21 Feb 2025
21 Feb 2025
Cambridge, United Kingdom
All Locations is a required field
Data Science
All Departments is a required field
Starting from £69,654 - dependant on experience
Permanent

Home
Vacancies
Programme Manager/AI

About the Role
Join NPL to manage a high-profile AI programme that is supporting the UK and bring real-world benefits. NPL works at a strategic level with government and academia to respond to UK challenges and priorities. Ultimately, our programmes translate cutting-edge science and engineering into impactful practical applications. Managing these programmes is a major responsibility – and a huge career opportunity.

As part of the Department of Data Science and AI, you will be responsible for managing strategic growth and delivery of NPL’s AI Programme and Digital National Quality Infrastructure Programme, working towards agreed objectives and outcomes. This will involve managing all aspects of programme governance, and ensuring individual projects are effectively defined, resourced and co-ordinated. This role is a unique opportunity to shape NPL’s future contribution to building confidence in AI and evolving the national quality infrastructure. Alongside the Leadership team, you will lead the business development, internal and external stakeholder management, and strategy and delivery of the two programmes. Effective stakeholder management and engagement will be central to the success of your programme. Your communication skills will also have a wider impact – we want you to champion programme management best practices throughout the organisation and support their wider adoption.

The individual will be based in our Cambridge Hub, and be the Department contact at the Hub, managing operations and engagement.
About You
What we are looking for:
- You must be an experienced programme manager who has successfully delivered large programmes and projects, ideally in a science or research-led environment.
- Highly proficient in programme and project management techniques, you will bring experience of getting the best out of teams operating in a matrix environment.
- You will have a practical grounding in ensuring teams have the right environment and tools to be successful and deliver their work.
- You have experience building programmes, teams, and/or workstreams, from the ground up, translating strategic steers into clear objectives, delivery plans and tangible outcomes.
- You will be adept at coordinating, monitoring and steering individual projects to ensure alignment with programme objectives.
- You will have the credibility and experience to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders at senior level.
- You will bring with you a strong network of contacts from across relevant stakeholder groups and sectors.
- A background in AI, healthcare and/or national quality infrastructure beneficial but not required.
- Familiarity with global standards development a plus.
- Your excellent communication skills will enable you to present complex information effectively to meet the needs of different audiences.
We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.
About Us
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.