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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, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Cardiff, Westminster
Region
London, National
Closing Date
01-Sep-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
9003

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Head of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance

Grade & Salary Band

Grade 6  - Exact offer depends on location and capability

Business Area / Department

Ministry of Justice — Justice AI Unit, Service Transformation Group

Location(s) & Flexible Working

Petty France, London or Cardiff (regular travel to London will be required). Full-time with hybrid and flexible working by agreement.

Role Purpose

As the lead for AI governance within the Justice AI Unit, reporting to the Chief AI Officer, you will design, implement, and oversee robust yet proportionate frameworks, policies, and controls that ensure every AI system remains secure, ethical, and lawful.

You will be a key member of the Government Security Profession and work closely with colleagues across security, risk, data, and digital functions. Your role includes briefing senior leaders on strategic AI risks, guiding delivery teams throughout the AI lifecycle, and championing best practices across the justice system.

Your remit spans governance, ethics, technical guidance and assurance, and incident response. You will play a central role in embedding a culture of excellence in safe and responsible AI across the department and its partners.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

MoJ is one of the largest government departments, employing over 90,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9.5 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

The Service Transformation Group

The Justice AI Unit is part of the Service Transformation Group (STG). STG is unique, both within the Ministry of Justice and across government. This group unites our digital, data, transformation, security, project and AI capabilities with some of our largest operational agencies, including:

  • The Legal Aid Agency, which provides funding for legal advice and representation for those who cannot afford it.
  • The Office of the Public Guardian, which supports people in planning for someone to make decisions on their behalf should they lose capacity.
  • The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which compensates victims of violent crime for physical or psychological injuries.

Service Transformation Group leads on delivering key justice services, and the modernisation and digital transformation of the MoJ. The Groups ensures that our public services are simple, seamless and offer excellent value for money.

The Justice AI Unit

The Justice AI Unit is an interdisciplinary team of AI specialists, designers, technologists, and operational experts working to embed responsible AI across the justice system. We exist to enable the safe and ethical adoption of AI across the MoJ and its agencies, helping our people deliver faster, better and more human services.

What the Justice AI Unit does:

  • It sets and continually evolves a department-wide AI vision and Action Plan in partnership with policy, data, digital and operational teams etc. as well as external R&D bodies;
  • It enables end-to-end governance and ethics by maintaining a unified AI portfolio, developing risk-assessment tools and embedding expertise into assurance processes;
  • It scans, pilots and scales core AI digital products and acts in an advisory function to other changes teams.
  • It acts as an AI talent incubator, recruiting, developing and embedding specialists across justice programmes to maximise opportunities and share best practice;
  • It supports the equipment of the MoJ workforce through a Justice AI Academy that offers literacy programmes, technical training, certifications, adoption support and culture-change initiatives;
  • It informs the shape of the future workforce by assessing AI’s impact on users and staff and informing proactive workforce planning and re-skilling;
  • It partners with experts across government, industry, and academia to encourage innovation and growth.

Guided by a strong public-service mission, the Justice AI Unit lives by three core values:

  • Human-centered - We will design AI tools that augment human capabilities and put the needs of users first
  • Put safety and fairness first - AI in justice must work within the law, protect individual rights, and maintain public trust.
  • Innovative - We embrace responsible innovation, constantly exploring new ways AI can improve justice outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

As Head of AI Governance, you will:

  • Create and apply AI governance and risk management frameworks that fit with the wider digital and corporate governance strategies. You’ll make sure risk management is built into key processes like developing AI systems, designing secure architectures, and purchasing technology.
  • Look after the organisation’s AI risk register, making sure all AI-related risks are clearly recorded, with the right controls and actions in place to handle them.
  • Lead department-wide AI risk reporting, making sure senior leaders understand key risks, and working across teams to manage issues that affect multiple parts of the organisation.
  • Ensure that all AI activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, standards and policies (e.g. Government Security Framework, DSP-SOR, ISO 27001, NIST AI Risk Management Framework, the EU AI Act, and the UK AI White Paper) and staying on top of changes in legal and policy landscapes to keep the organisation up to date.
  • Build ethical, secure, and safe practices into every stage of the AI model lifecycle and supplier chain and make sure the MoJ’s AI and Data Ethics Framework is put into practice.
  • Oversee the technical and security testing of AI platforms and models to ensure they meet required standards.
  • Lead checks on suppliers and their AI systems, making sure they meet MoJ’s expectations for responsible and secure AI use.
  • Manage the publication of ATRS (Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard) reports, promoting openness and accountability in how AI is used.
  • Advise senior leaders and teams across the department on AI governance, risk, and compliance matters.
  • Build and lead a small expert team that focuses on reviewing high-risk AI models, assessing suppliers, and helping teams across the MoJ follow AI policies and standards.
  • Be an active participant in the cross-government AI and security community and contribute to collective capability building.

Person Specification / Essential Criteria

The successful postholder for this role will be able to demonstrate:

  • Good knowledge of AI ethics, bias, and data protection law.
  • Experience of leading information risk assessment and corporate risk management in complex landscapes.
  • An ability to apply accreditation and assurance methodologies, with an understanding of protective security principles and risk management.
  • Experience of secure ML ops, model lifecycle and Large Language Model assurance
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and provide tailored advice on how to remedy identified risks by proportionately applying security, data protection and ethical capabilities, using published guidance, standards.

Qualifications

  • Current SC clearance (or willing to obtain).
  • CISSP or CCP Security & Information Risk.

Desirable Criteria

  • Track record with regulators or government bodies.
  • AI governance certification
  • Experience of red teaming
  • Knowledge of public-sector procurement rules
  • ISO 27001, ISO 31000, ISO 27005 and ISO/IEC 42001
  • Awareness of corporate governance good practice standards
  • Knowledge of system architectures and ability to articulate the impact of vulnerabilities on existing and future designs
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 - 9003

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

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
Expected week commencing 22nd September 2025
Behaviours
Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)