About the job

Job summary

About the team

The Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (i.AI) - is an AI for public good programme to harness the opportunities presented by AI to improve the lives of citizens. It focuses on a number of priority projects in home affairs, health, education and government efficiency projects. The i.AI team uses ethical and secure methods at all times to help deliver better public services. 
 
Building on the work of No10 Data Science Team (10DS) and other leading technology teams across the civil service, i.AI will experiment and prove what is possible in improving the use of AI across the government. It was recently announced that i.AI will expand a further 40 roles to build a scale up function, which will take successful incubated projects into production. 
 
You can see more about our work on ai.gov.uk 
 
i.AI’s Impact and Evaluation team will build their work into each stage of product development, from scoping, to incubation, and onwards to scaling. Team members will embed into product development teams, designing and delivering of randomised control trials, impact evaluations, and qualitative studies primarily into the efficiency and quality impacts of our AI products. 

Job description

Role Responsibilities

• Setting up and leading i.AI’s Impact and Evaluation function.
• Leading the design and implementation of evaluations for our AI products, including developing evaluation frameworks, identifying appropriate methodologies, and collecting and analysing data.
• Communicating the results of your team’s evaluations in a way that is engaging and supports delivery of the mission of i.AI
  managing and mentoring Impact and Evaluation Leads (3FTE), providing guidance and support to ensure high-quality work.
• Embedding impact and evaluation into AI products from the very start and throughout the development cycle.
• Leading the team to deliver wider AI evaluation throughout the development cycle. Experience in this is not required, as these are new and emerging methods that you would be key in forging practical delivery of: safety assessment, algorithmic transparency reporting, red teaming to assess AI bias and safety.
• Building evidence led and data driven cases for i.AI funding bids in processes such as Budgets or Spending Reviews.
• Developing data collection tools, such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups, and ensuring data quality. 
• Conducting data analysis, drawing insights and recommendations and presenting them stakeholders. 

Person specification

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information and draw insights from data.
• Experience of leading, overseeing and motivating researchers to deliver high impact research and of managing its technical direction.  
• Experience of leading on cost-benefit analysis and policy appraisal in line with the Green Book.
• Experience of designing, leading and delivering research, from a relevant discipline such as an economist, behavioural scientist, or a social scientist. 
• Ability to engage and influence others at various levels of seniority to maximise the impact of research studies.  
• Considerable knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research design, methods and analysis.  
• Ability to work collaboratively and across disciplines, and maintain strong working relationships with a broad range of individuals.  
• Ability to communicate research for varied audiences, using different media/formats e.g. technical reports; presentations; web-based tools. 

Technical Skills

• You need to be, or will be willing to become badged in one of the following professions: economist, social researcher, statistician, operational researcher, or be part of the DDAT profession.
• In-depth expertise of a number of commonly used evaluation methods.
• Experimental and quasi-experimental methods are particularly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate technical information on evaluations to non-specialists in ways that are easily understood.
• Strong ability to articulate the value of evaluating products to a broad range of stakeholders.
• Coding ability in python or similar languages would be beneficial.

We welcome a broad range of applicants and encourage you to apply. Strong candidates come from many different backgrounds. Studies show that talented people, especially those from groups underrepresented in their field, are more likely to doubt themselves and feel like an "imposter". Unique perspectives enrich teams, so we urge you to have confidence in your potential contributions.  If aspects of this role resonate with you, please apply. We look forward to your application highlighting your skills and experiences.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,700, Cabinet Office contributes £17,469 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

To submit an application, you will need to provide an up to date CV. We would also like you to submit a 500 word personal statement. Please ensure your CV and personal statement demonstrate how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification, as well as the Behaviours shown below.

Behaviours (to be assessed at interview stage):

Leadership  
Communicating and Influencing   
Seeing the Bigger Picture   
Making Effective Decisions 

You can find out more about civil service Success Profiles at this link.

Assessment and interview process

Your application will be reviewed by a panel. If you have been shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a 60-minute interview (to be held online using Google Meets), which will assess your suitability against the behaviours set out above, as well as your technical skills. During the interview you will also be asked to present to the panel, as well as answer any follow-up questions they have about your presentation.

Presentation

You will be sent details of the presentation exercise 75 minutes prior to the start of your interview. You will then present your evaluation findings to the panel (no longer than 5 minutes). The panel is looking to understand your thought process and evaluation experience.

Information Session

To give you an idea of working in i.AI and to answer any questions you might have, we encourage you to attend our information session on Wednesday 1 May at 11:00. You can join the session here: meet.google.com/skf-wesq-pwn

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 13 May
Expected interview dates – w/c 3 June
Interview location – online via Google Meets

We reserve the right to conduct a second interview if a large volume of applications is received.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting 

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.