and provide senior management with clear reporting on operational health, risks, and dependencies.
• Build strong working relationships with advisory teams, investment professionals, and senior leaders to ensure solutions are fit for purpose 

You’ll need to have

• 10 or more years of experience leading technology operations, platform operations, or data/analytics operations
• Direct experience supporting AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics systems in production environments and the corresponding operational risk, controls, and governance principles 
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and operate effectively in complex organizational settings 
• Exceptional communication skills and influencing abilities to build consensus and drive collegial cross-functional collaboration
• Experience designing or leading AI or analytics operating models at scale strongly preferred
• Background in engineering, data science, or technology risk earlier in career 

What we offer

We strive to enhance the total health and well-being of our employees through comprehensive, competitive benefits. Our goal is to offer a highly individualized employee experience that enables you to balance your commitments to career, family, and community. When you work for Lazard, you are working for an organization that cares about your unique talents and passions, and will continue to invest in the development of your career.

We expect the base salary range for this role to be approximately $175,000 - $200,000 USD. Various factors contribute to determining the actual base compensation offered, including but not limited to the applicant’s years of relevant experience, career tenure, qualifications, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and relevant skills for the role. Base salary is one component of Lazard’s compensation package, which also includes comprehensive benefits and may include incentive compensation.

Representation at Lazard

Lazard is an intellectual capital business committed to delivering the best advice and solutions to clients. To achieve these objectives, we focus on attracting, developing and retaining the best talent. We believe that a workforce comprised of people who represent a wide array of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives creates a rich variety of thought that empowers us to challenge conventional wisdom, solve problems creatively and make better decisions.

Lazard was built on the premise that a multicultural firm can best serve a global clientele. As a global firm that has grown organically from local roots in different countries, we have a deep tradition of respecting and appreciating individual differences. Doing so has been core to our success for over 175 years. We are committed to sustaining an environment where every colleague is supported in their professional pursuits, can maximize their individual potential and contribute to our collective success.