AI Infrastructure Project Manager

Realising the full potential of artificial intelligence depends on the infrastructure we build to support it. Compute – the processing power behind every AI breakthrough – is far more than a technical resource; it is a critical enabler of scientific excellence, industrial competitiveness, and sovereign capability.

The Government has committed to implement the recommendations from the AI Opportunities Action Plan, that includes the expansion of AI Research Resource (AIRR) capacity by at least 20 times by 2030 – as compute needs grow, such expansion is critical if the UK is to keep pace. We have already started delivering on this in launching the Isambard-AI supercomputer at Bristol, building on the Dawn facilities at Cambridge. These form part of the AIRR, a national cluster of advanced computers that will provide world-leading AI specialised compute capacity to public researchers, academia, and industry.

We are looking for two experienced and highly organised Project Managers to lead project management within this major national programme focused on the development, deployment, and governance of AI infrastructure. You will oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of projects within our AI infrastructure portfolio. Your work will be critical to ensuring our infrastructure investments are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with strategic goals. With AI infrastructure as the backbone of modern AI systems, you will be working at the intersection of technology, public interest, and geopolitics to shape the future of AI infrastructure ecosystems. This is a complex and exciting programme with substantial commercial, policy and programme delivery opportunities.

As a Project Manager for this AI infrastructure programme, you will: •

Thrive in a fast-moving environment, creating direct and high impact outcomes. • Enjoy cross-functional collaboration with technical, analytical, commercial, delivery and policy colleagues to drive infrastructure initiatives from concept to completion. • Be skilled in instigating and maintaining structure and project management discipline., • Create and lead a programme of projects to deliver the agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints. • Build project and programme plans and apply appropriate project principles to deliver stated objectives. Track and report delivery against milestones. • Coordinate the development of business cases for AI infrastructure investments. • Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions and escalate, as appropriate. • Ensure benefits are identified, understood, measured, tracked and owned. Ensure appropriate Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place. • Provide key reports and support effective governance and decision making. • Develop and maintain effective communication with your team and wider stakeholders, building collaborative relationships., We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Risk and Issue Management
• Governance, 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 Science, Innovation and Technology 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.

DSIT 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).

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT 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

• Track record of successfully delivering large and complex projects to a high standard from project initiation to close. • Proven experience in identifying risks, assessing impact, and developing mitigation strategies. • Adept at managing change; adjusting plans as project evolves. • Proven skills at prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines under pressure. • Strong communication, with skills in clear and concise communication with stakeholders – identifying and managing diverse needs and expectations. • Proven experience in navigating government business case development and assurance processes • Hold a recognised Foundation or Practitioner qualification in Project Management, such as APM PFQ or PMQ, Prince2, Agile PM, and/or NISTA accreditation or similar.

Desirable Criteria

• Proven experience in navigating commercial issues and government procurement exercises • Knowledge of AI infrastructure policy issues and ability to quickly understand technical information and apply to policy questions and programme design., A recognised Foundation or Practitioner qualification in Project Management/ Project Delivery qualification such as APM PFQ or PMQ, Prince2, Agile PM, and/or NISTA accreditation or similar., * Delivering at Pace

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service, This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills., 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 .

Pulled from the full job description

• Childcare
• Annual leave
• Employee discount
• Company pension, £44,620 - £52,090 SEO - National: £44,620 - £49,065; London: £47,355 - £52,090 (pro rata for part-time working) This role is eligible for a Project Delivery profession allowance of £1,625 for candidates who meet the qualifying criteria. To qualify, candidates must hold a Project Delivery qualification that aligns with this role. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP, Alongside your salary of £44,620, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £12,926 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 Science, Innovation and Technology 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.

At DSIT we’re all about improving people’s lives by maximising the potential of science & technology.

We accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, research and development.

We use technology for good by ensuring new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK, with the benefits more widely shared.

We are driving forward a modern digital government which gives citizens a more satisfying experience and their time back.

We do all this to enable the Government’s 5 national missions: kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a clean energy superpower, taking back our streets, breaking down barriers to opportunity and building an NHS fit for the future.

Above all, we focus on improving people’s lives. Whether it’s researching new treatments for disease, developing better batteries, reducing burdens through better public services, keeping children safe online, and much more, outcomes for citizens are at the heart of what we do.