About the job

Job summary

The AI Safety Institute (AISI) is the closest thing to a start up in government. The Special Projects team is responsible for scaling this start up from the ground up. This is not your normal civil service team – we have built a reputation for getting things done, challenging the status quo and navigating ambiguity. 

Special Projects is a growing and dynamic team of strategists and policy specialists, working across AISI and government to solve problems critical to scaling a best-in-class organisation focused on advanced AI safety. We are responsible for setting the organisational vision and policies to secure and develop the best talent, creating the right functional strategy and putting the senior leadership (e.g. CEO) structures in place to meet our ambitions.

We have developed some of the most advanced operating procedures in government constantly challenging the status quo and setting best practice. In the Special Projects team, you will get the opportunity to build a team from the ground up; work on a prime ministerial priority in an environment that encourages innovation and creativity; and collaborate and learn from an outstanding group of people including senior alumni from some of the world leading AI labs, tech start-ups and the Civil Service.

AISI is the first state-backed organisation focused on advanced AI safety for the public interest. Establishing and scaling this organisation is a once-in-a-generation moment and these roles will sit at the heart of the AISI team. Joining the team represents a unique opportunity to deliver the vision for a constantly evolving area of AI policy. We are looking for proactive problem solvers with experience in establishing and scaling organisations that have genuine passion for supporting AISI’s mission. 

In this role, you will work as part of a high performing and friendly team to deliver critical projects focused on scaling the AI Safety Institute. We are a new team with clear deliverables but with lots of scope to shape our agenda, build our culture and introduce best practice. You will work with core AISI teams, senior members of the Research Unit and cross-Government to deliver tangible outcomes at pace to grow, shape and scale the Institute to realise our ambitions.

Job description

As a Special Projects Senior Policy Advisor, you will be responsible for leading dedicated projects to grow and scale the AI Safety Institute. You will be responsible for leading complex and novel policy development, working across AISI, Whitehall and industry to establish best practice and provide robust advice to AISI Senior Leadership and Minister on policy options. This role might include line management of a HEO.

Your responsibilities could include delivering bespoke projects within the following

• People and Innovation Strategy: to developing organisational policies focused on talent retention, progression and organisational culture, taking industry and government best practice to develop creative and innovative solutions to create the best and most effective team to deliver AISI’s objectives;
• Function-based Strategy: develop and deliver the functional strategy and set up of the organisation to deliver AISI’s mission including: our international vision and presence, best in class corporate structures, information security and estates that underpin the work of the entirety of the organisation;
• Cross government collaboration: many of our projects will require collaboration across AISI, Whitehall and with industry.

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.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Policy: Experience of getting to grips with and developing complex and innovative policies in ambiguous environments. You are able to grasp technical detail and complex policy considerations and can translate strategic priorities into clear outcomes;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills: able to communicate effectively with a range of senior, expert and non-expert stakeholders and produce succinct advice clearly articulating complex issues;
• Innovative: you are always looking to find new and innovative ways of getting things done;
• Prioritisation: Ability to effectively manage multiple strands of work, with often competing priorities and track record of efficient project delivery;
• Team leadership: you are an effective team player, able to effectively manage multiple strands of work and flex priorities to ensure delivery while maintaining your own and your team’s resilience and wellbeing;
• Tech: A keen interest in AI and tech policy;
• Working with others: You can build collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders and leverage these to deliver objectives.

Desirable Criteria

• Scaling: Experience in building or scaling organisations/start-ups
• Projects: experience and skills in project management, particularly fast-moving projects with frequent change and re-prioritisation.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,860, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,492 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.

How to apply:

Selection process

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 give us examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role.

It will not be possible to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the application stage.

Interview stage

If you are selected for interview, we may ask you to prepare a short presentation. You will be assessed against Experience and Behaviours. You may also be asked for a fireside chat with a member of the senior leadership team following your interview.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Applications Open – 23 February 2024

Applications Close – 10 March 2024 at 23:55

Expected sift date – w/c 11 March 2024

Expected interview date/s – w/c 18 March 2024

Interview location - Interviews will be held virtually

Further Information

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/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 

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.