Chief Research Officer

Job summary

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the defining strategic technologies of the 21st century. The capabilities of advanced AI systems are accelerating at extraordinary speed, with profound implications for national security, economic power, scientific progress and societal resilience.

The UK Government is at the forefront of answering increasingly urgent questions about these systems: what they are capable of, what risks they may create and how the UK should respond as capabilities continue to advance. The AI Security Institute (AISI) was created to answer those questions.

AISI exists to build the scientific and technical understanding the UK Government needs to navigate the emergence of increasingly powerful AI systems. We combine frontier technical expertise, direct access to advanced AI models and the authority of the British state to help shape the international approach to AI safety and security.

In less than two years, AISI has become one of the leading institutions in the international AI safety ecosystem. We have conducted pre-deployment testing of advanced AI systems, driven concrete safety improvements with leading AI developers, published influential research on emerging capabilities and open-sourced technical infrastructure now used by researchers worldwide.

We have:

• Published the first government assessment of frontier AI trends, finding AI capabilities surpassing expert baselines across biology, chemistry and cyber.
• Tested frontier models before they reach the public and driven concrete safety improvements
• Open sourced Inspect: our evaluation framework, now used by researchers worldwide.
• Set out ourresearch agenda, spanning cyber, chem-bio, alignment, control and societal resilience.
• Launched the Alignment Project, awarding over £27 million to more than 60 teams globally.

We have built the largest government technical team in the world focused on AI safety and security with over 100 technical staff. The next phase is about turning that capability into lasting international influence. As advanced AI systems become more capable and strategically important, the UK Government will increasingly require institutions capable not only of understanding these technologies, but shaping how they are evaluated, governed and safely developed internationally. AISI intends to be one of those institutions.

We are now looking for an exceptional leader to help take us forward.

Job description

The Chief Research Officer (CRO) will help lead AISI at a pivotal moment for the development of advanced AI systems.

• As co-leader of AISI alongside the Director, you will shape the Institute’s technical strategy, international relationships and long-term impact. You will determine where AISI can have the greatest influence, help shape international approaches to AI security and ensure the Institute remains one of the world’s leading authorities on advanced AI systems.
  
• You will be personally accountable for how AISI generates scientific and technical impact. You will own the institute’s technical vision and make high stakes decisions about technical focus areas as capabilities evolve ensuring AISI’s output generates decision relevant insight for Government.
  
• You will represent the UK Government directly with frontier AI labs, international partners and leading researchers, building the relationships, trust and credibility that allow AISI to operate at the forefront of this field. You will represent the Institute publicly at the highest levels and serve as one of the UK Government’s principal sources of technical judgement on rapidly evolving AI capabilities.
  
• You will serve as one of the UK Government’s principal sources of technical and scientific judgement on frontier AI, providing clear, timely and authoritative advice to Ministers, senior officials and the national security community on the implications of frontier AI developments for security, resilience and public policy.
• The decisions made in this role will influence not only the future direction of AISI, but potentially the broader trajectory of international AI security efforts.
  
  

Person specification

Essential criteria

We are looking for an exceptional leader with the judgement, credibility and ambition to help lead AISI through its next phase of growth.

• You will likely have experience leading large-scale technical or scientific programmes and multidisciplinary teams in highly complex environments alongside a deep understanding of advanced AI systems and the surrounding research landscape.
  
  
• You should be capable of operating effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving and high-stakes environments where evidence is often incomplete and decisions carry significant consequences.
  
  
• You will need the credibility to engage directly with leading AI researchers, frontier laboratories, senior government leaders and international counterparts, while maintaining the intellectual rigour and independence required of a public institution.
  
  
• Just as importantly, you will need to be an exceptional builder of organisations and talent, capable of attracting world-class researchers and engineers and scaling an institution operating at the frontier of one of the most important technologies in the world. You should be comfortable holding both the strategic vision and operational detail.
  
  
• A significant body of research work in frontier AI, with a record of original contribution to the field demonstrating sustained intellectual leadership.
  
  
• We are looking for someone capable of combining technical depth, strategic judgement and institutional leadership at a moment that may shape the trajectory of AI globally.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £230,000, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £66,631 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

TOWN HALL CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Oliver Ilott, DG Emerging Technology and AI will be holding an informal information session via MSTeams on Wednesday 10th June between 10:30 – 11:30am for potential applicants to find out more about the role of Chief Research Officer, AISI. Whether you are contemplating an application or simply want more insight into the role and its potential impact, this session will provide you with a much better understanding of the environment, expectations and ambitions of DSIT’s digital and AI agendas.

Please email etai.dg@dsit.gov.ukto register your interest in attending. DSIT will then send you an MSTeams invite.

HOW TO APPLY

When applying you will need to follow the online application process which includes a two page CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, along with a statement of suitability (Max 750 words).

Applications will be sifted to select those demonstrating the best fit with the post against the criteria set out in the person specification. Please ensure you keep this in mind when writing your CV and supporting statement.​ The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which a decision is expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

ASSESSMENT

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a fireside chat, a take home task and a Staff Engagement Exercise in advance of the final panel interview. This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Shortlisted candidates can request an informal conversation about the role with the vacancy holder, [etai.dg@dsit.gov.uk]. This discussion does not form part of the assessment.

Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates at the earliest opportunity.

For further information regarding the assessments please visit - https://scs-assessments.co.uk/ .

INTERVIEW

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

As part of the process there may be assessment of skills either by a presentation or simulated exercise with follow up questions. Full details of the requirements will be given to shortlisted candidates ahead of their interview.

SELECTION AND FEEDBACK

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible, and will offer the opportunity to discuss feedback for all candidates who reached interview. A reserve list will be held for up to 12 months, which we may use to fill future suitable vacancies.

NATIONALITY

This role is open to candidates from a wide range of nationalities. If you do not currently meet Civil Service nationality requirements, we may still be able to progress your application through an alternative appointment route, subject to approval and any required visa sponsorship or residency requirements.

Please note that this process can extend onboarding timelines and any offer would be conditional on the necessary approvals being secured.

All appointments remain subject to UK security vetting requirements relevant to the role.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 1 year. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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.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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance dsitresourcing.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/

Attachments

2026-06-03 DSIT AISI CRO 463566 Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 2943kB)DSIT 463566 Chief Research Officer Accessibility Pack Opens in new window (docx, 59kB)