Chief Artificial Intelligence & Data Officer - Ministry of Defence - SCS2

Location

Location can be flexible within reason; for example, working or being based at other Defence sites within the UK (subject to line manager agreement and site availability / capacity). All work-related travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed except when travelling to your base location, in line with departmental policy.

The nature of this role will require regular travel to London on a weekly basis. If you are not based in London, you will still be expected to travel to London for regular business meetings. This role offers a combination of office and home-based working with regular attendance expected in the office. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 80% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance.

About the job

Job summary

The MoD Chief Artificial Intelligence and Data Officer (CAIDO) is an exceptionally high profile, complex and critical role for Defence. It operates as the overall Functional leader for AI, Data & Information requiring a strong, highly skilled, experienced and resilient leader. You will lead, cohere and optimise through a federated functional operating model focusing on driving delivery, enabling strategic advantage, and unlocking productivity through the use of AI, Data & Information capabilities. As the CAIDO, you will demonstrate and drive strategic thinking and thought leadership internally and across government, industry, our partners and allies. The role will spearhead and direct the step change in AI thought leadership, cohered via the Defence AI Centre (DAIC) and coordinate the execution of strategic intent for developing and leveraging world leading AI capabilities. You will also drive the continued development of data and information capabilities to underpin optimised military outcomes, departmental effectiveness, and productivity.

In addition, the role includes accountability as the Director for Digital Business Partnering for all non-military operational demand areas of the organisation. As the CAIDO, you will act as the senior leader for AI, Data, and Information capabilities and communities, ensuring that skills and talent pathways are developed. You will ensure Defence can effectively leverage external market and industry resources through the most efficient models. You will also serve as the overall head of communities of practice for AI, Data, and Information capabilities across the Defence Enterprise, as well as with partners, allies, and industry.

Job description

The leadership accountabilities of the post are summarised:

• Direct and Lead across MoD to define and deliver prioritised AI, Digital, Data and Information capabilities, outcomes and effects, achieving authentic role modelling, the right behaviours and establishing a culture for success.
• Chief AI Officer: Accountable for the realisation of AI strategic intent across the MoD, to achieve Defence Investment Plan outcomes. Direct the Defence Artificial Intelligence Centre (DAIC) and overall Functional AI leadership of MoD federated AI function. Accountable for directing and optimising funding, resources and capabilities to achieve growth and acceleration of AI capabilities to deliver advantage and value, including deployment for advantage in military operational settings. Drive enduring across Defence AI governance and coherence aligning to policy and ethics. Drive strategic implementation ensuring all AI enabling capabilities (digital and data readiness) are defined, prioritised, delivered and funded. Optimise the use of pilot methodologies and frontier technologies, driving innovation and achieving scale for maximum effect. Lead Defence in accessing and leveraging expert industry partners and allies to bring cutting edge AI capabilities into operation and are coordinated to ensure the effective scaling and exploitation of AI for maximum impact and effect. Accountable for overall AI portfolio and oversight of investment, coherence and growth. Accountable for setting AI mandatory standards and holding delivery and user exploitation areas to account. Lead the use of AI and automation capabilities to realise measurable Departmental and Military efficiencies, optimised decision support and productivity gains. Direct and lead the required uplift in AI skills across the MoD.
• Chief Data & Information Officer: Define the Data & Information forward strategy to realise SDR ambitions and Defence Investment Plan priorities, governing and cohering this across the Defence Enterprise, partners, allies & industry. Direct the delivery and implementation plan to drive value from the effective and accelerated exploitation of Defence data and appropriate external data. Ensure Data & Information are governed, managed, organised and available for use wherever they need to be analysed, integrated and exploited, delivering on “data as a strategic asset”. Oversee the governance & coherence of Data & Information standards, policies and frameworks. Lead on data & information architecture in close partnership with Defence Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Set the Strategic intent and plan for Data & Information Defence Common Services, Delivery Platforms and Operations to realise Defence’s data exploitation ambitions.
• Director Digital Business Partnering: Direct and lead the digital business partnering resources across the Department of State, National Armaments Director Group, and as required the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. Direct effective engagement to maximise and optimise the development and exploitation of all digital capabilities in support of the Digital Function operating model. Focus resourcing on Defence Investment outcome priorities and priority programmes with leading edge business and digital analysis capabilities. Define, direct and lead the establishment of a new Business Partnership engagement model. Establish a leading-edge capability ensuring strategic digital intent is realised across the Department. Ensure digital capabilities are well understood and effectively delivered to achieve Defence outcomes, supporting accelerated digitisation priorities and their intended effects. Drive and hold users to account for the expansion and use of all digital capabilities across the Department to ensure digital estate optimisation and efficiencies.

Person specification

• Highly respected thought leader and innovator in AI, Data, and Information: Proven expertise operating at the most senior levels across industry and/or government, with a strong track record of setting strategic intent and delivering cutting-edge capabilities across large-scale, complex organisations.
• Experienced leader in fostering agile delivery: Skilled in creating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability to drive organisational success.
• Expertise in digital programme delivery: Demonstrable leadership in managing complex AI, Data, and Information projects, programmes, and portfolios, ensuring measurable outcomes.
• Proven success in large-scale transformation: Complex transformation with an ability to foster a strong culture of delivery and accountability. Skilled in aligning strategy with transformation, operational delivery, organisational design and processes, translating outcomes into action.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills: Adept at collaborating, influencing, and inspiring confidence at all levels.
• Sound strategic judgement: Skilled in providing strategic advice, constructive challenge, and support to subject matter experts.