Chief AI Officer

Role Purpose
Lead PDA’s AI governance capability and strategy for responsible adoption of AI in public services. Connect policy, technical assurance and applied use cases so that AI initiatives deliver measurable benefits with proportionate safeguards and effective human accountability.

Key responsibilities

• Develop risk-based AI governance proposals, standards and assurance processes within PDA’s assigned remit, coordinating with Legal and relevant regulators.
• Define approaches to impact assessment, transparency, fairness, explainability, human oversight and monitoring throughout the AI lifecycle.
• Build and prioritise the government AI use-case portfolio with service owners, assessing public value, feasibility, data readiness, cost and risks before recommending investment.
• Guide applied AI initiatives from evaluation and pilots through deployment and monitoring, working with Technology, Data, Product and Delivery Excellence.
• Establish evaluation requirements for AI models and suppliers, including generative AI, covering performance, safety, security, privacy and operational suitability.
• Advise on national AI capability, compute and model strategy, procurement requirements and ecosystem partnerships, subject to approved policy and investment decisions.
• Build the AI team and institutional capability; coordinate readiness assessments, knowledge transfer and executive reporting on outcomes and risks.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Engineering, Technology Policy or a related discipline. A relevant master’s degree is preferred. Qualifications must meet PDA’s applicable recognition and equivalence requirements.
Essential experience

• At least 15 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience across AI, machine learning, technology strategy or technology policy, including senior leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated leadership of AI strategy or governance and sufficient technical depth to assess applied AI systems, deployment risks and assurance evidence.
• Evidence of leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing executive stakeholders on responsible AI investment and adoption.
• Experience taking complex technology initiatives into implementation with measurable outcomes and ongoing governance.

Desirable experience
Leadership of AI strategy, governance or transformation engagements in consulting, professional services or technology advisory is desirable. Comparable leadership in government, technology companies, regulated organisations or specialist firms will receive equal consideration. Public-sector AI, generative AI evaluation and familiarity with internationally recognised AI risk frameworks are advantageous.
Key competencies
AI governance; applied AI judgement; model evaluation; risk assessment; policy translation; portfolio prioritisation; capability building; stakeholder leadership.