Workstream Lead, Agentic AI Risk Modelling and Mitigations

<div class="content-intro"><h2>About the AI Security Institute</h2> <p>The AI Security Institute is the world's largest and best-funded team dedicated to understanding advanced AI risks and translating that knowledge into action. We’re in the heart of the UK government with direct lines to No. 10 (the Prime Minister's office), and we work with frontier developers and governments globally.</p> <p>We’re here because governments are critical for advanced AI going well, and UK AISI is uniquely positioned to mobilise them. With our resources, unique agility and international influence, this is the best place to shape both AI development and government action.</p></div><div class="vac_display_field"> <div class="vac_display_field_value"> <div class="vac_display_field"> <div class="vac_display_field_value"> <div class="vac_display_field"> <div class="vac_display_field_value"> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">The deadline for applying to this role is Tuesday 13th October 2026, end of day, anywhere on Earth.</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Job summary</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Within AISI’s Research Unit, the Agentic AI Risk Modelling and Mitigations team studies how advanced AI systems could become difficult to oversee, correct or shut down as they take on longer and more autonomous tasks. The team builds scenario-based risk models that extend published work on AI timelines and systemic risk and uses them to identify practical mitigations such as monitoring infrastructure, deployment guidance and containment protocols. Its analysis has been shared across government and is intended to inform real decisions by the organisations best placed to act.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">We are looking for a Workstream Lead to lead and line-manage this team through its next phase. You will shape the team’s strategy and research agenda, set the scientific direction of its work, and ensure that promising mitigations move from analysis into adoption. This is a senior leadership role for someone who can combine technical judgement, strategic thinking, delivery focus and strong people leadership in a fast-moving and highly consequential area.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">This role sits within AISI’s Research Unit and reports to a Research Unit Deputy Director.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Job description</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">As Workstream Lead for Agentic AI Risk Modelling and Mitigations, you will provide the scientific, strategic and managerial leadership needed to keep the team at the forefront of this area.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">You will be accountable for the team’s research agenda and for the routes to implementation of any mitigations it identifies. This includes setting priorities, choosing analytical approaches, reviewing the quality of outputs, and ensuring the work is relevant to the institutions that can act on it. You will also lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, oversee multiple strands of work at once, and build strong relationships with senior policy and technical stakeholders across government, research organisations and frontier AI companies.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">The team’s aim for March 2027 is for the UK organisations best placed to act to have adopted its existing mitigations, and for newly identified mitigations to move more quickly from research to adoption. You will play a central role in achieving that aim.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Role summary</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">You will:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Set the team’s strategy, quarterly plan and overall research agenda;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lead the scientific direction of the team’s risk modelling, including selecting approaches, choosing which scenarios to develop, and reviewing outputs;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Develop analyses of how advanced AI systems could become difficult to oversee, correct or shut down, and identify practical ways to reduce those risks;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Turn research into assessments, mitigations and implementation pathways, and work with relevant UK organisations to support adoption;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Hire, line-manage and develop a multidisciplinary team, maintaining high standards across multiple strands of work;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Build trusted relationships with senior policy and technical staff across government, as well as leaders in research organisations and frontier AI companies;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Work with other AISI research leaders on priorities, quality and delivery across the Research Unit.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Person specification</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">In accordance with the Civil Service Commission rules, the following list contains all selection criteria for the interview process.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Essential criteria</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience of leading impactful research, scientific work, or technical programmes relevant to frontier AI, AI safety, AI governance, risk analysis, or a closely related field;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Strong strategic judgement on advanced AI risks and the ability to identify the most important questions in a fast-moving and uncertain area;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience of setting and delivering research agendas or analytical programmes in technically complex environments;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Ability to lead high-quality analytical or scientific work, including setting direction, reviewing outputs critically, and maintaining rigorous standards;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience of translating technical or research findings into practical recommendations, operational interventions, or policy-relevant outputs;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Track record of successfully leading and line-managing high-performing multidisciplinary teams, including developing more junior staff;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience of building effective relationships with senior stakeholders, including in government, academia, industry, or other complex institutional environments;</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.</span><span data-ccp-props="