Deputy Director Research Unit (Artificial Intelligence)

Job summary

The AI Security Institute exists to give governments a rigorous, scientific understanding of the risks posed by advanced AI and to develop mitigations that meaningfully reduce those risks.

In just two years, AISI’s Research Unit has grown into a world class function within the global AI research and safety ecosystem. It brings together around 120 researchers, engineers and programme managers from frontier AI labs, leading academic institutions and high performing government teams. The Unit produces novel technical research, builds and runs state of the art evaluations, and works directly with frontier AI developers and national security partners. Its work now shapes how government understands, assesses and responds to AI risk in practice.

We are recruiting a Deputy Director of the Research Unit to cover parental leave. You will co-lead the Unit overall and take direct responsibility for half the teams, spanning chemical and biological risks, societal resilience, human influence, the science of evaluations and core technology.

Job description

This role is about leading exceptional people to deliver work that matters. Quickly, credibly and at scale.

You will:
• Set direction and grip delivery across AISI’s most consequential technical work, working closely with Research Directors and team leads
• Lead a highly expert, mission driven workforce, setting culture, pace and expectations in partnership with the Deputy Director
• Translate complex technical research into insight government can act on, shaping policy, risk assessment and national security understanding
• Build high trust partnerships across government, academia and the AI safety ecosystem, prioritising work that reduces real world risk
• Operate as a senior leader across AISI and DSIT, contributing to organisational direction and credibility

Person specification

You are likely already operating at a senior level, leading complex work in or around AI, security, technology, or high consequence policy. You may be in government, academia, industry, or a hybrid research environment and are trusted to run difficult programmes, manage exceptional people, and make judgement calls where the answers are not obvious.

You do not need to be a hands-on technical specialist, but you are intellectually confident engaging with complex technical material and asking the right questions. You are motivated by impact and relevance and want your work to shape real decisions, not just publications or internal outputs.

This role will suit someone who enjoys operating in ambiguity, setting direction where precedent is limited, and building momentum in fast moving, high stakes environments. You value strong teams, clear standards, and work that genuinely matters.

Why this role matters

Decisions being made now about how advanced AI is evaluated and understood will shape government action for years to come. In this role, you will help determine what governments know about AI risk and how that knowledge is used.
You will work closely with Ministers, senior national security partners and the leadership of leading AI companies, alongside some of the strongest technical talent in the field.

Clearance

SC clearance is required for this role as a minimum. If you do not have DV clearance, you will be expected to obtain it in post.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £23,465 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

To apply for this post please forward the following following documents no later than 23:55 on Sunday 4th January 2026 to adam.beaumont@dsit.gov.uk

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A Statement of Suitability (no more than 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the person specification.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

Please note that we are unable to provide feedback to those candidates who are not shortlisted for interview. Written feedback will be made
available (on request) to those candidates who attend interview.

If you are unable to apply direct please contact george.ponniah@dsit.gov.uk

Selection Process

A panel chaired by Adam Beaumont, Director of the UK’s AI Security Institute (AISI),DSIT will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Adam will be supported by a selection panel made up of other senior stakeholders from across the department, full details of this panel will be
shared with shortlisted candidates.

Alongside other departments, DSIT is committed to making the Civil Service more inclusive and recognises the value of diverse interview panels. Helping candidates, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, to feel comfortable and at ease during the interview process, to reduce bias and increase the objectiveness of decisions. In line with the Civil Service’s Inclusive Board initiative we aim to ensure that, as well as being gender diverse, DHSC’s interview panels for Senior Civil Service
will include at least one panellist who is from an ethnic minority background and/or who has a physical or non-physical disability (which may not be visible).

Shortlist

The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the essential criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’.
Candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme and A Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme who meet the minimum selection criteria in the job specification are guaranteed an interview.

Assessment

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a series of assessments which will include a staff engagement exercise. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Discussion with Vacancy Holder

Shortlisted candidates may have the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder, Adam Beaumont, Director of the UK’s AI Security Institute (AISI),DSIT, prior to the final interview. This is an informal discussion to allow candidates to learn more about the role, and is not part of the assessment process.
Interview

Panel Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order 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.

The Success Profile Framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation at interview. This presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience within the sector. Full details will be provided prior to interview.

The following behaviours will be explored at interview stage:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

In addition, the interview will explore your technical suitability

Interviews will take place virtually, full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

Timeline:

• Advert Close Date – 23:55 Sunday 15th February 2026
• Screening Interview – between 18th and 25th February 2026
• Assessment and Behaviour Interview – Week commencing 2nd March 2026
• Final Interviews with Director and CTO - Week commencing 9th March 2026

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 developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Peter.antsey@dsit.gov.uk
• Email : Peter.antsey@dsit.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dsitresourcing.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/

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