About the job

Job summary

AI Safety Institute 

Today, harnessing AI is an opportunity that could be transformational for the UK and the rest of the world. Advanced AI systems have the potential to drive economic growth and productivity, boost health and wellbeing, improve public services, and increase security. 

The UK government is determined to seize these opportunities. In September, we announced Isambard AI as the UK AI Research Resource, which will be one of Europe’s most powerful supercomputers purpose-built for AI. The National Health Service (NHS) is running trials to help clinicians identify breast cancer sooner by using AI, and there are opportunities in other areas of public service, including education and policing too.

But advanced AI systems also pose significant risks, as detailed in the government’s paper on Capabilities and Risks from Frontier AI. 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. 

The UK is taking a leading role in driving this conversation forward internationally. We hosted the world’s first major AI Safety Summit. We have launched the AI Safety Institute, which 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. 

Job description

The risks arising from AI are uncertain and evolving. It is therefore vital that the AI Safety Institute is proactive in identifying the right priorities – often within a quickly changing context – and delivering efficiently to ensure the organisation is focused on the activities that fulfil our mission: to minimise surprise to the UK and humanity from rapid and unexpected advances in AI. To do this, technical evaluations of and research into AI system are critical.  

As a Research Strategy & Delivery Adviser you will work as part of a high performing, friendly team – the AISI Research Unit – to drive forward the design and delivery of high-quality evaluations of advanced AI systems and novel research. We are looking for an experienced operator who is comfortable working at pace and in ambiguity, who can translate complex research for policy makers and operate within Government and the Whitehall machine.  

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 unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of issues affecting the global community.  

Applicants are encouraged to indicate if they have a preference to join either the Cyber Misuse team or the Safeguards Analysis team, both of which are arms of AISI’s Research Unit.  

The Cyber Misuse team develops evaluations that measure the uplift advanced AI systems provide to a range of threat actors, including autonomous AI systems. Applicants with experience in cybersecurity are particularly encouraged to apply, but this is not a prerequisite for the role.  

The Safeguards Analysis team evaluates and discovers attacks that enable AI systems to be misused. Applicants with previous experience relating to adversarial machine learning, offensive cyber, information security, and technology privacy are especially encouraged to apply. 

You will work as part of either the Cyber Misuse team or the Safeguards Analysis team to drive the delivery of evaluations and research relating to either cyber misuse or system safeguard attacks. The successful candidate will make a critical contribution to scoping, managing, and enabling the delivery of an ambitious research portfolio.

This will include, but not be limited to: 

• Generating and maintaining delivery momentum within AISI’s research unit by creating a culture of velocity, coordination, and tight execution cycles, all directed at the goal of building and deploying evaluations for advanced AI systems. 
• Acting as a point person on the AISI’s Cyber Misuse/Safeguards Analysis research agenda, communicating it to Whitehall, national security partners, industry partners, civil society organisations, universities, and the public. 
• Mastering and optimising civil service processes to enable seamless delivery of AISI research outputs, including holding relationships with commercial, financial, and legal teams. 
• Supporting AISI’s technical researchers in devising and delivering new research projects in line with AISI’s strategic objectives. 
• Supporting and advising our delivery managers in the planning and execution of complex research programmes featuring many stakeholders and significant technical depth. 
• Building and leveraging a network of research partners and policy stakeholders within and outside of government.  
• Staying up to date with advancements in the field of AI safety.  

What we Value: 

• Diverse Perspectives: We believe that a range of experiences and backgrounds is essential to our success. We welcome individuals from underrepresented groups to join us in this crucial mission. 
• Collaborative Spirit: We thrive on teamwork and open collaboration, valuing every contribution, big or small. 
• Innovation and Impact: We are dedicated to making a real-world difference in the field of frontier AI safety and capability, and we encourage innovative thinking and bold ideas. 

This is a once-in-a-generation moment, and these roles will sit at the heart of the team. Joining the team represents a unique opportunity to deliver the vision for a constantly evolving area of UK policy. We are looking for applicants with an enthusiasm for supporting the Institute’s mission while embodying our values. 

Person specification

Skills and Experience

• Start-up mindset / entrepreneurial approach; this will involve navigating in a lot of uncertainty, being quick to adapt, taking a 'trial and get feedback quickly' approach to a lot of pieces of work, and being willing to get stuck in and add value across a number of areas. 
• Passionate about the mission of the AI Safety Institute, and ideally with a good working knowledge of issues at the intersection between AI and dual use science.
• Able to work effectively at pace, make decisions in the face of competing priorities, and remain calm and resilient under pressure.
• Can operate with autonomy and maintain delivery momentum.
• Proactive and able to identify solutions to complex problems – breaking down large, intractable issues into tangible and effective next steps.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, able to communicate effectively. with a range of expert and non-expert stakeholders.
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, particularly in AI and software engineering.
• Previous experience in AI and/or dual-use science is helpful but not a prerequisite for this role. We are first and foremost looking for candidates who understand how to work in complex systems, learn quickly, and translate complex technical detail into tangible content that resonates with policy makers and laypeople. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,495, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £11,474 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.

To apply for this role, please select 'Apply Now' at the bottom of this advert.

Application:

To apply for this post, please send us the following documents no later than 23:55 - Sunday 31st March via the CS Jobs portal:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
  
  
• A Personal Statement (max 500 words) showing how your motivations, skills and experience match those needed for this role.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: W/C 01/04/2024

Interview dates: W/C 08/04/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

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

Sift:

For the shortlist, we will assess your experience and select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.

Interview:

The interview process will consist of two interviews, initially a behavioural based interview and if successful at this stage, you will be invited to attend a second interview with a technical lead to understand your motivations, experience and technical skillset. 

For Behaviours, use the link here to understand the expectations at the grade of role you are applying for.

We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers. In your examples you should include evidence on ‘how’ you demonstrated the requirements and the impact of your work, as well as ‘what’ you did. 

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

You may be asked to prepare and present a short presentation with details provided to you prior to interview. You may also be asked for a fireside chat with a member of the senior leadership team following your interview.

Further Information

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.