DWP seeks AI and innovation leader to set strategy and advise ministers

The UK Department for Work and Pensions is recruiting an AI innovation and planning deputy director to set strategy, advise ministers, and promote responsible AI adoption. The role, based outside London with a salary of £86,000-£99,000, comes as the department increases AI spending to £25m annually.

Department for Work and Pensions wants new deputy director with track record on artificial intelligence delivery and governance, following appointment of a permanent secretary with mandate to harness the technology The Department for Work and Pensions is planning to recruit an artificial intelligence innovation and planning deputy director for the Core Digital Services division that runs its large shared digital platforms. The job will involve setting strategy for AI and innovation across the department, advising ministers and executive leadership on emerging technologies and promoting “responsible, ethical and impactful adoption of AI, embedding best practice and public trust at the heart of deployment”, according to an advert on the Civil Service Jobs website. DWP is looking for candidates with a track record of designing and delivering digital services and business strategies within large and complex organisations, as well as developing and embedding corporate governance for ethical use of AI. The job is in SCS Pay Band 1 with a salary of £86,000 to £99,000 plus Civil Service employer pension contributions. It can be based in Birmingham, Blackpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne or Sheffield, but not London. Like other SCS roles, the person accepting the job needs to spend at least three-fifths of working time either in the office or face-to-face with colleagues on official business. He or she will also have to agree the expectation of serving for at least three years, although this is not a contractual requirement. Related content DWP signs deal for AI tech to analyse citizens’ social posts in anti-fraud drive https://www.publictechnology.net/2024/01/18/society-and-welfare/dwp-signs-deal-for-ai-tech-to-analyse-citizens-social-posts-in-anti-fraud-drive/ DWP signs £100k deal for AI ‘sentiment analysis’ tech tool https://www.publictechnology.net/2026/05/18/society-and-welfare/dwp-signs-100k-deal-for-ai-sentiment-analysis-tech-tool/ DWP appoints £13.5m partner for data modernisation plans https://www.publictechnology.net/2026/05/12/society-and-welfare/dwp-appoints-13-5m-partner-for-data-modernisation-plans/ “We’ve accelerated our understanding of the potential uses of AI technologies through multiple proof of concepts, and helped establish a responsible AI framework and governance structure,” wrote Jacqueline Hanson, DWP’s digital director and chief technology officer in an information pack published with the job ad https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=cGFnZWFjdGlvbj12aWV3dmFjYnlqb2JsaXN0JnVzZXJzZWFyY2hjb250ZXh0PTE5MzUzNDM3NiZzZWFyY2hwYWdlPTEmam9ibGlzdF92aWV3X3ZhYz0yMDAxMjE3JnBhZ2VjbGFzcz1Kb2JzJm93bmVyPTUwNzAwMDAmb3duZXJ0eXBlPWZhaXImc2VhcmNoc29ydD1vcGVuaW5nJnJlcXNpZz0xNzgxMjYyNTUxLTNjZDRjMGI2OTRmNmYxN2E4NTVkMjQyNGJiMjUyNjFiNjIzMDRmYWQ . “Now it’s time to build on those foundations and truly unlock delivery at pace, embedding our capabilities into key departmental priorities and bringing a ‘test and learn’ mentality into our key delivery areas.” The department is holding an information session on Microsoft Teams at 1pm on Wednesday 24 June to provide an overview of the role and answer questions, hosted by Hanson and human resources director Beverley Morton. Applicants need to submit a CV and answers to three questions on their experience, track record in identifying opportunities and most significant leadership challenge by noon on Monday 29 June. The department plans to run assessments and interviews on Wednesday 15 July and Tuesday 28 July. DWP is already making significant use of AI, with around £25m of its £1bn annual IT budget spent https://www.publictechnology.net/2025/11/20/society-and-welfare/ai-funding-as-proportion-of-dwp-it-budget-grows-sixfold-in-fy25/ on the technology in the 2024-25 financial year according to a parliamentary written answer last November. It is using AI to highlight risks and spot themes https://www.publictechnology.net/2025/12/08/society-and-welfare/dwp-taps-ai-to-scan-25000-letters-a-day-and-identify-vulnerable-citizens/ in the 25,000 scanned documents and letters it receives daily and has claimed staff using Microsoft’s Copilot AI service save around 19 minutes https://www.publictechnology.net/2026/02/06/education-and-skills/dwp-claims-20-minute-daily-staff-gains-from-copilot-trials/ a day in a trial. April’s job advert for DWP’s new permanent secretary said that the top job would include responsibility for running a welfare system “that harnesses AI and emerging technologies to transform services to the citizen”. Earlier this month the department said that Dame Sarah Healey, currently perm sec of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, will take up the role on 1 August.