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General Information

Salary
The national salary is £71,381 - £80,419. London salary is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
18-Feb-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
14470

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

The Head of AI Product provides senior leadership and strategic ownership for the design, development and delivery of AI‑driven digital products within HMCTS. The role exists to ensure that AI products deliver measurable value for users and the justice system, are responsibly and ethically designed and deployed, and align with departmental strategy and public service priorities.

Working at the intersection of technology, policy and service delivery, the role leads multidisciplinary teams to take AI products from discovery through to live operation, ensuring continuous improvement of mature services. The post holder acts as the recognised authority on AI product management within their portfolio, shaping long‑term product vision, influencing organisational strategy, and embedding modern product practices across teams.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide strategic leadership and ownership of AI products, ensuring they deliver clear user, operational and organisational value.
  • Set and maintain a compelling product vision and roadmap aligned to HMCTS strategy, priorities and user needs.
  • Lead product discovery and delivery in parallel, ensuring evidence‑based decision making through continuous user research, experimentation and data analysis.
  • Prioritise product features and outcomes based on user needs, operational impact, technical feasibility, ethical considerations and value for money.
  • Work closely with engineering, design, policy, legal and operational colleagues to deliver high‑quality AI products at pace.
  • Act as the acknowledged subject‑matter expert for AI product management, advising senior stakeholders on AI capabilities, limitations, risks and opportunities.
  • Ensure responsible and ethical use of AI, including management of risks such as bias, hallucinations, transparency and explainability.
  • Embed robust product governance, performance metrics and operational support models to ensure products are scalable, resilient and sustainable in live service.
  • Line manage, coach and mentor product managers and other members of the product community, building capability and supporting professional development.
  • Contribute to wider organisational strategy by influencing standards, ways of working and best practice for AI and product management across HMCTS.
  • Represent HMCTS externally where required, engaging with cross‑government partners, suppliers and the wider AI and digital community.
  • You will work with Senior leaders within HMCTS and MoJ; Justice AI Unit colleagues; Digital, Data and Technology professionals; policy, legal and operational teams as well as cross‑government digital and AI communities; technology suppliers and partners; justice system stakeholders. Engagement is frequent and typically involves influencing, advising, negotiating priorities and representing HMCTS interests.

 Skills & Experience:

  • Proven ability to analyse and synthesise qualitative and quantitative data to inform strategy, prioritisation and performance measurement.
  • Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing across organisational boundaries without direct authority.
  • Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives for senior leaders and non‑technical stakeholders.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior leaders, policy teams and external partners.
  • Experience building high‑performing teams through coaching, mentoring and creating inclusive, psychologically safe working environments.
  • Demonstrated commitment to ethical, user‑centred and accessible design of digital services in a public sector or similarly complex environment.
  • You are a credible leader who can command the confidence and trust of senior leaders across the department. You are confident at setting direction and credibly driving forward priorities by delivering through others, outside of your immediate team. You are collaborative and capable of providing constructive challenge to others when required.

Essential Criteria:

  • Extensive experience delivering and scaling AI‑powered digital products that are widely adopted and deliver demonstrable user value.
  • Expert knowledge of modern product management practices, including agile and lean delivery, continuous discovery, experimentation and outcome‑based road mapping.
  • Strong understanding of AI technologies, capabilities and limitations, including large language models, data quality considerations, system prompting and mitigation of hallucinations.
  • Being able to address complex, ambiguous and high‑impact problems where there is no single clear solution.
  • Exercising significant judgement in defining product strategy, resolving trade‑offs inherent in AI systems, and determining appropriate levels of risk. Decisions shape product direction and influence wider organisational strategy, with only the most sensitive or precedent‑setting issues escalated to more senior leadership.
  • Budget planning and prioritisation, ensuring that investment in AI products delivers value for money and supports sustainable live services.
  • Confident leadership

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference - 14470

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Allowance

Roles will be recruited using a combination of Government Digital and Data (GDD) Profession Capability Framework and Success Profile Frameworks. Using GDD we will then determine if you will be paid an additional allowance on top of your basic salary

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews expected from 16th March but this could change.
Behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Technical
GDD Capability skill - Product Leadership
GDD Capability skill - Stakeholder Relationship Management
GDD Capability skill - Creating Value for Money

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Level of security checks required
DBS Basic
Security Clearance (SC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.