About the job

Job summary

Harnessing the game-changing power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Defence AI Centre (DAIC) drives UK Defence's strategic advantage to safeguard UK national interests both at home and abroad.   

As part of the DAIC, you’ll be a crucial member of a world-class, multi-disciplinary team at the forefront of ambitious, safe and responsible AI innovations. You’ll support our collaboration with international partners, government agencies, and industry leaders, to shape the future of AI for UK Defence.   

Joining the DAIC is an opportunity to help pioneer cutting-edge AI solutions to real-world problems, directly impacting the security and protection of the UK. You'll be part of a dynamic, supportive team, contributing to work that's unparalleled in terms of scale and significance. Nowhere is AI innovation more important than Defence – and our team is at the heart of it.  

Watch our video to find out more about the DAIC.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Job description

Working to the DAIC Head of HQ and Strategy, you will lead a small team of project and business professionals at the very heart of the Defence AI Centre, driving operational excellence to maximise our value to the Department. Responsibilities include: 

Lead, motivate, and champion the Portfolio & Governance team within DAIC HQ - currently 4 members of staff.  

Report and manage the full suite of DAIC in year activity as an Agile Portfolio across Strategic Command, DE&S, and DSTL:  

• Lead Defence AI Centre Performance reporting and provide an effective secretariat function to prepare and run all related Boards and Steering Groups.  
• Work with colleagues to drive finance, commercial, business change and Project, Programme and Portfolio Management (P3M) processes that provide timely, decision quality management information. 
• Use this information to make evidenced based recommendations on how to prioritise our portfolio against available resources to the Senior Leadership Team. 
• Run internal business processes and communications, that keep the wider organisation informed, supported, and motivated.  

Work with the DAIC Senior Leadership team to generate strategic forward plans for the DAIC, including: 

• Provide cogent plans into the Annual Budgeting Cycle – including through the Performance Cost Reviews, Options and Formal Change Request process. 
• Maintain a clear rolling workforce plan, right sourced from a mix of crown servants and external experts, and drive recruitment activity underneath this.  

Work closely with colleagues across Strategic Command, DE&S, and DSTL to continuously enhance the DAIC operating model to make it more effective and efficient: 

• Iteratively introduce new systems and processes that develop the capability and functional efficiency of the DAIC. This could be through applying technology, business improvement, or efficiencies by working as a more integrated team across the core Defence Digital, DE&S, and Dstl organisations. 
• Develop training and processes for DAIC staff to improve quality of commitment cases and other products that enable DAIC business. 
• Provide clear direction and a forward plan for an enduring change, business intelligence, and agile portfolio function to support ongoing value-driven delivery. 

Oversee the Communications function of the DAIC: 

• promote, and maintain the DAIC's image across stakeholders - including branding across the federation, maintaining an active social media presence, delivering regular targeted stakeholder communications etc. 
• development, ongoing maintenance, and implementation of the DAIC Engagement and Communication Plan; collaborating with DE&S, DSTL, Media Specialists, Industry Partners and MOD Head Office.  

Support wider DAIC implementation plans, with tasks allocated based on personal development and business need. As we move from ’start up’ to ‘scale up’ there is a range of areas that the postholder could be involved with as we develop a deeper understanding of where the DAIC can maximise value to Defence. 

For further information on the role and responsibilities, please refer to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework here;  Portfolio Manager

Person specification

We are looking for an experienced Portfolio and Governance Assistant Head to lead the team that reports on, directs, assures and champions the scope of DAIC activity.  

You will be responsible for leading a wide variety of work to maximise and assure DAIC’s delivery across its complex portfolio, providing full coherence across this complex enablement and delivery organisation. You must therefore have extensive experience in Enterprise Portfolio Management, ideally in a digital environment. 

Since this role is crucial to maintaining the reputation and credibility of the DAIC as an initiative through Defence and all the way up to the Cabinet Office, you must be a clear and influential communicator, adept at conveying complex AI and portfolio concepts with clarity and conviction while inspiring confidence and collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders. 

You must also demonstrate proactive leadership and initiative, driving innovative development within your team and fostering a culture of self-initiation. You must be comfortable using ‘Lean Start-Up’ methodology in a new team in Defence, and contributing to the development and implementation of strategic objectives, understanding the bigger picture and taking a flexible approach to ensuring the DAIC meets its strategic objectives. 

Above all, you will have an innovation mindset and be curious about how new technologies can enhance Defence outcomes while being motivated by the ambitious, safe and responsible use of AI in Defence. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,570 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience,.

To apply, please complete the CV and personal statement template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard. It is essential that your personal statement includes evidence of the following essential criteria and is no more than 1250 words.

Each one will be scored 1-7 and make up part of your overall score to assess your suitability to be invited to interview.

Your personal statement should provide a paragraph on each of the following, detailing your experience and suitability for each:

Essential Criteria

• Motivation to work in an organisation at the cutting edge of enabling Defence to harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence.  
• A strong track record of leadership that unites high performing teams, with the flexibility and personal resilience to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. 
• Proven ability to report on, manage, and forward plan across a dynamic portfolio, applying knowledge and experience to reduce ambiguity and make evidenced recommendations. 
• The ability to think systematically to drive and lead continuous organisational improvement across team boundaries. 
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to command credibility to build effective and inspiring collaborative partnerships across stakeholders.  

Watch: How to apply on CS Jobs: Guide and Tips

Presentation  

You will be asked to prepare and deliver a 10-minute (max) presentation on a role-related subject. Further details will be sent prior to interview. 

Qualifications

Candidates will either hold APM or other PM qualifications, or be willing to complete this qualification within the first twelve months after joining as part of their personal development plan. Ifthe qualification is already held, candidates will be expected to provide documentary evidence of achievement if called forward for interview. Equivalent qualifications will be considered. Please detail in your supporting statement what equivalent qualifications you hold. Please note all qualifications need to be in date. 

Candidate Brief

Learn more about this role, and other opportunities at the DAIC, by joining senior members of the team at our upcoming Candidate Brief.

The Brief is being held on the 8th January, from 17:30 to 18:30 GMT, and we would love you to join to discuss the Portfolio Manager Assistant Head role and much more. To confirm your attendance, please email us at ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk with your name, email address, and the role you're interested in.

If you're considering multiple roles, we're also hosting another Brief on January 12th, from 16:00 to 17:00 GMT. Feel free to attend both these sessions to explore all the available DAIC opportunities that interest you.

Equality and Diversity

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.

Hybrid Working

This role allows hybrid working but the post holder will have to regularly attend meetings on various sites. DAIC don't have a formal centre but have work space in Portsmouth (DSTL Portsdown West); Salisbury (DSTL Porton Down); Bristol (DE&S Abbey Wood); Corsham (Defence Digital); London, MoD Main Building and Scale Space, White City, West London. 

This role is suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity.  Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). DBS cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities.  Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions. 

Please note; 

Due to security and information access restriction, the role is only open to a sole British national.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk  

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.  

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.