Discovery Pipeline Manager
| Job Type | Contract |
| Location | London/ Hybrid |
| Area | London, UK |
| Sector | Programme & Project Management |
| Salary | £466 Per Day |
| Start Date | July 27th, 2026 |
| Advertiser | Jack Ingram |
| Job Ref | 7597-PSR1JP00103024 |
| IR35 | Inside |
| Security Clearance | SC |
- Description
- The Client:
A government client is looking for a Discovery Pipeline Manager to join them on a 7 month contract. This position will be based in London/ Hybrid.
Job Summary:
Minimum Requirement: Owns and manages the Defence AI Discovery Pathway, ensuring demand is captured, assessed, prioritised, and matured into decision-ready opportunities that align with Defence priorities.
Core Responsibilities:
- Maintain a single, authoritative pipeline of AI opportunities and requests across Defence.
- Ensure all demand is captured, tracked, and aligned to agreed prioritisation frameworks.
- Provide transparent reporting on pipeline health, volume, and flow into prioritisation, commissioning, and delivery.
- Ensure structured intake, triage, and prioritisation processes are applied consistently in line with DAIC Team Operating Procedures.
- Translate fragmented demand signals into coherent themes and priority areas.
- Reduce misrouted, low value, or duplicative requests entering the pipeline.
- Lead delivery and continuous improvement of the Discovery Pathway (L3 2.5.1), including clear entry criteria and structured deep discovery outputs.
- Define and manage hand offs from discovery into prioritisation, commissioning, or delivery.
- Ensure discovery distinguishes genuine Defence level demand from local optimisation or low value use cases.
- Ensure problems entering delivery are well defined, evidence based, and linked to war fighter needs and strategic outcomes.
Essential:
- SC Clearance
- Experience in pipeline, portfolio, or demand management within complex organisations.
- Proven ability to design and operate structured intake and discovery processes.
- Ability to translate ambiguous or fragmented demand into clear, decision ready problem statements.
- Experience working across engagement, insight, and delivery functions.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior leaders.
- Ability to apply prioritisation frameworks and support evidence based decision making.
Desirable:
- AI awareness – don’t need in depth knowledge.
An active SC clearance is required for this role. At a minimum, candidates must be eligible and willing to undergo security clearance. Due to the short-term nature of the contract and the urgency of the requirement, the client may prioritise applicants who already hold active SC clearance and meet all essential criteria.
Our Company:
Malikshaw Interim & Executive is a specialist provider of talent management solutions helping our clients transform the delivery of our public services. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we combine providing the best talent with delivering diverse, inclusive workforces and particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, and women.
How to Apply:
Please apply through the link provided to send your application directly to the Recruiter managing this assignment.
Disability Confident:
As a member of the disability confident scheme, the Client guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.
Armed Forces Covenant:
As a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Client guarantees to interview all veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.
If you qualify for any of the above, please notify us on your covering letter and your recruiter will confirm if the client is a member. We will then be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your Guaranteed Interview.
Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let me know.
- Maintain a single, authoritative pipeline of AI opportunities and requests across Defence.
