Research & Development Officer (AI Policy & Assurance)

Manchester Metropolitan University – School of Computing, Maths and Digital Tech

Based at: Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester

The role:

An exciting opportunity has become available for a graduate to work on a full-time, 8-month Research & Development Officer (AI Policy and Assurance) position on a project to design, develop, test, and help to embed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assessment Tool that will allow users who do not have an AI background from across the public sector to understand the risks, limitations and opportunities of AI tools and technologies.

Employed and supported by an academic team from the University, you will work in a hybrid model, both from home and at Greater Manchester Combined Authority's (GMCA) premises in central Manchester, as part of their Information & Data Governance Team.

To find out more about GMCA, go to https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk.

Please note that this role requires your current right to work in the UK to be valid until the end of the contract.

Qualifications we require:

• An honours degree (or equivalent experience) in AI, Ethics of AI, Public Policy or a related subject.
• A Masters/Doctorate level qualification in a relevant field is desirable.

Application requirements:Essential Skills:

• Capable of conducting high-quality research and producing scientific manuscripts and technical reports.

Desirable Skills:

• Technical, operational, and commercial knowledge of AI technologies (ChatBots, LLM, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, etc.).
• Knowledge of relevant legislative frameworks relating to Data Protection and Information Governance (UK GDPR, Data Protection Act, EU AI Act, etc).
• An understanding of public sector services, ideally within the Greater Manchester Region, and the obligations of the sector (Freedom of Information Act 2000 Equality Act 2010).

Attributes:

• Commitment to excellence and leadership potential.
• Able to lead on the design and development of an AI Assessment Tool.
• Independent and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Able to communicate complex, technical information to non-expert personnel.

Experience

• Working in industry with experience of supporting/leading project delivery.
• Exposure to good scientific practice relating to ethics and community engagement.

Benefits:

• Prospect of research publications at reputable venues and with societal impact.
• Opportunity of a permanent position with the company: 70% of host companies make a permanent job offer to post holders at the end of similar projects.

For an informal discussion, please contact Sam Attwood s.attwood@mmu.ac.uk or Dr Matthew Shardlow m.shardlow@mmu.ac.uk.

To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter (of no more than 2 pages) via our application portal (available on the university's website, accessed by the 'Apply' button). Only applications with a covering letter will be considered.

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the Job Description for that vacancy.