Senior Manager - AI Independent Validation Team

LOCATION(S): Halifax, Edinburgh & Leeds

HOURS: Full time

WORKING PATTERN: Our work style is hybrid, which involves spending at least two days per week, or 40% of our time, at one of our office sites.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Lloyds Banking Group at the forefront of trusted AI adoption. As Senior Manager for the AI Independent Validation Team within the Markets & AI Modelling function of the Model Risk Office (MRO), you'll lead the team responsible for independently validating some of the most innovative and high impact AI and GenAI models across the Bank.

You'll play a pivotal role in ensuring that LBG deploys advanced AI technologies safely, ethically, and in line with emerging regulation.

Our

Purpose:

Better Models, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes.

Day to day you'll:

• Lead a dedicated and growing team that independently reviews, analyses, and validates AI, GenAI, LLM‑based and agentic models across a wide range of use cases in the Bank.
• Prioritise team member growth by creating opportunities for skill development, coaching and leadership, while ensuring high‑quality delivery across projects.
• Own team planning and prioritisation to support efficient delivery in a fast‑evolving technical landscape.

• Oversee validation and periodic reviews to ensure models are robust, fair, explainable and aligned with regulation and internal policy.
• Lead and delegate model assessment activity - including documentation review, quantitative analysis, testing and benchmark model development - and provide expert challenge on final outputs, recommending or approving results as needed.
• Apply sound judgment when recommending Risk Classifications to support rapid and accurate assessment of model risk.
• Own key stakeholder relationships for AI models and enhance validation frameworks and processes for GenAI and Agentic.
• Track emerging AI technologies, regulatory developments and industry standards to ensure our practices evolve with the changing landscape.

If you think all banks are the same, you'd be wrong. We're an innovative, fast-changing business that's shaping finance as a force for good. A bank that's empowering its people to innovate, explore possibilities and grow with purpose.

• Deep modelling and AI expertise - substantial experience in model development and/or independent validation, with a strong grounding across multiple modelling disciplines and growing specialism in AI, GenAI and agentic models.
• Leadership capability - experience leading people, whether through formal line management or sustained responsibility for developing and guiding others. You exercise sound judgement in balancing delivery, coaching, prioritisation and stakeholder expectations in a dynamic environment
• Strong analytical judgement - able to weigh complex or ambiguous evidence, balance modelling considerations with risk perspectives, and reach clear, well‑justified decisions - particularly in areas involving AI risks, emerging techniques, or incomplete information.
• Commitment to developing others - experience coaching, mentoring, reviewing work and sharing technical expertise, with a genuine interest in building capability and shaping a strong team culture.
• Relevant academic or professional background - a numerate degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics or related fields.

• Experience leading or coordinating technical teams - able to balance delivery, stakeholder needs and team development, with appetite for increased leadership responsibility.
• Practical familiarity with AI/ML technologies such as PyTorch, Tensor Flow, Lang Chain, Llama Index, vector databases or orchestration frameworks, and an emerging ability to translate these into model‑risk considerations.
• Exposure to cloud‑based AI platforms (e.g., GCP Vertex AI, Big Query, Azure AI) and an understanding of how deployment choices influence monitoring, controls and model‑risk impacts.
• Awareness of emerging AI regulation including the EU AI Act, GDPR, SS1/23 and wider AI…