Chief AI Officer

The Chief AI Officer will lead the Public Digital Authority’s (PDA) AI governance and strategy, ensuring the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across public services. This role bridges policy, technical assurance, and practical AI applications to deliver measurable benefits while maintaining appropriate safeguards and human accountability. The successful candidate will oversee AI initiatives from conception through deployment, ensuring alignment with legal and regulatory standards and promoting transparency, fairness, and explainability throughout the AI lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop risk-based AI governance frameworks, standards, and assurance processes within PDA’s remit, collaborating closely with Legal teams and relevant regulatory bodies.
- Define methodologies for impact assessment, transparency, fairness, explainability, human oversight, and continuous monitoring of AI systems.
- Collaborate with service owners to build and prioritize a government AI use-case portfolio, evaluating public value, feasibility, data readiness, costs, and risks to inform investment decisions.
- Guide AI projects from evaluation and pilot phases through to full deployment and ongoing monitoring, working alongside Technology, Data, Product, and Delivery Excellence teams.
- Establish evaluation criteria for AI models and suppliers, including generative AI, focusing on performance, safety, security, privacy, and operational suitability.
- Provide strategic advice on national AI capabilities, including compute resources, model strategies, procurement requirements, and ecosystem partnerships, aligned with approved policies and investments.
- Lead the development of the AI team and institutional capabilities, coordinating readiness assessments, facilitating knowledge transfer, and delivering executive reports on outcomes and risks.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Engineering, Technology Policy, or a related field. A relevant master’s degree is preferred. All qualifications must meet PDA’s recognition and equivalence standards.
- A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in AI, machine learning, technology strategy, or technology policy, including senior leadership roles.
- Proven leadership in AI strategy or governance with strong technical expertise to evaluate AI systems, deployment risks, and assurance evidence.
- Demonstrated success in leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing executive stakeholders on responsible AI investment and adoption.
- Experience managing complex technology initiatives through implementation, achieving measurable outcomes and establishing ongoing governance frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Experience leading AI strategy, governance, or transformation projects within consulting, professional services, or technology advisory environments is highly desirable.
- Equivalent leadership experience in government agencies, technology companies, regulated organizations, or specialist firms will also be considered.
- Familiarity with public-sector AI applications, generative AI evaluation, and internationally recognized AI risk frameworks is advantageous.

Key Competencies

Expertise in AI governance, applied AI judgment, model evaluation, risk assessment, policy translation, portfolio prioritization, capability building, and stakeholder leadership is essential for success in this role.

Applications are encouraged within 15 days of the job posting date; however, submissions will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.