AI Programme Lead at Crown Prosecution Service, Remote/London, 6 Months, £Contract Rate

The CPS prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales. The CPS is independent, and they make their decisions independently of the police and government.

The AI Programme Lead is accountable for setting up, establishing, leading and delivering a programme of work for AI-enabled transformation initiatives, including the governance, prioritisation, reporting, risk management and dependency management needed to deliver measurable business outcomes.

The role will provide programme leadership across multiple workstreams, ensuring that AI opportunities are identified, prioritised, governed and delivered safely and effectively. The postholder will balance innovation with assurance, ensuring compliance with security, legal, ethical, data and governance requirements while supporting the organisation to realise tangible value from AI investment.

The AI Programme Lead will work across business, digital, data, technology, security, legal and commercial functions to create the conditions for successful AI adoption and sustainable organisational change.

As an AI Programme Lead your main responsibilities will be to:

• Set up, establish and lead the AI transformation programme aligned to organisational strategy.
• Develop and maintain programme plans, roadmaps, governance structures and delivery frameworks.
• Manage interdependencies across projects, products, suppliers and business areas.
• Report progress, risks and recommendations to senior governance forums and executive stakeholders.
• Translate organisational priorities into a pipeline of deliverable AI initiatives.
• Support the development and implementation of AI strategies, roadmaps and business cases.
• Ensure AI solutions are aligned to user needs, organisational priorities and operational requirements.
• Work with technical specialists to understand opportunities, limitations and risks associated with AI technologies.
• Validate and establish appropriate governance arrangements for AI initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, regulatory requirements and government standards.
• Build strong relationships with senior business leaders and delivery partners.
• Communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Lead organisational readiness and adoption activities for AI-enabled services.
• Ensure behavioural change, capability development and business ownership are embedded within delivery plans.
• Manage programme budgets and forecasts.
• Support procurement and supplier management activities.

Essential:

• Proven experience establishing and leading complex programmes or portfolios.
• Experience managing multiple delivery teams, suppliers or workstreams.
• Experience working within structured governance and assurance environments.
• Experience managing significant risks, dependencies and stakeholder groups.
• Experience delivering business change and organisational transformation.
• Demonstrable knowledge of artificial intelligence technologies and their practical application in organisations.
• Experience supporting or delivering AI, data, digital or technology-enabled initiatives.
• Ability to create clarity and direction in complex and evolving environments.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience of programme management methodologies and practices.
• Public Sector experience.

Desirable:

• Experience delivering Generative AI or Microsoft 365 Copilot programmes.
• Knowledge of Government Digital & Data (GDaD) frameworks and service standards.
• Qualification in programme or project management (MSP, PRINCE2, Agile, PMP or equivalent).
• Understanding of data governance, cyber security and AI assurance frameworks.
• Experience leading large-scale adoption and behaviour change initiatives.
• Experience working with Microsoft, Azure AI, Copilot or related technologies.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the CPS guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

The CPS guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.