Head of Delivery - Technical Solutions - AI Security Institute
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
We are looking for a G6 Head of Delivery for AISI's Technical Solutions teams (Alignment, Model Transparency, and the Red Team). As Head of Delivery, you will play a central role in translating cutting-edge technical research into tangible impact: accelerating how our teams operate, deliver, and scale.
You will be responsible for setting the rhythm of delivery across this group: lifting ambition, role-modelling delivery excellence across deeply technical projects, providing direct support to our Research Directors, and coaching and managing our Strategy and Delivery Managers. You'll continuously improve the systems, habits, and culture that allow our researchers to move faster while maintaining a high bar for quality and rigour.
People suited to this role will be used to a fast-paced, technical environment and will thrive in ambiguity. You should be equally comfortable switching between high-level strategy and object-level execution - from designing lightweight systems and processes to unblocking a specific research project. You'll enjoy developing and managing staff, providing growth opportunities and support creating an environment of autonomy, clarity, and high performance., AISI's Research Unit combines world-class technical research with strong delivery capability. Our delivery staff are critical partners and collaborators in our research, ensuring we execute with clarity, pace, and excellence. They help unblock problems, manage risk, and ensure the team's work meets the high standards expected by AISI and government.
In this role, you will work closely with the Deputy Director, our Workstream Leads, and our Chief Scientist, Geoffrey Irving. You will:
- Own the end-to-end delivery function for a diverse and fast-growing portfolio of technical projects across Safeguards (e.g. misuse classifiers, monitors), Control (e.g. linear probes, control protocols, white-box methods), and Alignment (e.g. interpretability, mechanistic alignment). You'll ensure projects are scoped clearly, resourced adequately, and delivered to a high standard.
- Set the rhythm and raise the bar - driving up ambition, removing blockers, and helping technical teams move faster and more confidently. You'll spot where projects stall, design interventions, and create the conditions for momentum and clarity.
- Act as a strategic delivery partner to the Deputy Director and Chief Scientist - helping shape the group's strategy and translating it into clear operational plans. You'll also support engagement with senior stakeholders across government, academia, and industry, ensuring our work lands with impact.
- Coach and lead our team of Strategy & Delivery Managers, creating an environment of autonomy and stretch. You'll line manage delivery staff, support their professional growth, and role-model judgment, prioritisation, and delivery excellence under pressure.
- Build and continuously improve our delivery infrastructure - identifying and implementing lightweight systems, tools, and norms that enable faster, more consistent execution across a growing research organisation.
- Hold a high bar on quality, comms, and risk management, ensuring project outputs meet AISI standards, risks are managed early, and delivery plans are transparent and aligned across the organisation.
- This is a highly hands-on role for someone who thrives on responsibility, autonomy, and problem-solving - and who wants to help shape one of the world's leading AI research organisations tackling some of the most technically complex and safety-critical challenges of our time., 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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 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 National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
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.
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.
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.
Feedback 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 security check .
See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., * 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)
- 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
Requirements
Do you have experience in Program management?, * Demonstrated experience in project delivery, operations, or programme management
- Experience working in a matrix or multidisciplinary environment, ideally with technical or research teams
- Experience working in impact-oriented research teams
- Experience working on technical AI safety
- Strong ability to manage a diverse group of stakeholders and build trust across technical and policy communities
- Excellent leadership and people-management skills
- Outstanding organisational and problem-solving ability
- Comfortable operating in fast-moving, ambiguous contexts
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Drive to work on AI safety, alignment, and technical risk mitigation
Desirable
- Experience administering grant programmes
- Experience identifying philanthropic funders for research programmes, * Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits & conditions
Alongside your salary of £67,250, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £19,482 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.
