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.
Essential Skills and Experience:
- AI leadership: Significant experience providing leadership for AI initiatives, establishing technical direction, engineering standards and best practices across an organisation.
- AI expertise: Strong understanding of AI, data science, machine learning, generative AI and related technologies, including their opportunities, risks, limitations and practical application within business environments.
- Technical leadership: Experience leading the design, development, deployment and operation of AI-enabled solutions, providing expert guidance to technical teams and stakeholders to deliver measurable value.
- Responsible AI and governance: Strong understanding of the governance, risk, security and assurance arrangements required to support responsible development of AI products.
- Stakeholder engagement: Proven ability to influence, challenge and build strong relationships across technical and non-technical communities, acting as a trusted advisor on AI-related matters.
- Partnership working: Experience working across product, technology and business functions to deliver AI-enabled change and achieve shared outcomes.
- Innovation and continuous improvement: Experience evaluating emerging technologies and translating new developments into practical opportunities that deliver organisational value.
- Capability building: Experience developing organisational capability through coaching, mentoring, knowledge sharing and supporting colleagues to apply AI effectively and responsibly.
- Leadership: Strong leadership skills with experience developing people, supporting technical specialists, creating collaborative high-performing teams and operating effectively as part of a senior leadership team.
- Communication: Excellent communication and engagement skills, with the ability to explain complex AI concepts, opportunities and risks in an accessible and practical way for different audiences.
About Us
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is based in Bedford, in a recently renovated modern office. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to become an integral part of a dynamic organisation, working to help people across the UK.
At the heart of the Money and Pensions Service are our values – caring, connecting, and transforming, which are the foundation of our success. They permeate every area of our work and define all our business relationships and the way we work with each other. We’re not only looking for the best people to come and work for us, but we need people who align themselves with our values:
- Caring
We care about our colleagues and the people whose lives we are here to transform.
- Connecting
We will transform lives through our ability to make positive connections.
- Transforming
We are committed to transforming lives and making a positive societal impact.
Our Inclusive Working Environment
By fostering our values, we are immensely proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created. The diversity of our people is a strength that we embrace and wish to build upon, so we are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds. We work hard to ensure that we have a progressive approach to inclusion, equity, and belonging. We really do want our colleagues to “bring their whole selves to work.”
Our colleague and ally networks encompass LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, women’s health, men’s health, ethnicity, and diversity.
What We Offer
- Generous Annual Leave – 30 days plus Bank Holidays
- Pension scheme – contributions matched 2 to 1 (employer contribution up to 10% of your salary)
- Interest-free loan for season tickets for buses and trains
- Cycle to work Scheme
- Subsidised eye tests & flu jabs
- Life assurance scheme
- Give as you earn scheme
- Employee assistance programme (EAP)
- PAM Assist and PAM Life scheme (Wellbeing)
- Enhanced family and sick pay
- Paid volunteering (2 days a year)
- Recognition Scheme
- Discounts portal to numerous retailers
Flexible Working
At MaPS, we take pride in our flexible approach to work. As standard, we work on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in the office per month. Hybrid working is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and our headquarters in Bedford will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business needs, but personal and other relevant circumstances will also be considered. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
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: [email protected]. 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
