About the job

Job summary

AI Safety Institute  

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) over the last decade have been impactful, rapid, and unpredictable. Advanced AI systems have the potential to drive economic growth and productivity, boost health and wellbeing, improve public services, and increase security. 

But advanced AI systems also pose significant risks, as detailed in the government’s paper on Capabilities and Risks from Frontier AI published in October. AI can be misused – this could include using AI to generate disinformation, conduct sophisticated cyberattacks or help develop chemical weapons. AI can cause societal harms – there have been examples of AI chatbots encouraging harmful actions, promoting skewed or radical views, and providing biased advice. AI generated content that is highly realistic but false could reduce public trust in information. Some experts are concerned that humanity could lose control of advanced systems, with potentially catastrophic and permanent consequences.

We will only unlock the benefits of AI if we can manage these risks. At present, our ability to develop powerful systems outpaces our ability to make them safe. The first step is to better understand the capabilities and risks of these advanced AI systems. This will then inform our regulatory framework for AI, so we ensure AI is developed and deployed safely and responsibly.  

The UK is taking a leading role in driving this conversation forward internationally. We hosted the world’s first major AI Safety Summit and have launched the AI Safety Institute. Responsible government action in an area as new and fast-paced as advanced AI requires governments to develop their own sophisticated technical and sociotechnical expertise. The AI Safety Institute is advancing the world’s knowledge of AI safety by carefully examining, evaluating, and testing new types of AI, so that we understand what each new model is capable of. The Institute is conducting fundamental research on how to keep people safe in the face of fast and unpredictable progress in AI. The Institute will make its work available to the world, enabling an effective global response to the opportunities and risks of advanced AI.  

We welcome applications from individuals of all personal and professional backgrounds to play a key role in one of societies greatest changes.

 

Job description

THE ROLE AND OUR TEAM 

The Societal Impacts is focused on evaluating the direct impact of advanced AI systems on both individuals and society – including the extent to which people are affected by interacting with such systems, as well as the types of tasks AI systems are being used for in both private and professional contexts. We are interested in assessing how well models could affect our core social fabric, including their potential to impacts democracy, welfare, and existing unequal outcomes.  

As AI models become more capable and widely deployed, risks and harms from these systems being integrated from society will increase. Our work focuses on evaluating current and next-generation systems for traits of concern that relate to harms to society. We are focusing on understanding harms that are not intended by the user, and that could lead to negative social, economic, psychological, civic/political consequences or other forms of adverse societal impact or destabilisation. As we do this work, we also aim to advance world-leading evaluation methodology and infrastructure, so that AISI and partners can effectively run and interpret evaluations for frontier AI systems. We expect candidates for this role to help shape and refine this agenda.  

We are seeking a Strategy and Delivery Manager to play a key delivery role within the take and help drive forward our ambitious research agenda.   

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work across the breadth of the projects in the Societal Impacts team. The nature of AISI’s mission and its role in a fast-paced environment means that the post-holder must be a motivated self-starter who can adapt quickly to changing needs and context.  

Amongst other things, your responsibilities will include: 

• Playing a cross-cutting strategy and delivery role within the Societal Impacts team. You will work with the Workstream lead, Dr Chris Summerfield, and other researchers in the team to deliver multiple research project and help shape the long-term strategy of the team. You will have a key role in helping set the overall strategy (including vision and milestones) help design a plan to deliver that strategy (including goals and milestones), and then lead on execution.  

• Generating and maintaining delivery momentum within AISI’s Research Unit by creating a culture of velocity, coordination, and tight execution cycles. You will oversee delivery of high-quality research projects conceptualised by our technical team and external partners. You will identify and clear roadblocks, set a collaborative and productive team culture, and continually strive for increased efficacy – with high-quality delivery as your number one priority.  

• Acting as a key point-person on AISI’s Societal Impacts research agenda. As the Grade 7 Delivery Manager in this team, you will be across the full breadth of the portfolio and able to speak confidently to its aspects.  

• Play an active role in creating a culture of innovation and exploration, encouraging colleagues to take managed risks, fail fast, and learn. You will have a key role in making sure AISI is managing risk appropriately whilst minimising any unnecessary bureaucracy.  

