Head of AI Change and Adoption

The DESNZ Change & Transformation Directorate is shaping what it means to be a truly mission-driven department, reimagining our operating model, organisational capabilities, systems, processes, and structures to meet both immediate and long-term goals. We ensure that change across the department is coherent and manageable for our workforce, balancing competing demands on resources and enabling senior leaders to make informed decisions.

A key part of this transformation is harnessing the power of digital and AI technologies. While we're at the beginning of this journey, we're ambitious about the impact it can have and how it can supercharge delivery of our mission.

Our new AI Change & Adoption Team is all about maximising the value that DESNZ can get from AI. You'll work closely with organisational leaders to understand their challenges, identify opportunities for AI solutions, and help turn those opportunities into reality. You’ll also ensure that DESNZ has the governance and processes in place to ensure that our use of AI is safe, ethical and contributes to our departmental Mission.

You don't need to be a technical specialist, but you do need to be confident working alongside technical experts across functions. You'll spot where technology can radically improve how we work and then lead the business change needed to make it stick.

You'll be part of the Change & Transformation Directorate, working closely with our partners in the Chief Data Office and Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) Digital. ICS Digital are transforming our digital architecture, developing new tools and approaches, and serve as the expert digital centre for DESNZ.

We're committed to offering fulfilling, flexible roles. Our team includes people working compressed hours, part-time, and other patterns—and we welcome applicants seeking alternative arrangements. We also prioritise learning and development and expect all staff to actively grow their skills and share knowledge with colleagues., * Lead the AI Change & Adoption Team (AI-CAT) and mature it into a trusted and high-performing function.

• Design and lead the AI-CAT operating model that supports colleagues across DESNZ to identify use cases, converts use cases into action plans, and oversee delivery and benefits realisation.
• Own the AI Efficiency Delivery Plan including achievement of financial and non-financial benefits
• Design and implement the AI governance in DESNZ, including maturing the new Data & AI Committee and associated processes.
• Own the AI-related workstreams of the Mission DESNZ change programme, driving forward delivery and reporting to the programme manager.
• Oversee assessment of bespoke AI tools and transfer into BAU processes.
• Establish the structures, processes, and incentives that embed a culture of ethical and benefits-led AI use, including leading engagement with senior leaders and staff.

As a line manager, you will be responsible for working with your members of staff to define their objectives, as well as managing their development and performance., Candidates who meet the minimum benchmark may be placed on a Reserve List for consideration for similar roles, including those at a lower grade. Candidates who narrowly miss the benchmark and are not placed on the Reserve List may still be considered for an offer in a similar role at a lower grade.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify., * 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)
• 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

Do you have a valid Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Qualification, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants certification?, Do you have experience in Presentation skills?, * Experience in digital-enabled business transformation in a large organisation

• Experience in leading projects across multidisciplinary teams
• Experience in leadership of an expert function, ideally in digital, data or change
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to translate business needs between technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experienced in collecting, analysing, and presenting data to demonstrate the impact of transformation initiatives.

Desirable Criteria

• Technical knowledge of AI and digital development, * Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £66,925, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £19,388 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work at the forefront of current policy making decisions? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you. Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero. Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference. Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive. We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below. 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 D&I Strategy.