Director, Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce - Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC)

Job summary

About Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC)

The Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) supports the Prime Minister and Cabinet to ensure the effective running of Government. The OPMC, which includes No.10 and No.10 North alongside our wider policy teams, in partnership with HM Treasury, sets direction for the rest of the Government to deliver.

The OPMC is responsible for:

• delivering the objectives of the Prime Minister, the First Secretary of State and the Cabinet through priority setting, translating political mandates into action, running ‘taskforces’ to address policy challenges, and managing critical stakeholder communications;
• supporting collective Government, to ensure the effective development, coordination, agreement and implementation of policy;
• delivering good growth in every part of the United Kingdom, via No10 North, working with local leaders to drive a place-based approach to policy;
• holding departments and organisations to account for delivery of the Government’s priorities and achieving outcomes for citizens;
• setting certain policies or providing advice on matters of state, including propriety and ethics, constitution and the Union;
• ‘rewiring the state’, and leading and reforming a high-performing, efficient and innovative Civil Service, including on people and AI to transform public services, and improving public procurement;
• coordinating our approach to cross-departmental alignment on national security, European and global affairs, supporting the National Security Council and the Joint Intelligence Organisation, and leading the Government’s response to crises; and
• sponsoring a number of delivery agencies that provide services to the rest of government and enable the delivery of an efficient and effective state.

Job description

About The Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce

This is an exceptional opportunity to shape one of the most consequential government missions of our time.

The Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce has been established at the heart of government to drive the UK’s overall AI strategy, accelerate AI adoption across the public sector, and ensure the benefits of AI are realised across the economy and society. The Taskforce is chaired by Lord Patrick Vallance and sits within the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Taskforce’s priorities currently include:

• accelerating the adoption of AI across public services;
• strengthening the UK’s sovereign AI capabilities and capturing the economic opportunities created by AI;
• shaping the government’s response to the impact of AI on work, labour markets and society;
• ensuring the UK harnesses AI to strengthen national security and defence, while protecting the country from emerging AI-related threats.

Key Responsibilities:

As Director, Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce, your key responsibilities will include:

• You will be accountable for a portfolio of priority programmes, deploying people and expertise where they can have the greatest impact through a task-and-finish approach. You will set direction, turn ambitious objectives into practical programmes of work, establish clear outcomes and measures of progress, and maintain momentum across complex organisational dependencies.

• The role will involve working at the most senior levels across government and with a broad range of external partners. Depending on the portfolio, these could include Permanent Secretaries and Directors General, public-service organisations, businesses, investors, researchers, trade unions, civil society, regulators, national security partners, local and regional leaders, and international counterparts.
• You will need to operate effectively in an environment where priorities are evolving, evidence may be incomplete, and delivery levers are often distributed across multiple organisations. You will also play a full part in the corporate leadership of the Taskforce, helping to build its culture, capability and reputation as a new centre of excellence at the heart of government.

Person specification

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, that you provide evidence of the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Proven track record of driving end-to-end cross-sector complex strategic initiatives, operating in fast-moving environments, and influencing a wide range of very senior stakeholders

• The capability to recruit, develop, and inspire high-performing, inclusive leadership teams.

• Exceptional experience driving delivery at scale, turning ambitious objectives into concrete, measurable outcomes through decisive leadership, disciplined coordination and the effective use of delivery partners across organisational boundaries.

• Senior experience relevant to one or more of the Taskforce’s potential areas of work, such as AI or technology policy; economic growth, investment or industrial strategy; public-service reform; work, skills or social policy; national security or defence; or another comparable field.

• A credible understanding of AI and technological change, including the opportunities, risks and practical implications for government, the economy and society. Deep technical expertise is not required, but you must be able to engage credibly with technical specialists, interrogate evidence and challenge assumptions.
• Demonstrable evidence of championing and operationalising the effective and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and other technologies to modernise workflows and automate routine delivery; fostering a high trust and experimental environment where technical specialists collaborate openly with generalist delivery and/or policy professionals.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £105,000, Cabinet Office contributes £30,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Benefits

Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career within the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing.

As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.

This includes:

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays.
• This will be complimented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday;
• A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;
• Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;
• Childcare benefits (policy for new employees as of 5 April 2018): The government has introduced the Tax- Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Working parents can open an online childcare account and for every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2000 a year for each child or £4000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay for registered childcare. Existing employees may be able to continue to claim childcare vouchers, so please check how the policy would work for you here;
• Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;
• The opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable); and occupational sick pay.

Civil Service Pension

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package.

A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit the Civil Service Pension Scheme for more details.

Great Member Pension

• Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
• Provides a secure pension payable for life with no investment uncertainty
• Choice of tax-free lump sum
• Amongst the lowest member contributions in public sector
• Generous build rate of 2.3% of your earnings as a pension each year

Generous Employer Contribution

Employer contribution towards your pension is extremely generous – on average 28.98% of your pay

These contributions pay for:

• A pension for you
• Pension for your loved ones
• Death benefits
• Ill health benefits

Death Benefits

• Able to nominate anyone (including charities) for a Tax-free lump sum in the event of your death
• Lump Sum of up to two times your pay
• Pension for your spouse/partner of around 37.5% of your pension
• Pension for eligible children

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

Application

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 23:55pm, Monday 30th November 2026.

1. A CV (max 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria and how you would lead this portfolio at Deputy Director level. Use clear examples that show the scale of your responsibility, the choices you made, how you influenced others and the outcomes achieved.

Failure to complete both sections of the online application form (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say’. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us via: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Candidates wishing to submit their application via High Side, please contact no10recruitment@no10.gov.uk

Shortlist

Your application will be acknowledged when it is received.

A panel will assess all applications to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

The sift and interview panel chair will be Stephen Cohen, a Civil Service Commissioner. The other sift and interview panel members will be:

• Oliver Ilott, Director General for Artificial Intelligence in the Cabinet Office
• Other panellists will be confirmed prior to interview.

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Assessment

If you are successful at the application stage, you may have the opportunity to speak to Ollie Ilott, Director General for Artificial Intelligence in the Cabinet Office 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.

Candidates may have also the opportunity to speak to Susannah Storey, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. 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.

You will be invited 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.

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation at interview. Full details will be provided prior to interview.

Full details of the Interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without the need for a new competition.

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible.

Indicative Timeline

We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Advert Closing Date23:55 Monday 30th November 2026

ShortlistFriday 4th December 2026

Interview Friday 11th December 2026

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Security clearance

If successful you must hold or be willing to obtain SC level of security clearance to start, and must be willing to obtain DV clearance once in post. More information about the vetting process can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/united-kingdom-security-vetting

Clearance Level residency requirements:

• SC (Security Check) 5 years continuous UK residency.
• DV (Developed Vetting)10 years continuous UK residency

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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 at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

TOWN HALL CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Cabinet Office, will be holding an informal information session via Google Meet on Monday 23rd November 2026 – time to be confirmed, for potential applicants to find out more about the role of Director, Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce. 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 Cabinet Office and AI agendas.

Please email psoliverilott@cabinetoffice.gov.uk to register your interest in attending. Cabinet Office will then send you a Google Meet invite.

We hope you can join us for this insightful session.

Please note that we are unable to provide feedback to those candidates who are not shortlisted for an interview.

Written feedback will be made available (on request) to those candidates who attend the interview.

If you are unable to apply online, please contact scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. 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 basic (or equivalent) 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.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 in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

2026.11.11 Director, Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce 488713 Draft candidate pack - Opens in new window (pdf, 965kB)2026-11-11 Candidate accessibility pack Opens in new window (docx, 2202kB)