AI Architect

Clarion; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarion Housing Group is seeking a skilled AI governance leader for a fixed-term contract through June 2027. You will implement governance standards and assurance for AI delivery across data readiness, security controls, licensing and compliance, partnering with Digital Governance and other stakeholders.

You will prioritise Copilot adoption, manage AI risk, and mentor the Modern Workplace team to deliver secure, scalable AI within a single Microsoft 365 estate.

Qualifications

• Recognised Microsoft AI certifications or equivalent experience.
• Experience architecting and delivering enterprise-grade AI and Copilot solutions.
• Knowledge of AI governance, data protection, bias and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Apply standards, controls and assurance for AI delivery across data, security and licensing.
• Prioritise AI demand toward Copilot adoption while reducing AI sprawl and experiments.
• Mentor AI engineering teams and align AI work with enterprise architecture.

Skills

AI governance

Leadership

Mentoring

Risk management

Tools

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Copilot Studio

Purview

Sensitivity labeling

DLP

Entra ID

Tenant boundary controls

PowerShell

Python

Job description

Location: Hybrid with any base location

London: £70,398 to £87,998 per annum

National: £64,043 to £80,054 per annum

(in exceptional circumstances we would consider a salary of up to 10% above the top of the advertised range)

Hours: 36 hours per week - flexible options considered

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract to June 2027

This is a great opportunity to join our team, Employer of the Year Housing Heroes awards 2025 and Winner 2026 Inspiring Places to Work UK & Ireland

Step into a role where you help shape the future of AI at Clarion. This fixed-term opportunity to June 2027 will establish the foundations needed for safe, responsible and scalable AI adoption.

Working closely with Digital Governance, you'll help implement the standards, controls and assurance approach needed to support AI delivery. This includes applying requirements across data readiness, identity and security controls, licensing, compliance and user enablement, ensuring AI solutions are secure-by-design, well engineered and aligned to enterprise architecture.

You'll help prioritise AI demand toward the highest-value opportunities, including Copilot adoption and emerging agentic AI use cases, while reducing the risk of duplication, unmanaged experimentation and AI sprawl.

As a leader, you'll mentor and grow AI engineering capability within the Modern Workplace team, fostering responsible innovation, curiosity and continuous improvement. You'll work with Modern Workplace architecture and engineering teams to ensure AI is delivered as part of a single, well-governed Microsoft 365 estate, partnering with Digital Governance and Commercial, Risk, Legal, Data Protection and Information Security to build confidence in adoption.

To thrive in this role, you'll bring recognised Microsoft AI certifications or equivalent experience, with a proven track record of architecting and delivering enterprise-grade AI and Copilot solutions. You'll understand how to operationalise AI governance, manage risks around data protection, hallucination and bias, and build the foundations needed across data, identity, security and compliance. You'll be confident working with Risk, Legal, Data Protection and Information Security teams, shaping AI impact assessments and defining operating models that balance innovation with control. Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, Purview, sensitivity labelling, DLP, Entra ID and tenant boundary controls is essential, alongside programming literacy in PowerShell and Python and familiarity with prompt engineering and agent design.

If you're ready to build the foundations for safe, responsible AI adoption at Clarion-strengthening governance, enabling innovation and helping teams turn ideas into well-managed solutions-this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

With hybrid working, base locations across England and flexible working arrangements this could be the opportunity you've been looking for!

Salaries are just the starting point. Here at Clarion we're dedicated to rewarding hard work and commitment, and providing benefits that support you and your lifestyle.

Closing Date:Thursday 8 October 2026 at midnight.

This is a hybrid role with a base location offered at one of our offices across England.

While travel is not a regular requirement of the role, there may be a need to travel to attend in-person team meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement events.

At Clarion Housing Group, we support the responsible use of AI. Please visit our website to view your guide to using AI during your recruitment process.

You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy; Clarion are not able to offer visa sponsorship. You are required to reside in England or Wales for the duration of your employment.