Project Manager (Data Science and AI)

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This is an exciting opportunity to join HMRC’s CDIO (Chief Digital & Information Officer) data science team working in Data Studios, the project management arm of CDIO Data Science and AI delivering analytical solutions to business problems. These solutions could be anything from generative AI, traditional AI, or power platform projects.

Job description

You will manage a group of small-medium AI projects with responsibility for all project management aspects. This includes project documentation and governance per project.

You will schedule and facilitate agile ceremonies e.g., requirement gathering workshops, show and tells etc.

You will facilitate conversations to ensure data protection impact assessments (DPIA) or equivalent data operational processes are completed in partnership with data scientists and business subject matter experts for compliance purposes.

You will also identify and look to remove obstacles/risks and/or escalate issues outside of your control.

You will have responsibility for the ongoing management of project benefits, including their identification, monitoring, and regular updating to reflect current progress in alignment with the data science workflow app and working in partnership with the customer.

Our project managers lead, develop and motivate multidisciplinary teams to deliver value. They create the right environment for teams to succeed, helping them self-organise and create a culture of learning, collaboration, and transparency. We use a range of project methodologies, mainly within an agile setting, to monitor and forecast Studio work as well as create a motivating environment to focus on what is most important to the delivery for project success.

You will lead a Data Studio team throughout the data delivery lifecycle, to deliver value and change, usually within the context of wider AI projects and programmes. For example, you will support the responsible delivery of AI solutions, ensuring ethical considerations and compliance with relevant standards and policies are embedded throughout the project lifecycle.

Regarding your own personal development, you will have opportunities to develop your skills in AI/agile delivery, and leadership through collaboration with experts and access to learning resources, all of which are considered very important for all CDIO Data Science colleagues.

There will be occasional travel involved with this role.

Person specification

• Support the delivery of AI, data science and analytical projects from initial idea through to implementation and handover.
• Act as a key link between business stakeholders and technical teams, ensuring business needs and objectives are clearly understood.
• Facilitate workshops, requirements gathering, sprint planning, stand-ups, retrospectives and show-and-tell sessions.
• Help assess, triage and prioritise incoming requests based on suitability, impact, strategic fit and urgency.
• Work collaboratively with data scientists, engineers and business stakeholders to define requirements and validate technical feasibility.
• Maintain project documentation, governance and assurance activities, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and processes.
• Identify, manage and escalate risks, issues, dependencies and blockers that could impact delivery.
• Monitor project progress, benefits and outcomes, supporting continuous improvement and benefits realisation.
• Support testing, stakeholder engagement, solution adoption and transition into live service or business-as-usual operations.
• Promote a collaborative, agile and customer-focused culture while contributing to knowledge sharing and team development.

Essential Criteria

• Proven track record of working in a complex fast paced project/programme environment, together with a working knowledge and understanding of project management methodologies.
• Ability to communicate and influence at ease, both written and verbally, flexing style to suit the target audience, providing constructive challenge where required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to build trusted relationships and credibility, to engage confidently, work collaboratively with wide ranging and diverse stakeholders and colleagues to generate common focus.

Desirable Criteria

• One or more qualifications that supports your ability to manage projects and teams e.g. Certified ScrumMaster, Association of Project Management qualifications.
• Experience in one or more of the following disciplines: Business analysis, benefits management and change management.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies such as GenAI.
• Project experience specifically in IT and/or data projects.
• Familiarisation with Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.

Further Location Information

Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a ‘Further Location Preferences (optional)’ field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,544, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £13,194 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension – We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service