The Challenge
A Toronto-based technology company whose AI-powered products were gaining significant traction recognized an urgent need to formalize their approach to AI ethics and compliance as they prepared to expand into the European Union market where the AI Act was taking effect. The organization sought to create and fill their first AI Ethics and Compliance Officer position, a role that would carry responsibility for developing ethical AI frameworks, ensuring compliance with emerging AI regulations in both Canada and the EU, conducting algorithmic impact assessments, and representing the company’s AI practices to customers, regulators, and the public. The challenge was identifying a leader for this emerging role where no established career pathway or talent pool existed. The ideal candidate needed to combine technical understanding of AI systems including machine learning models, training data, and algorithmic bias with regulatory expertise spanning multiple jurisdictions, practical ethics framework development experience, and the communication skills to make complex AI governance concepts accessible to diverse stakeholders. The nascent state of AI regulation meant the company needed someone who could not only interpret existing rules but also anticipate regulatory evolution and engage constructively with policymakers.
The Solution
Lock Search Group recognized that this emerging role required creative candidate sourcing beyond traditional talent pools. Our Toronto and Montreal teams collaborated on a search that targeted professionals from adjacent fields who possessed transferable expertise and demonstrated interest in AI governance. We identified four primary candidate pools: technology lawyers with AI and data privacy specialization who were seeking to move from advisory to operating roles; AI researchers with applied ethics focus who might be attracted to industry positions where they could implement their academic work; privacy and compliance officers from technology companies who had expanded into algorithmic accountability; and policy professionals from government or think tanks with AI governance specialization who were seeking private sector opportunities. Our assessment approach evaluated candidates across technical AI literacy including ability to engage meaningfully with machine learning concepts, regulatory expertise with particular attention to EU AI Act provisions and emerging Canadian AI legislation, ethics framework development capability, and stakeholder engagement skills. We developed scenario-based interviews exploring how candidates would approach specific AI ethics dilemmas and regulatory compliance challenges. Given the regulatory focus of the role, we conducted reference checks with particular attention to candidates’ reputations with regulatory bodies and their ability to maintain productive relationships while advocating for company positions.
The Outcome
The cross-disciplinary search identified 34 candidates whose backgrounds suggested relevant expertise for this emerging role. Through comprehensive assessment including technical AI literacy evaluations and regulatory knowledge testing, we presented five finalists representing different professional pathways to AI ethics leadership. The successful placement was a former Senior Policy Advisor from a federal government department focused on AI governance who had contributed to developing Canada’s voluntary AI code of conduct and had subsequently earned a technical certification in machine learning to deepen her understanding of the systems she was helping to regulate. Her combination of regulatory expertise, technical literacy, and established relationships with Canadian policymakers provided immediate value, while her deep familiarity with the EU AI Act from intergovernmental coordination positioned her well for the company’s European expansion. Within her first year, she developed a comprehensive AI ethics framework adopted across all company products, completed EU AI Act compliance assessments for all systems planned for European deployment, established an external AI ethics advisory board including academic experts and civil society representatives, and successfully navigated the company’s first AI regulatory inquiry in Canada. The placement demonstrated Lock Search Group’s ability to source talent for emerging roles by identifying transferable expertise across traditional professional boundaries.