AI Specialist

Salary: £65,000 - 65,000 per year

Requirements:

• We are looking for an experienced AI professional with a strong track record of delivering advanced AI and analytical solutions in real-world organisational settings.
• You bring deep practical expertise in applied AI methods, including model selection, evaluation techniques, and the risks associated with deploying AI systems.
• You are confident working with modern approaches such as foundational models, with an understanding of their capabilities, limitations, and the governance and ethical considerations for responsible use.
• You have a solid academic background, or equivalent professional experience, in data science, AI, computer science, or a related discipline.
• You combine technical depth with sound professional judgement.
• You have experience coordinating and supervising the work of others on complex AI initiatives.
• You are comfortable writing and reviewing production-quality code, particularly in Python.
• You excel at working through ambiguity and applying structured thinking within policy, ethical, and assurance frameworks.
• You are skilled at producing high-quality analysis, clear recommendations, and robust risk assessments for senior stakeholders.
• You must have the Right to Work in the UK.

Responsibilities:

• We assess potential AI use cases, balancing value, feasibility, risk, and constraints to define viable solutions.
• We work closely with stakeholders across policy, digital, operational, and analytical teams to align AI initiatives with organisational priorities, standards, and delivery timelines.
• We translate complex technical concepts and trade-offs into clear, actionable recommendations for senior and non-technical audiences.
• We guide the design and delivery of AI solutions and coordinate activity across projects to manage priorities, dependencies, and resources effectively.
• We provide day-to-day direction to multidisciplinary teams and support capability development through coaching, quality assurance, and knowledge sharing.
• We review and challenge model design, experimentation approaches, and outputs to ensure solutions are robust, proportionate, and aligned with best practice.
• We contribute to the evolution of delivery standards, design patterns, and governance frameworks.
• We design and oversee structured experimentation to evaluate performance, suitability, and risk.
• We address complex technical and ethical issues as they arise.
• We ensure AI solutions deliver tangible operational or decision-support value and are implemented in a responsible, well-governed, and sustainable way.

Technologies:

• AI
• Excel
• Support
• Python
• Network
• SharePoint

More:

We are Homes England, the Housing and Regeneration Agency, and we believe affordable, quality homes in well-designed places improve peoples lives. As the governments housing and regeneration agency, we create thriving new places and transform urban areas by combining our powers, expertise, land, capital, and influence to bring investment to communities and get more homes built. We work in long-term partnerships across the public and private sectors, support sustainable homes and communities, and help build a more resilient, diverse, and innovative housing sector. This Lead AI Specialist role can be based in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, or Northstowe. We offer a competitive salary, 33 days annual leave, a 50/50 hybrid working model, a contributory defined benefit pension scheme, employee assistance and healthcare support, financial wellbeing support, discounts, professional body membership funding, and a collaborative environment within a diverse team of more than 1,000 professionals across 17 professions.

last updated 30 week of 2026