Barnardo's have an exciting opportunity for two full time AI Engineers, who will play a pivotal role in enabling the safe, ethical and value‑driven adoption of AI technologies across the charity. You will design, build and maintain AI solutions—primarily across the Microsoft ecosystem, including Copilot, Copilot Studio, Azure AI services, Power Platform and Microsoft Fabric—to improve digital efficiency, automate processes and enhance data flow across systems.
This is a full‑time hybrid position, with occasional travel to London (anticipated to be no more than once a quarter).
Key responsibilities include
- Ensure AI initiatives align to Barnardo's organisational strategy and deliver clear, measurable value
- Lead AI strategy design within business functions, managing stakeholders, risks and dependencies
- Lead the design, configuration and deployment of AI solutions using: (Microsoft Copilot (M365, Azure, Dynamics 365)
- Design and implement APIs, webhooks and Azure Integration Services (Logic Apps, Functions, Service Bus)
- Lead implementation of AI safety and ethical guardrails aligned to Barnardo's policies and Microsoft best practice
- Enforce security standards including RBAC, authentication and authorisation (Azure AD, SSO)
What we are looking for
- Strong experience designing and delivering AI‑enabled solutions in enterprise environments
- Hands‑on experience with Microsoft AI technologies (Copilot, Azure AI, Power Platform)
- Strong understanding of system integration, APIs and cloud platforms
- Experience implementing governance, security and ethical AI practices
- Ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical business outcomes
- Proven stakeholder engagement and change management experience
- Commitment to Barnardo's values and mission
This role is both strategic and hands‑on, contributing to major projects as well as business‑as‑usual support.
If you are passionate about using AI to make a real difference and this role interests you, we would love to hear from you.
Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.
Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.
Workplace Offer: What it means for you
Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.
Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)
- Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
- Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
- The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
- A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
- Service related sick pay from day 1
- Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
- Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
- Cycle2work scheme
- Interest free season ticket loans
- Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
- 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
- Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
- Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
- Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's apply based on contract
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
- Reference number:22816
- Job Title:AI Engineer
- Location:Russell Square House
- Contract type:Permanent
- Hours:36.25
- Salary:52,265 - 73,927 FTE plus (£312 per annum, office at home allowance)
- Closing Date:27 April 2026
- Interview Date:TBC