Domain Expert - Responsible AI, Ethics & Assurance in London

About Methods: Methods is a 100M+ IT Services Consultancy who has partnered with a range of central government departments and agencies to transform the way the public sector operates in the UK. Established over 30 years ago and UK-based, we apply our skills in transformation, delivery, and collaboration from across the Methods Group, to create end-to-end business and technical solutions that are people-centred, safe, and designed for the future. Our human touch sets us apart from other consultancies, system integrators and software houses - with people, technology, and data at the heart of who we are, we believe in creating value and sustainability through everything we do for our clients, staff, communities, and the planet. We support our clients in the success of their projects while working collaboratively to share skill sets and solve problems. At Methods we have fun while working hard; we are not afraid of making mistakes and learning from them. Predominantly focused on the public-sector, Methods is now building a significant private sector client portfolio. Methods was acquired by the Alten Group in early 2022. Alten is a global engineering firm with approximately 57,000 employees specializing in engineering and IT services.

Domain Expert Role Overview

Location: UK-based, hybrid working. Regular travel may be required to client sites, Methods offices and practice/community events.

Role summary: The Responsible AI, Ethics & Assurance Specialist helps clients adopt AI and data-driven technologies safely, lawfully, ethically and transparently. This role is critical for organisations where AI may affect citizens, customers, employees, regulated processes, safety-critical decisions, operational risk or public trust. It is especially relevant to public sector, energy, defence primes, aerospace and other sectors where AI adoption must be explainable, assured, governed and defensible. Methods is appointing seven Domain Experts, each matched to a core strategic offering.

• Client-Side Transformation Partner
• User-Centred Design & Delivery
• Cloud Transformation & Modernisation
• Data Intelligence & Applied AI
• IT Operations & Service Excellence
• Enterprise Platform Adoption & Value Realisation
• Cyber Resilience

These experts will be the thought leaders and subject-matter authorities for their domains, shaping propositions, guiding client delivery, and strengthening Methods’ position in the market.

Requirements:

• Lead Responsible AI, ethics and assurance engagements for public-sector and regulated-industry clients.
• Design Responsible AI frameworks covering fairness, accountability, transparency, explainability, contestability, privacy, safety, security, robustness, human oversight and monitoring.
• Conduct AI and algorithmic impact assessments, including ethical risk, equality considerations, privacy, data protection, model/system risk, operational risk and potential harm.
• Define AI assurance approaches, including assurance cases, evidence requirements, model/system evaluation, testing, validation, monitoring, escalation and post-deployment review.
• Advise clients on AI governance structures, including AI boards, risk triage, decision rights, accountability models, approval gates and lifecycle controls.
• Support documentation and transparency activities, including model cards, system cards, assurance packs, risk assessments and Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard submissions where relevant.
• Review AI-enabled products, vendor tools, automation solutions, decision-support systems, data science models and GenAI applications.
• Work with Data Scientists, Engineers, Architects, Cyber specialists, DPOs, SIROs, legal teams, commercial teams, service owners, operational risk leads and safety/security stakeholders.
• Support sales and bid teams by shaping Responsible AI, AI assurance, AI governance and ethical technology propositions.
• Build internal Responsible AI capability through playbooks, templates, communities of practice, training, mentoring and delivery assurance support.

Essential experience:

• 8+ years’ experience in Responsible AI, AI assurance, data ethics, AI governance, model risk, technology risk, information governance, privacy, digital assurance or related advisory work.
• Evidence of measurable impact, such as enabling safe AI deployment, reducing risk exposure, improving transparency, securing governance approval, strengthening regulatory confidence or preventing harmful implementation.
• Experience acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders on complex technology, data, AI, ethics, risk or governance issues.
• Experience in consulting, public sector, regulated industries or large complex organisations.
• Strong understanding of the AI lifecycle, including use-case selection, data preparation, model/system development, evaluation, deployment, monitoring and retirement.
• Experience translating ethical, legal, regulatory or assurance principles into practical delivery controls.
• Experience working with sales and bid teams to shape responsible AI, assurance, governance or risk propositions.
• Experience developing communities of practice, guidance, training material, assurance templates, playbooks or professional development material.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain AI risk and assurance clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in highly regulated environments where trust, transparency, auditability, privacy, safety and risk management are critical.

Specialist competencies:

• Responsible AI framework design.
• AI assurance and assurance case development.
• AI and algorithmic impact assessment.
• Ethical risk assessment and mitigation.
• AI governance operating models.
• Model/system evaluation and monitoring.
• Bias, fairness and harm assessment.
• Transparency, documentation and explainability.
• Human oversight and decision accountability.
• AI risk communication for senior stakeholders.

Sector experience we would value:

• Public-sector AI, digital, data, analytics or automation programmes.
• Energy, utilities, critical national infrastructure or operational technology environments.
• Defence primes, aerospace, aviation, space, complex engineering or safety-critical environments.
• Financial services model risk, insurance, healthcare, policing, justice or other high-impact decision-making environments.

Desirable experience:

• Familiarity with the UK Government Data and AI Ethics Framework, Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard, AI Playbook for the UK Government, UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, Equality Act 2010 and sector-specific regulatory expectations.
• Experience with ISO/IEC 42001, ISO/IEC 23894, NIST AI RMF, model risk management, safety case development or equivalent AI governance and risk frameworks.
• Experience evaluating GenAI, LLMs, Microsoft Copilot-style tools, automated decision-support systems or AI-enabled SaaS products.
• Privacy, security, risk, audit or assurance certifications such as CIPP/E, CIPM, CRISC, ISO-related qualifications or equivalent.
• Experience working with procurement, legal or commercial teams on responsible AI sourcing and vendor assurance.

This role will require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected. Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.

Benefits:

• Autonomy to develop and grow your skills and experience.
• Be part of exciting project work that is making a difference in society.
• Strong, inspiring and thought-provoking leadership.
• A supportive and collaborative environment.

As well as this, we offer:

• Development access to LinkedIn Learning, a management development programme and training.
• Wellness 24/7 Confidential employee assistance programme.
• Social - Breakfast Tuesdays, Thirsty Thursdays and Pizza on the last Thursday of each month as well as commitment to charitable causes.
• Time off 25 days a year; plus the opportunity to purchase extra leave per year.
• Pension Salary Exchange Scheme with 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution.
• Life Assurance of 4 times base salary.
• Private Medical Insurance which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included).
• Worldwide Travel Insurance which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included).