Head of Artificial Intelligence and Data Capability

Job summary

The UK Hydrographic Office is seeking a senior leader to establish and lead its Artificial Intelligence and Enterprise Data capability.

Reporting to the Chief Digital Technology Officer, the Head of Artificial Intelligence and Enterprise Data Capability role is responsible for defining and delivering the organisation’s enterprise data and AI strategy, ensuring that data is governed, secure and fit for purpose, and that AI, automation and advanced analytics are adopted responsibly and effectively across the organisation.

The role is strategically important in ensuring UKHO can rely on high‑quality data and scalable AI capabilities to support safe maritime operations, regulatory compliance and long‑term commercial performance.

You will act as a head of profession for UKHO, provide leadership to multidisciplinary teams, and work closely with senior stakeholders to translate strategic intent into sustainable data platforms, clear governance and measurable business outcome.

Hybrid working

This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, working between the office in Taunton and remotely within the UK. However, as this is a leadership role, it is expected that the successful candidate will attend our offices at least 60% of their working time.

Additonal information

This role might be considered on a part-time basis of 4 days.

Job description

• The role holder will be part of the Technology SLT and will provide empowering and inspiring leadership across the division. They will be a line manager with direct and indirect reports and will provide leadership for AI and enterprise data capability strategies.

• Define, deliver and operationalise and translate corporate strategy into an actionable enterprise data & AI roadmap, aligned to UKHO’s strategies.

• Act as the head of the profession for enterprise data and AI related roles within the Government Digital and Data profession, providing leadership for data skills, capability development and professional standards.

• Will develop and own the AI strategy, ensuring alignment with business priorities, oversee the development, deployment, scaling of AI solutions, embedding an MLOps discipline.

• Implement and assure effective governance including standards, stewardship models, data quality controls, including compliance monitoring.

• Guide the development and evolution of enterprise data and AI platforms, including cloud alignment and integration standards.

• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to identify, prioritise and realise value through AI and data causes.

• Build, manage, coach and develop high performing multidisciplinary data & AI teams, and develop a clear and effective operating model.

Person specification

1. Experience of providing leadership for AI and/or data capability in a complex organisation to set direction, make decisions, ensure delivery and influence strategy. Balancing governance decisions with strategic requirements.
2. Experience of leading and developing multi-disciplinary teams to drive innovation and change to deliver organisational impact.
3. Experience in data quality and metadata management, including standards, monitoring and improvement.
4. Experience setting direction for cloud‑native data platforms, including strategic use of cloud services to enable data and AI capability.
5. Strong working knowledge of data protection and regulatory requirements, such as GDPR, the Public Records Act and related statutory obligations
6. Experience of providing senior oversight of enterprise data architecture, including defining integration patterns that support interoperability, scalability and long‑term sustainability.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £76,184, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £22,070 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.

We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.

See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How to Apply:

When you click "Apply Now" at the bottom of this page, you will be required to attach your anonymised CV for information, together with a 750 word supporting statement on the experience criteria below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 21st June 2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 29th June 2026
• Interviews: w/c 20th July 2026

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria:

• Experience of providing leadership for AI and/or data capability in a complex organisation to set direction, make decisions, ensure delivery and influence strategy. Balancing governance decisions with strategic requirements (lead criteria)
• Experience in data quality and metadata management, including standards, monitoring and improvement.
• Experience of leading and developing multi-disciplinary teams to drive innovation and change to deliver organisational impact.

Please ensure that you cover all the above criteria in your 750 word supporting statement.

Interview Criteria:

Civil Service Behaviours (Grade 6 level):

• Leadership - assessed by the presentation
• Changing and Improving (lead criteria)
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Process:

• Two stage interview - details below.
• You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted.
• First stage of the interview process, the shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a virtual MS TEAMS fireside chat with Alex Bowen, Chief Digital and Technology Officer prior to the panel interview. This is an opportunity for candidates to gain a deeper understanding of UKHO and the role. The fireside chat does not form part of the selection assessment or influence the selection decision.
• Second stage interview will be a face to face interview at out Headquarters in Taunton. It will be with a panel of 3 people and will last approximately 60 minutes. You will be required to give a 10 minute presentation a part of this interview. More details will be given in the Invitation to Interview email.

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. You will also need to apply for SC (Security Clearance), but you may be able to start your role before gaining this. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Residency Requirements:

SC – non reserved
This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and although open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area nationals, successful applicants will require a security clearance (SC) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 12 consecutive months within the last 5 years.

Eligibility

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Further information

Further Information

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Attachments

20210309 additional pay info Opens in new window (pdf, 163kB)UKHO Candidate Information Pack - Tech Opens in new window (pdf, 5887kB)