HR Data & AI project manager

Job Description

Join MBDA and help shape the future of HR through data, digital innovation and AI.

Salary: Circa £60,000 - £72,000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 1 day per week on-site

Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship

Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

• Company Bonus: Bonus of up to 21% of base salary
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…
• Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more.

We’re looking for a collaborative and forward-thinking HR Data and AI Project Manager to lead the delivery of impactful HR technology and analytics projects across a complex international environment. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of people, data and technology — driving solutions that improve decision-making, employee experience and organisational performance.

You’ll partner with HR, Data, Legal and IT teams to turn ideas into scalable, secure and high-value solutions, from workforce analytics platforms to emerging AI-enabled tools.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading end-to-end delivery of HR data and AI projects — from discovery and planning through to deployment and adoption
• Translating HR business needs into clear project scope, deliverables and measurable outcomes
• Managing project plans, governance, risks, dependencies and stakeholder engagement
• Coordinating cross-functional teams including Data Engineers, Analysts and Scientists
• Driving adoption, training and change activity to ensure solutions deliver real business value
• Ensuring compliance with GDPR, data governance standards and national employment legislations
• Supporting continuous improvement of HR data project management and governance practices

What we’re looking for from you

You may come from HR transformation, HR systems, data and analytics, project management or digital change backgrounds. What matters most is your ability to bring people together, manage complexity and deliver meaningful outcomes.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Experience leading complex business or HR technology projects
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Knowledge of People Analytics, Data Governance, or HR Digital Transformation.
• The ability to bridge business needs with technical delivery
• Knowledge of data governance, GDPR and change management principles
• Advanced knowledge of the HR data technology ecosystem: data platforms, BI, analytics, HRIS, payroll, Talent management modules, TMS, LMS, LXP… and their data integration points / data flows
• A structured, collaborative and delivery-focused approach
• Confidence facilitating workshops, governance forums and senior stakeholder discussions
• A passion for innovation, continuous improvement and the potential of AI in HR

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given

MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more…

We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.