Public Sector AI Lead

Job summary

The AI Unit’s role is to drive the UK’s Transformative AI (TAI) agenda. It is led by the PM’s AI Advisor, Jade Leung, and focused on three pillars: (1) AI Opportunities Action Plan implementation, (2) public sector adoption, (3) security, preparedness and societal resilience. This role will lead Pillar 2.

The No10 AI Unit leads flagship work to accelerate public sector adoption of AI, including the Prime Minister‑sponsored “Big Bets Programme”: a portfolio of citizen‑facing AI products designed to deliver visible impact within six months and scale nationally.

10 Downing Street’s Data Science team (10DS) exists to radically improve how decisions are informed by data, evidence and technology - and to provoke systems change across Whitehall by collaborating on the hardest delivery problems.

Job description

As Public Sector AI Lead, you will run a fast‑moving portfolio of flagship, citizen‑facing AI products aligned to the Prime Minister’s priorities.

The Big Bets Programme is delivered by the Incubator for AI (i.AI), reporting to DSIT and No10. You will be responsible for:

• Scoping projects that align with PM priority areas for public sector reform and are suited to adoption of frontier AI, working with 10DS, Policy Unit and Delivery Unit.
• Setting targets for speed of procurement, trials and scaling of AI projects within the programme, for i.AI and relevant Departments to meet.
• Managing multiple Departmental equities, and coordinating activity so that industry, engineering teams, policy teams and political teams align on a common set of objectives and delivery plan.

Success in this role would mean overseeing a portfolio of PM-priority AI adoption projects, seeing them through from scan, to pilot, to national scale. In doing so, each project should transform the citizen’s experience of a public services (e.g. filling out your taxes or finding a job).

You will also drive at fixing the key enablers for scaling AI projects in government, including strengthening AI capability in departments and more innovative and rapid procurement.

Person specification

If you are interested but feel you do not yet meet every requirement, please apply. We value enthusiasm, aptitude for growth, and diversity of thought and experience, along with the skills and experience outlined.

Main responsibilities

• Drive delivery of the current Big Bets (Education and Planning) to visible impact and a credible path to national scaling, including hand‑off conditions and accountability once departments take ownership.
• Scope the next wave, identifying projects that align with PM priority areas for public sector reform and are suited to adoption of frontier AI, working with 10DS, Policy Unit and Delivery Unit.
• Set targets for speed of procurement, trials, and scaling of AI projects within the programme, for i.AI and relevant Departments to meet.
• Managing multiple Departmental equities, and coordinating activity so that industry, engineering teams, policy teams and political teams align on a common set of objectives and delivery plan.
• Own a programme of work to accelerate the enablers of broader AI adoption in government, including bringing in external talent and utilising innovative procurement.

You will be able to competently demonstrate:

• Delivery track record across complex systems: you have delivered high‑stakes outcomes across multiple organisations (that could be applied to government departments, No10, HMT‑level stakeholders), maintaining pace and resolving blockers.
• Communication and judgement: Provided clear advice and briefing to senior leaders, demonstrating an awareness of when to escalate blockers quickly and proportionately.

The following are desirable (but proficiency can be developed in post):

• Exceptional prioritisation: able to cut through ambiguity, run a portfolio, define tight scopes, and make hard calls (stop/pivot) to protect outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead through matrix teams (engineers, commercial, evaluators, policy) and build trusted relationships with senior officials/advisers.
• At least one of:
  • Experience in No10 / Cabinet Office and in a delivery department (or equivalent high‑pace cross‑system roles)
  • Experience running AI/digital procurement or public service delivery.
  • External credibility: experience partnering with industry/frontier labs.

On the job training can be provided, however pay will be commensurate with technical experience as per the GDaD allowance process.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• The technical test will be based on the minimum criteria in the job description. Candidates who are invited to interview will be given details of the technical test in advance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £73,690, Cabinet Office contributes £21,347 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use the Personal Statement to explain how your skills and experience make you a suitable candidate for the role. You can refer to the skills/experience outlined in the job description.

Candidates successful at sift may be invited to a technical assessment held virtually as part of stage 1 interviews.

Candidates successful at stage 1 assessment will be invited to Behaviour and Technical based interview.

We may also offer ‘near-miss’ opportunities – meaning at the end of the recruitment campaign you may be offered a similar role at a lower grade.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – week commencing 9th April
Expected interview date/s – week commencing 16th April
Interview location - London (10 Downing Street or 70 Whitehall)

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via Cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 10 years' UK residency in the past 10 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

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 : datasciencerecruitment@no10.gov.uk
• Email : datasciencerecruitment@no10.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)