• Delivering through others: much of your time will be spent on cross-team projects. You will need to collaborate across boundaries, bringing together virtual teams to deliver.   

• Line management of one member of staff. With the potential to scale this over time.  

• Building and leveraging a network of partners and stakeholders across Government and externally, and insight and outside of Government. Societal Impacts is a cross-cutting project with a large group of Government stakeholders. You will be responsible for mapping and managing this stakeholder group. 

• Stay up to date on advancements with AI safety, ethics, and applications.   

First and foremost, we are building a community of individuals within the RU who are committed to getting things done and can navigate uncharted territories to achieve novel outcomes within government. You will be excellent at building strong, trusting relationships, problem-solving, and co-ordinating complex projects to support the organisation to deliver tangible benefits for AI safety research and evaluations. This is a role where high agency is encouraged, where you will have the opportunity to take on high-profile projects within the Societal Impacts team. 

This is a unique opportunity as part of a capable and supportive team to work at the cutting edge of issues affecting the global community.  

Person specification

This might a great role for you if you are someone who: 

• Gets things done. Start-up mindset/entrepreneurial approach; comfortable navigating uncertainty, adapting quickly, taking a “trial and get feedback approach”, and being comfortable with taking controlled risk. Proven track record of delivery across the full-project life cycle: set-up, execution, finish.   

• Is motivated by a strong desire to ensure that frontier AI systems benefit people globally. 

• Moves fast. Hits the ground running. Able to work effectively at pace, take decisions in the face of incomplete data, and remain calm and resilient under pressure. Has experience working in in a delivery-focused role, with a strong track record of managing complex projects and shipping good product. 

• Spins multiple plates. Excels in running multiple projects in parallel and delivers them to a high standard. Able to proactively re-assess priorities and maintain focus on the most critical deliverables.   

• Self-motivates and is comfortable with agency. Can operate with high autonomy and maintain delivery momentum.   

• Strives for excellence. Has a high attention to detail, catches problems/errors early, always aiming for the best quality outputs where they matter both.  

• Enjoys tackling difficult challenges head-on. Proactive and solutions oriented, and able to identify solutions to complex problems. Comfortable breaking down difficult issues into tangible next steps.  

• Works well in a team. Collaborated effectively with colleagues, builds strong relationships, and contributes to a positive team dynamic. Keeps people motivated and on-side even where incentives don’t necessarily immediate align.   

• Can manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders. Comfortable building a network of allies and leveraging these to drift forward your mission. 

• Is an excellent communicator and can engage with experts and non-experts alike on complex, technical problems.  
• Wants to learn. Curious, open-minded, and eager to expand their knowledge and skills. Excited and not daunted by the prospect of identifying knowledge gaps and seeking to fill them. Actively seeks out opportunities for growth and development and helps others to do the same.  

Desirable (but not essential) skills and experience  

• Experience in technical/R&D environment, or in a start-up  

• Domain knowledge on Frontier AI  

• An understanding of the breadth of the AI ethics, safety, and alignment spaces, and a clear view on relevant society-scale risks from frontier AI. 

Have hands-on experience evaluating the capabilities of cutting-edge machine learning 

If you have the skills, experience and motivation to help drive forward AISI's critical mission at the cutting edge of AI safety, we want to hear from you. Join us and let's ensure that the immense potential of artificial intelligence benefits humanity while navigating the risks and challenges responsibly. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,805, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £15,067 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, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to describe how your experience matches the skills and experience required for the role and what makes you well suited to the job.

Applications will be sifted on the personal statement and CV.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview

 Interview 1 – Civil Service Behaviours Interview 

• Presentation: In your view, what are the main societal and ethical risks from Frontier AI systems today? With what you know about AISI and our mission, how should the Societal Impacts team approach this problem? You should include a pitch for key projects.  
• Behaviours: Seeing the Bigger Picture, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions

Interview 2 – Technical assessment 

• Presentation:
• Discussion of a paper 

Interview 3 – Experience/Key Stakeholder interview 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 5th August 2024

Interview dates: w/c 19th August 2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

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

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply,and can 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.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.

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

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

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

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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

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.

Feedback

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 counter-terrorist 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.