Advert

Internal Redeployment Only - Project Specialist (AI & Data Science)
Hartree Centre Cardiff Hub
School of Computer Science & Informatics

An opportunity has arisen to join the Hartree Centre Cardiff Hub and School of Computer Science and Informatics. You will be joining Cardiff University, one of the UK's leading research led universities, as a Project Specialist in AI and Data Science. The Hartree Centre Cardiff Hub small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with artificial intelligence (AI) and data science technologies through knowledge transfer and sprint projects. The Hub's core programmes are funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). This opportunity exists specifically to target SMEs in the Welsh Valleys region, via support from the Welsh Government's Tech Valleys programme.
The successful candidate will have substantial experience of working within artificial intelligence and/or data science. They will lead SME engagement projects in artificial intelligence and/or data science innovation, providing assistance to SMEs within the scope of the Hartree Hubs programme, carrying out supporting work to the Hub team, providing advice, guidance and support, and performing outreach activity in AI and/or data science. The role will require working across several projects at once, so the successful candidate will have experience managing competing priorities and changing workloads.

The shortlisting process will look to see how candidates are able provide evidence of meeting the essential (and desirable) criteria in their application. As described in more detail later in this advert, please ensure you attach a supporting statement highlighting how you match the person specification, or the appropriate transferable skills for you to work within this role.

This position is full-time (35 hours per week) and available from 15 January 2026 until 31 July 2026.

Salary: £41,064 per annum, with 4 annual increments up to the top of the scale, £46,049 per annum (Grade 6)

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Prof Alun Preece - PreeceAD@cardiff.ac.uk and Yulia Cherdantseva (CherdantsevaYV@cardiff.ac.uk) (School of Computer Science & Informatics).

Informal enquiries in relation to the recruitment/application process can be sent to Simon Hogg, HR Administrator - COMSC-HR@Cardiff.ac.uk.

Cardiff University has a successful School of Computer Science & Informatics with an international reputation for its teaching and research activities. We have seen a transformation of our research environment with the School almost doubling in size. We have moved into a new £39 million purpose-built facility shared with the School of Mathematics called Abacws, designed to facilitate interaction between disciplines and give our research groups new freedom to develop research culture and build identity. We are a research-led School with a longstanding, international reputation for applied research activities, and collaborate with more than 100 UK and international academic and industrial partners. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) 96% of our submitted research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. The School delivers a stimulating portfolio of BSc and MSc degrees and offers research degrees leading to MPhil and PhD qualifications. For more information on the School please visit: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/computer-science

Internal candidates are welcome to apply for this role as a secondment with their current line manager's approval.

Us
We want to make Cardiff University an institution that is respected the world over. Our vision is to be a world-leading, research-excellent, educationally outstanding university, driven by creativity and curiosity, which fulfils its social, cultural and economic obligations to Cardiff, Wales, the UK and the world. We expect to improve our standing as one of the top 100 universities in the world and the top 20 in the UK.

What we offer
Cardiff University can offer many attractive benefits to its employees, including a competitive salary, 37 days annual leave per annum and a generous pension scheme. More information on what we can offer can be found at https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/jobs/what-we-can-offer.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting all its employees in achieving the necessary balance between their work and their personal lives. As part of this commitment, the University has developed a flexible and responsive framework of support for staff in managing their work and personal commitments wherever possible. [Applications for posts on a part-time or job-share arrangement would also be considered].

Closing date: Monday, 1 December 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Job Description

Job Purpose
Support the University within the Hartree Centre Cardiff Hub, leading SME engagement assists and projects in artificial intelligence (AI) and/or data science innovation, performing outreach activity in AI and/or data science, and carrying out supporting work to the Hub team, providing advice, guidance and support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties

• Plan and deliver specific small scale SME engagement assists and projects in AI and/or data science innovation, co-ordinating and supervising project teams created as needed, and providing assistance to SMEs within the scope of the Hartree Hubs programme.
• Provide professional advice and guidance on artificial intelligence and/or data science technologies and methods to internal and external partners - including outreach activities -- that will have economic impacts, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex technical and conceptual issues are understood.
• Take responsibility for resolving issues independently within the Hartree Centre Cardiff Hub where they fall within set role objectives, in compliance with the Hub's standard operating procedures.
• Investigate and analyse specific issues within artificial intelligence and/or data science innovation, creating recommendation reports, supported by advances within these fields.
• Ensure that the provision of SME engagement projects and SME assistance in artificial intelligence and/or data science innovation is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to partner requirements.
• Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University's Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required.
• Develop and deliver technical training, briefings and demonstration within artificial intelligence and/or data science.
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the Hub, including diligent adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Instruct and guide other employees across the University within artificial intelligence and/or data science innovation.

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Additional Information

We want to employ people with a wide variety of experiences. We welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We are particularly seeking applications from candidates who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented at the University, including people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

We are looking for a team player who will work with colleagues to provide a great service to staff and students. You don't need to have worked for a University before; this is an opportunity to show your potential and start or continue your career at Cardiff University.

This role may be an opportunity for you to build on your experience from working in a previous administrative role or environment with particular interest in Postgraduate Taught Programmes, showing your transferable skills and aptitude to be successful in the role. You should be enthusiastic about developing your knowledge and skills to become a valued member of the team.

Your application will be assessed against the following essential and desirable criteria for the role. Please copy and paste this section into a new document and give clear examples of how you can evidence meeting each criteria by writing under each one. You can draw on elements from any aspect of your life (e.g. work, home, education/qualifications or community life) as long as you focus on their relevance to the role.

Please save your supporting statement in a separate document with the title [YOURNAME-BR NUMBER-JOB TITLE] and attach it to your application in the recruitment system.

Please note that these are also the criteria shortlisted applicants will be assessed against at interview and/or by other means (e.g. a skills test).

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1. Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience in artificial intelligence and/or data science.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2. Substantial experience of working within artificial intelligence and/or data science areas to include at least one of: human-centric AI, transparent and explainable AI, neuro-symbolic AI
3. Able to demonstrate professional current knowledge within artificial intelligence and/or data science to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers
4. Proven experience in developing new projects, processes and procedures within artificial intelligence and/or data science

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working
5. Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people
6. Evidence of ability to explore customers' needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered
7. Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving
8. Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions
9. Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within artificial intelligence and/or data science
10. Evidence of ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short term project teams

Desirable Criteria

1. Postgraduate qualification in artificial intelligence and/or data science
2. Experience of working with SMEs
3. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

Cardiff University is a public research university located in Cardiff, Wales providing undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across a broad subject range.