Director of Policy & Skills, National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD)

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date:  24 May 2026

We are looking for a talented individual to join our team at the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD) as Director of Policy and Skills, where you will play a strategic role in developing the Centre’s activities. As Professor / Professor of Practice, you will bring real-world expertise and your professional network to further develop our offer to students.

The National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD) is hosted by Newcastle University and bridges the data skills gap by transferring practical data science and AI expertise directly into the UK workforce through collaborative projects.  To date, it has delivered over 170 successful projects with organisations of all sizes, across a wide range of sectors, delivering measurable impact to the regional economy. It also contributes to teaching at Newcastle University by offering experiential learning programmes to students based on these real-world projects.

NICD is hosted by Newcastle University - a world class research-intensive university that delivers teaching and learning of the highest quality.  Data and AI is an area of academic strength in the university, from fundamentals in computer science and mathematics through to applications, for example, in health, finance and manufacturing, and NICD is integral to harnessing this to deliver real-world impact, innovation and skills with external stakeholders.   The university plays a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England.  Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Newcastle University recognises the growing importance of AI and data science across the range of programmes it offers to students. As well as expanding their technical knowledge of AI, the university is using NICD’s expertise to enhance its offer to students, giving them the knowledge and skills that employers need for harnessing AI to address business opportunities. You will contribute to the development, delivery and evaluation of these NICD-informed programmes and modules.

We are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment. This position is available immediately and is offered on a full-time basis.  We would be happy to discuss arrangements for flexible and/or blended working. We appoint on merit and particularly welcome applications from groups that are currently underrepresented in Technical Professional Services. 

For any specific questions relating to the job advert, please get in touch:

Georgia Carr – georgia.carr@newcastle.ac.uk

Barry Hodgson – barry.hodgson@newcastle.ac.uk

For more information about the National Innovation Centre for Data, please click the following link: https://ncl.ac.uk/nicd/

The Role

This is an excellent opportunity to join the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD) as a member of the leadership team. You will play a strategic role in developing the Centre’s policy and skills activities to improve productivity through data and AI by transferring ‘in demand’ data science and AI skills into UK organisations. You will also lead on exploiting NICD’s expertise to develop Newcastle University’s skills offer to students.

You will develop close links to national and regional AI skills policy makers so as to influence national and regional government policy. In this role you will enable them to develop more effective policy by exploiting NICD’s track record in delivering impactful skills programmes to industry. You will lead bids to secure investment in programmes that deliver against AI Skills policies. Where investment is secured, you will design programmes and manage their delivery by the NICD team. A key aspect of delivery will be the integration of rigorous, pedagogically-sound programme evaluation to ensure continuous improvement and to influence future policy development.

You should be professionally qualified with a PhD or equivalent experience, along with significant relevant management and leadership experience in the area of data and/or AI skills. You will be able to show proven success in this area.  You will act as a visible role model and must have experience of fostering a culture of trust and mutual respect to develop teamworking and leadership skills across a team.  You must be excited to challenge yourself and to continue to advance your own skill set as well as supporting the development of the team’s skill set. Energy, enthusiasm, empathy and a positive attitude are essential to the success of the role.

Key Accountabilities

This role is responsible for: 

•    Developing close links to national and regional AI skills policy makers to influence national and regional government to develop more        effective policy by exploiting NICD’s track record in delivering impactful programmes
•    Leading bids to secure significant project income from programmes that deliver against these policies (e.g. NE AI Growth Zone, NE Local growth plan, NE Strategic Economic Plan, Invest 2035, AI Opportunities Action Plan)
•    Designing AI skills programmes aimed at industry and the public sector
•    Contributing to the development of Newcastle University’s offer to students by exploiting NICD’s expertise delivering real-world projects
•    Managing the delivery of AI Skills programmes by the NICD team
•    Developing and monitoring KPIs for skills programme delivery, ensuring all key deadlines are met
•    Leading on rigorous, pedagogically-sound programme evaluation and reflection to enable continuous improvement and influence the development of future policies
•    Acting as a senior communicator and main AI policy and skills interface for NICD both internally and externally
•    Representing NICD and disseminating information about its work at regional, national and international events
•    Contributing to long term strategic plans for the Centre 
•    Contributing to daily operational management for the Centre
•    Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required
•    An ability to work inclusively and respectfully with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, recognising the value that diverse perspectives bring to an academic community and balancing the rights of academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law.

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

•    Highly developed knowledge and experience of the principles, theory, and practice of AI Skills Programmes for industry and the public sector
•    Experience of contributing to AI skills policy development
•    Experience of delivering industry-focussed skills programmes
•    Proven ability to lead, empathise, inspire confidence and foster a team-based approach
•    Successful experience at building and maintaining effective and trusted relationships with stakeholder groups within the organisation and externally
•    An emerging or established external profile in AI skills, for example, engagement through regional and national events

Attributes and Behaviour

•    An articulate, confident and politically adept communicator, ready and able to deal with difficult situations and to challenge where necessary;
•    Takes the initiative to ensure future success by developing new ideas and approaches

Qualifications

·    Professionally qualified with a PhD or equivalent experience, along with significant relevant management and leadership experience in the AI Skills area. You will be able to show proven success in this area.
 

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29272