Data and AI Ethicist Job at Government Digital Service

Data and AI Ethicist Job at Government Digital Service – The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government.

Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by:

1. joining up public sector services
2. harnessing the power of AI for the public good
3. strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
4. elevating leadership and investing in talent
5. funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
6. committing to transparency and driving accountability

Job description

We are looking for 3 G7 Data and AI Ethicists to lead the development of Responsible Data and AI within government. These roles align with Data and AI Ethicist from the Government Digital and Data Framework. The roles will cover the following workstreams:

Role 1 You will:

• lead the evolution of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS), a mechanism for enabling public sector organisations to publish information about algorithmic tools they are using which affect or interact with the public. The ATRS is mandatory in central government and receives significant external interest from civil society and media
• lead overarching ATRS/ algorithmic transparency policy, including evaluation of impact in partnership with the GDS Analysis directorate, and the development of new workstreams
• lead new and developing workstreams which might include: working with i.AI to create a ‘trust package’ for attaching to i.AI tools; developing existing work to put the ATRS on a legislative footing; development of centralised guidance on how to do public sector algorithmic transparency well

Role 2 You will:

• lead the implementation of the ATRS programme, providing leadership on xgovt and public sector engagement and delivery of ATRS records
• develop new approaches for socialising the ATRS xgovt and the wider public sector and extending and driving forward the policy mandate 

Role 3 You will:

• lead the creation of guidelines, standards, and frameworks for responsible AI and data practices
• lead the implementation and evolution of the Data and AI Ethics Framework through a range of communications, promotional activities, and engagement
• scope strategic opportunities to embed the Data and AI Ethics Framework in various cross-government processes and ensure that there is continuous improvement of our framework and self assessment tool
• chair a cross-government data ethics community of practice and lead our engagement and representation in other relevant networks

All roles will:

• build and maintain fruitful working relationships with other relevant GDS and DSIT teams, including i.AI, Public Sector AI Adoption, the AI Briefings Hub and the Digital Markets and Data Economy team. You will need to proactively look for synergies, as well as areas of potential duplication
• work across HMG and with external stakeholders to identify areas of opportunity and good practice to inform the ongoing development of data and AI ethics standards, guidelines, models and tools
• commission research and the development of cross-government models and future responsible data and AI innovation, as required
• provide support on wider Responsible Data and AI workstreams as needed

Person specification

We are interested in people who have;

• Experience of developing responsible data and AI ethics tools, standards and guidelines and translating theoretical principles into practice
• Strong policy development and/ or implementation experience in responsible AI, data ethics or related fields
• Experience of working with academics and external researchers – you can describe emerging theories and concepts in the field of data and AI ethics
• Demonstrable ability to communicate how data and AI ethical issues fit into the wider organisational context
• Strong experience of engaging credibly and confidently with senior technical and non-technical stakeholders, in both written and spoken formats 
• An ability to deliver at pace and work in a complex environment – you will need to be able to respond quickly and accurately to at times demanding requests from senior stakeholders, paying careful attention to detail
• Experience of independently driving forward a large piece of work and delivering impact through others.

Closing date: Thursday 23rd October 2025