Data Ethics Lead (Ref: 15844)

Job summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

Data Ethics Lead – Maternity Leave Cover

Location: National*

Closing Date: 1st April 2026

Interviews: Week Commencing 13th April 2026 (this may be subject to change)

Grade: 7

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary: London: £63,343 – £73,875 (which may include an allowance up to £10,532) National: £58,511 – £69,150 (which may include an allowance up to £10,639)

Working pattern: Full time, Part time, Flexible working

Contract Type: 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP

The Role

We’re recruiting for a Data Ethics Lead here at Justice Digital, to be part of our warm and collaborative team.

This role aligns against theData Ethics Leadfrom the Government Digital and Data Framework

As the Data Ethics Lead, you will act as the organisation’s lead subject matter expert on data ethics, overseeing the delivery and continuous improvement of the MoJ AI & Data Science Ethics Framework. You will lead engagement across multidisciplinary teams, provide expert guidance on ethical risks, and support compliance with MoJ governance processes throughout the data science and AI project lifecycle. You will also manage a small team of three Data Ethicists, providing direction, professional development and pastoral support to ensure high quality, empathetic and reflective ethical practice. To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital please take a look at our blog.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation, adoption and iteration of the MoJ AI & Data Science Ethics Framework across Justice Data and other priority business areas.
• Provide oversight and sign off at key governance stages, ensuring risk tiering and mandatory processes are applied consistently.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders by offering clear, authoritative advice on ethical risks and opportunities relating to data and AI.
• Promote a culture of responsible innovation and ethical awareness across teams and communities of practice.
• Provide day-to-day line management, coaching and professional development for three Data Ethicists, supporting workload planning, prioritisation, wellbeing and quality assurance across the team’s portfolio.
• Foster an inclusive, psychologically safe team environment that encourages open reflection and diverse perspectives.
• Co-lead the day-to-day operations of the Data Ethics and Literacy Hub alongside the G7 Data Literacy Lead.
• Serve as the organisation’s lead on data and AI ethics.
• Enable expert consultation to project teams, policy colleagues, analysts and product owners on ethical risks, mitigation strategies and compliance requirements.
• Lead and facilitate ethics workshops, bespoke training sessions and panel preparation.
• Ensure high quality, consistent ethics assessments, case studies, and governance documentation.
• Champion the adoption and value of ethical data and AI practice across MoJ, through clear communication, training sessions, written guidance and community activity.
• Support SEOs to strengthen and steward the Data Ethics Champions Network, enabling capacity-building across professional networks.
• Maintain trusted relationships with senior leaders, delivery teams, and cross government partners.
• Develop and improve tools, templates and resources that support self serve ethical reflection and governance compliance.
• Guide the evaluation and monitoring of the impact of the MoJ AI and Data Science Ethics Framework, contributing to programme level improvements and evidence of value.
• Contribute to MoJ and cross-government learning initiatives, including case study libraries, training materials and community of practice resources.

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team, please read on and apply!

Person Specification

Essential:

• Experience leading or applying governance, assurance or risk processes in complex environments
• Working knowledge of data and AI ethics principles, risks and mitigation approaches
• Experience managing and developing people, supporting wellbeing, performance and professional growth
• Ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for BPSS clearance. We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor. Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace. The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Terms & Conditions

Please review our Terms and Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact digitalanddatarecruitment@justice.gov.uk

Person specification

Please refer to attached Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,511, Ministry of Justice contributes £16,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

How to Apply

Candidates must submit a CV and statement of suitability (750 words) which describes how you meet the requirements set out in the Person Specification above.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement

Application Guidance

In Justice Digital, we recruit using a combination of the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability andSuccess Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours during the assessment process:

• Communicating and influencing
• Managing a quality service
• Seeing the big picture

A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above. Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 1-hour panel interview held via video conference. Should we receive a high volume of applications, a pre-sift will be conducted before the sift. Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application. A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://www.jobtrain.co.uk/justicedigital/Job/JobDetail?JobId=1006

Attachments

Data Ethics Lead Job Description Finalised Opens in new window (docx, 24kB)