AI Lead

AI Lead

£95,000 per annum

Bedford

24-month FTC

Hybrid Working

The AI Lead reports to the Head of Data and Analytics and provides senior technical leadership, expert guidance and oversight for AI across MaPS.

The role acts as the organisation's senior AI specialist, setting technical direction, engineering standards and best practice for the design, development, deployment and operation of AI-enabled solutions. Working across technology, product, delivery, governance and business teams, the AI Lead will ensure AI capabilities are developed safely, effectively and in line with organisational standards, while supporting the wider adoption of AI across MaPS.

The AI Lead provides leadership to AI specialists, including the Lead Data Scientist, and serves as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders on AI technologies, opportunities, risks and implementation approaches. The role plays a key part in developing organisational capability, fostering innovation and ensuring AI solutions deliver sustainable value.

Key Responsibilities:

• AI technical leadership: Provide senior technical leadership for AI across MaPS, setting direction on AI technologies, engineering approaches, standards and best practice.
• AI solution assurance: Provide technical oversight and assurance for AI initiatives, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, maintainable and aligned with enterprise architecture, governance and security requirements.
• Organisational adoption and enablement: Support the adoption of AI across MaPS by helping teams identify opportunities, understand risks and implement AI solutions effectively.
• Cross-functional partnership: Partner with colleagues across Technology and Change, including Software Engineering, Data and Analytics, Architecture, Security, Product, Delivery and User-Centred Design teams to support successful AI implementation.
• Responsible AI and governance: Lead the application of responsible AI principles, ensuring appropriate controls, monitoring, assurance and risk management practices are embedded within AI solutions.
• Technology leadership and innovation: Monitor developments in AI, evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities to improve services, efficiency and customer outcomes.
• AI capability building: Develop AI capability across MaPS through coaching, mentoring, knowledge sharing and support for both technical and non-technical colleagues.
• Stakeholder engagement: Build strong relationships across the organisation, acting as a trusted advisor and communicating complex AI concepts, opportunities and risks in a clear and practical way.
• External engagement and horizon scanning: Engage with suppliers, partners and professional communities to maintain awareness of industry developments and emerging best practice.
• Team leadership: Lead and develop AI specialists, including line management of the Lead Data Scientist role, providing technical direction, coaching and support while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team environment.

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)

Recruitment Process:

• Initial Review: Our recruiter will review your CV. If it looks like a good fit, they'll reach out to arrange a call.
• Hiring Manager Review: If the recruiter thinks you're suitable, your CV will be passed to the hiring manager, who will decide whether to invite you for an interview.
• Interview: If selected, you'll participate in a virtual interview. This single-stage process allows you to demonstrate your skills and experience through competency-based questions. This will also require you to deliver a short presentation.

Career Development

In MaPS, we take career development seriously. We actively encourage and support applications from our existing MaPS colleagues. However, we do follow the Civil Service Commissioner recruitment principles, which means that you will be required to participate in a full, open, and fair process.

Reserve List

If you are successful at interview, we operate a reserve list where your details will be held for up to 6 months. Should a vacancy come available in that time with the same essential criteria, reserve list candidates will be offered that position with no further assessment required.

Application Process

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Money and Pensions Service via email: recruitment@maps.org.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Job Reference: MaPS01297

Close Date: 31/08/2026

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