AI Strategy and Transformation Lead in Manchester

Help shape how AI is governed, deployed, and trusted within one of the world’s richest health data environments. Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how organisations analyse, interpret, and use information. At UK Biobank, where researchers across the world access one of the most richly characterised health datasets ever created, the opportunities and responsibilities surrounding AI are significant. This is a rare opportunity to join at a pivotal moment.

As AI Strategy & Transformation Lead, you’ll help shape how UK Biobank approaches AI governance, policy, and transformation across the organisation and wider research ecosystem. From enabling responsible innovation to helping safeguard the future use of health data, the work in this role will have genuine long‑term impact. This newly created role will drive how UK Biobank approaches AI strategy, governance, and transformation.

You’ll work across major organisational initiatives, helping balance innovation with responsibility, supporting the development of informed AI governance policy while also helping shape how AI technologies are deployed internally and across the wider research community. Given the scale and maturity of UK Biobank, there is often little precedent to follow. That’s part of what makes this role so interesting.

You’ll collaborate with colleagues across data & technology, policy, governance, and external stakeholders spanning academia, industry, and government. The role requires someone who can comfortably bridge technical, strategic, and policy conversations, combining hands‑on understanding of AI technologies with the ability to influence wider organisational direction.

You Will Be Responsible For:

• Leading development of iterative and informed AI data governance policy, supporting the latest research while also balancing the new data security and management risks that the latest models present.
• Cultivating and maintaining effective relationships with senior stakeholders across the AI and health data landscape, building and delivering productive partnerships with UK Biobank collaborators to develop ambitious but responsible use cases for AI development and deployment.
• Monitoring scientific, policy, technological and regulatory developments in AI through horizon scanning and expert engagement to identify best practices and emerging approaches and, in time, to develop an ambitious and coherent organisational AI strategy.
• Providing expert advice on the strategic, technological, and policy considerations associated with AI to support wider organisational priorities, for instance, philanthropic fundraising or technical procurement.

Is this you? To Be Successful, You Will Have:

• Hands‑on delivery experience leading AI transformation, digital change programmes, or adoption of emerging technologies in a regulated, public sector, or health environment.
• Proven experience analysing complex and competing technical, legal and strategic factors, with the ability to interpret and apply them in policymaking and practical settings.
• Ability to engage confidently with technical and scientific specialists in areas such as data architecture, AI/ML research, cloud technologies, and digital platforms.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging and influencing multidisciplinary and senior stakeholders, including at boards, committees, etc., through presentations, clear and concise reports and other appropriate styles.
• Degree or higher degree in public health, health, policy, legal, scientific, data analysis or other disciplines related to the role.

Working hours are 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with some flexibility and hybrid working available. Located in London or Manchester. We actively welcome applications from people with disabilities, long‑term health conditions, neurodivergent candidates, and those with diverse thinking styles. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and in the workplace so that everyone can perform at their best. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact Tommy Wilson at Jobs@ukbiobank.ac.uk so we can support you.

Your Wellbeing Matters to Us:

Our wellbeing score on Indeed is rated as 77% (High) reflecting how people experience working here day‑to‑day. Colleagues often highlight a strong sense of purpose, supportive team culture, and the opportunity to grow. There’s a real focus on learning, flexibility, and feeling valued, whether that’s developing new skills, contributing ideas, or building a career within Data & Technology.

Benefits:

• 26 Days’ Annual Leave – Plus Bank Holidays
• Holiday Buy Scheme
• Birthday Leave
• USS Pension Scheme
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Enhanced Family Leave
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan
• Professional Subscriptions
• £500 annual training budget
• Subsidised Canteen Lunches
• Employee Discounts Portal
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Annual Flu Vaccination
• Life Assurance Cover