About the job

Job summary

The AI Safety Institute is the first state-backed organisation focused on advanced AI safety for the public interest.  We launched at the AI Safety Summit because we believe taking responsible action on this extraordinary technology requires a capable and empowered group of technical experts within government.​

Our staff includes senior alumni from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, start-ups and the UK government, and ML professors from Oxford and Cambridge. We are now calling on the world’s top technical talent to build the institute from the ground up. This is a truly unique opportunity to help shape AI safety at an international level.

• We have ambitious goals and need to move fast.​
• Develop and conduct evaluations on advanced AI systems​
• We will characterise safety-relevant capabilities, understand the safety and security of systems, and assess their societal impacts.​
• Drive foundational AI safety research​
• We will launch moonshot research projects and convene world-class external researchers.​
• Facilitate information exchange​
• We will establish clear information-sharing channels between the Institute and other national and international actors. These include stakeholders such as policymakers and international partners.

Job description

The postholder will be one of four Grade 7 roles within the Strategy and Delivery Division, which is responsible collectively for: strategy, planning, analysis, and delivery through external partners​

​You will also work closely with the division’s Deputy Director and other managers to deliver an open, friendly, organised, efficient and empowered culture, and continue to strive for a high standard of excellence. You will work in close collaboration with DSIT’s communications directorate, who will lead media management and press office for AISI, to ensure alignment of AISI’s work with DSIT’s communications objectives.

Our Inclusive Environment 

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.  

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive. 

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process. 

You will be responsible for the AI Safety Institute's strategic communications. Specifically, you will be responsible for:​

• Developing and implementing a communications strategy for the AI Safety Institute​
• Delivering strong proactive announcements and copy, taking ground-breaking AISI research and giving it impact through profile​
• Establishing, and setting the ground for successful operation, of new communications channels including: establishing an AISI brand; supporting a targeted marketing strategy for recruitment; digital channels 

Person specification

Essential skills experience for these roles include:​

• Knowledge and awareness of technological developments in AI, and an ability to demonstrate relevance of ongoing debates to AISI’s work​
• Experience of working in a project delivery or strategic communications team or leading and managing an events or visits function​
• Have excellent communications and news judgement as well as written and verbal skills, particularly in explaining complex policy in a simple manner, drafting of submissions etc​
• Experience of managing conflicting priorities working at pace to tight deadlines.​
• Experience of building robust relationships to achieve shared objectives, including with senior stakeholders, and an ability to build strong networks.​
• Ability to utilise data and insight to influence and inform strategic communications plans. ​
• Ability to be able to see the bigger picture, prioritise and horizon scan, identifying milestones and risks. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,320, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £14,126 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 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 1000 words) to provide a personal statement explaining why you want this role, setting out why you consider yourself suitable, with particular reference to meeting the essential criteria and behaviours.

Applicants must also complete an online CV outlining your qualifications, history, and skills which will be assessed and scored.

Applications will be sifted on the CV and Personal Statement.​

After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the experience outlined in the pack.

The interview will consist of behaviour based questions.

Candidates should expect to go through the following stages :-​

• Stage 1:- Submit application by deadline​
• Stage 2:- Invitation to interview​
• Stage 3:- Presentation preparation​
• Stage 4:- Formal interview​
• Stage 5:- Interview outcome

Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in all essential criteria and asked to do a 5 minute presentation.

Candidates invited to interview will be given further information on the presentation subject and time to prepare.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. 

Further Information

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

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

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 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.