Head - Data Science and AI
Application closing date: 07/11/2025 at 23:59
Interviews will take place: Week commencing 17/11/2025
Location: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle or Northstowe.
A bit about the role...
This is a rare chance to drive forward the potential of data science and AI in a fast growing, national organisation with real social purpose.
As the Head of Data Science and AI, you will be leading and developing a small ambitious group of data scientists, working closely with the director of Data and Analytics and other data professions to develop and grow the team, support the agency's ambition to lead in data innovation and mature the agency's ability to work effectively with data, analytics and AI services.
With the potential of AI and data science rapidly developing, you will be driving forward innovation and deployment of AI, analytical and data science capabilities in order to change how the agency operates.
Reporting to the director of Data and Analytics, your will be responsible for line managing a team of data scientists, identifying and developing AI skills and sourcing external partners and suppliers to work with. You will be leading key data delivery projects working across professions, supporting the data and analytics leadership team to establish the strategic direction for the agency's data ambitions and champion the role of data science and AI can provide. The role will also be responsible for ensuring the maintenance and development of any delivered services and would support the migration of moving legacy to a modern data approach.
Critical areas of work will include establishing a clear vision and direction for our data science and AI capabilities. You will prioritise use cases that demonstrate clear benefits and good value to the agency, while also horizon scanning to identify emerging technologies that can advance the agency's agenda. You will help establish standards and the appropriate ethics framework and ensure activity aligns with appropriate governance to ensure responsible and effective delivery.
Examples of proposed work areas include: tools and processes to better understand and extract value from unstructured data; text and address matching models; monitoring construction and delivery through satellite imagery and computer vision and making internal information more accessible through chat bots.
With a combination of strong technical and communication skills, you will develop working relationships across the agency, working closely with both business areas and technical/change teams, ensuring that data science and AI activity is effective and well adopted across the agency. You will liaise with other pockets of analytical expertise across the Agency, in financial modelling, research, and geospatial analytics, to collaborate and increase use of the new tooling available to us. You will develop connections across other government departments and suppliers to share best-practice and identify opportunities for joint-working, which could support the delivery of shared goals, better outcome for citizens, reduce duplication and maximise the impact of our data initiatives.
A bit about you…
You will be an experienced leader in the data science and or AI space able to demonstrate how you have pushed innovation to tackle business-wide problems, and have overseen the design and deployment of solutions through to production. You will have a strong technical understanding of the wider data, data infrastructure and data engineering landscapes and will have the ability to communicate both with the business - to ensure data is integrated to support their work - and technical teams - to support delivery of data activity.
Delivering on a mission as bold as ours isn't always easy. You will be resilient and comfortable managing stakeholders at a senior level. You will enjoy working in an innovative, motivational and engaging way and be able to negotiate and persuade. You will also be able to develop those around you encouraging individuals to develop the skill sets required to optimise delivery across the directorate.
As an experienced data and AI professional you'll understand how to manage colleagues, work collaboratively with partners and coordinate with suppliers. You should be able demonstrate you can work with others in an inclusive way and should be a champion for driving innovation through better use of data, analytical and AI technologies.
Who are we?
Homes England: The Housing and Regeneration Agency
We believe that affordable, quality homes in well-designed places are key to improving people's lives. As the government's housing and regeneration agency, we create thriving new places and transform urban areas, combining the full breadth of our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more homes built.
How? We form long-term partnerships that bridge the gap between the public and private sector to meet local needs and aspirations. We use our influence to champion the creation of sustainable homes, communities and places that are brilliantly designed for the people that live there now, and in the future. And we use our funding and support to build a more resilient, diverse and innovative housing sector, helping new entrants in the market, encouraging modern methods of construction and design, and promoting the utmost attention to building safety.
Together with our partners, we're accelerating the pace of house building, remediation and regeneration across the country, as we seek to deliver ever more affordable homes in places people are proud to call home for generations to come.
What we offer...
As well as a competitive salary and 33 days annual leave, we are committed to 50/50 hybrid working. We'll support you, wherever possible, so that you don't miss out on what matters to you.
Membership of the Homes and Communities Agency Pension Scheme, which is a contributory defined benefit scheme with the amount you receive on retirement based on your salary and years worked at the Agency.
Internal applicants: please note that if you are successful, the salary you are offered will be in accordance with our pay policy. You can find details on the HR Hub SharePoint site.
If you ever need a bit of extra help, we have a great employee assistance programme, financial wellbeing support and access to many great discounts with leading high street names.
Our range of network groups are also there to support you to be yourself at work and play a key role in helping shape our future.
If you are a member of a professional body, we'll pay for your membership and once you get your digital kit, you'll be good to go.
Homes England are a geographically diverse community. We work to a 50/50 office/ home based model. Moving back into our office environments has enabled us to utilise our space and time together in the most collaborative way.
We would encourage all applicants to apply as soon as possible as we may close vacancies early should we receive a high number of applications.
We also encourage you to apply using the full application option as opposed to quick apply, this is especially important if you would like to indicate to us that you would like to be considered under the disability confident scheme.
You will be required to have the Right to Work in the UK and Homes England do not offer visa sponsorship. If your application is shortlisted to interview we will require you to provide proof of your Right to Work in the UK at this stage.
The interview process will take place in two stages. The first stage will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. Candidates who are successful at this stage will then be invited to a second stage interview, which will take place in person at one of our listed office locations. Please note that we are unable to reimburse travel expenses for attending the in-person interview.
Your application needs to be in your own words, reflect your personal understanding and experience, and must not have been generated by AI tools such as ChatGPT.