Overview
Defence Artificial Intelligence Lead Product Manager role at the UK Ministry of Defence. The Defence AI Centre (DAIC) advances the power of Artificial Intelligence to give the MOD a decisive edge. You will work with a multi-disciplinary team across the MOD, international partners, industry, and academia to shape the future of UK Defence AI. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Location and travel
MOD Corsham, Westwells Road, Corsham; MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol; MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London. Regular travel to other sites is required.
Job details
As Lead Product Manager, you will deliver AI capabilities to support the UK’s Defence strategy. You will lead a small and evolving portfolio of AI Pathfinder projects, covering both battle-space and business-space applications of AI. Pathfinders are typically early-stage products (incubators, accelerators, or pilots), with successful ones scaled or delivered by partnering with existing Defence teams as needed.
You will own a product portfolio or end-to-end service, driving quality, value, and strategic direction. You’ll shape and refine product strategies, contribute to programme delivery, and provide strategic leadership across your product area. Responsibilities include managing products and people, evolving the high-level road-map, supporting programme management activities, and mentoring junior Product Managers.
This role also involves:
- Balancing resources between teams to align with product vision and maximise value.
- Collaborating with service management teams to ensure timely access to products and information.
- Developing and executing product strategy to keep stakeholders informed and focused on customer value.
- Engaging users to maximise product use across its life cycle.
- Working with problem owners to ensure solutions meet needs.
- Encouraging continuous improvement of the delivery team.
You will play a key role in stakeholder alignment and delivering innovative, mission-critical outcomes that harness AI for Defence.
Person specification
We seek a motivated individual to lead AI products where established patterns do not yet exist. The candidate should be adaptable, perceptive, and able to operate in a fast-paced, complex environment. Experience in hybrid delivery environments where Agile interfaces with other methodologies (e.g., Waterfall) is essential, along with a user-focused approach and a track record of applying Digital Service principles to maximise value and efficiency. A clear understanding of the distinction between product development and bespoke customisation, plus experience in strategic planning, product ownership, and maintaining user focus, are required.
When submitting your CV, highlight relevant career history and experience. Refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a statement of suitability (max. 1,250 words) demonstrating the essential criteria listed below:
- Explain your experience incubating digital products from start to scaling or live service.
- Explain your experience managing competing deadlines while keeping the team engaged and aligned with priorities.
- Describe your ability to build partnerships with customers and delivery teams, achieve consensus, and drive strategic decisions across stakeholders.
Experience with AI, machine learning, or data science products or programmes adds value, but relevant candidates without this background are encouraged to apply.
Candidate assessment and process
Online Civil Service Judgement Test is required as the first stage. If successful, you will be invited to submit a full application with a personal statement (max 1,250 words) and CV. The interview will assess Behaviours (Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Bigger Picture) and Technical Skills (Lifecycle Management), with a 5-minute presentation on a topic related to the role. Interviews are conducted via Microsoft Teams. A security clearance (developed vetting) is required, and successful candidates must meet security and nationality requirements listed below.
Security and nationality
- Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet the security requirements (developed vetting).
- This job is broadly open to UK nationals, certain Commonwealth nationals, EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and their family members with settled or pre-settled status, and other eligible groups as defined by the Civil Service nationality requirements.
How to apply and contact
To express interest, please refer to the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework for Product Manager information: dd at capability framework link in advert. For direct inquiries, contact the DD Talent Acquisition Team at with your name and CSJ job reference number. You may receive a Microsoft Teams invitation to join the candidate brief.
Other vacancies in the Defence AI Centre are listed on Civil Service Jobs, including roles in Business Relationship, Business Analysis, Data Science, and other product management areas.
Notes
Please ensure you read all sections of the advert and allow sufficient time to complete the test and application process.
