Job Specifications
Darlington, London, Manchester
Job Summary
The Director General for Emerging Technology & Artificial Intelligence will maximise opportunities and manage risks to ensure successful implementation and scaling of emerging technology for the UK's advantage.
The DG will lead the UK Government’s strategy, investment and regulation for emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, robotics, engineering biology and advanced materials. The role is responsible for joining up and aligning strategies across these interlinked domains, ensuring that policy, investment, and regulatory approaches are coherent and mutually reinforcing. The DG will balance innovation and risk, ensuring the UK remains globally competitive while safeguarding national security and public trust. The DG will oversee the implementation of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the AI Security Institute, and the development of AI regulation, and will lead DSIT’s work on online safety and digital harms.
For more information please see the attached candidate pack.
Job Description
As DG for Emerging Technology & AI, you will:
Lead implementation of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, delivering key milestones including the delivery of AI Growth Zones, expansion of public sector compute capacity, and delivery of AI skills programmes. You will coordinate across departments and industry to ensure the UK’s AI ecosystem is supported by infrastructure, talent and investment.
Oversee major programmes in quantum, semiconductors and robotics, including the National Quantum Strategy, the Semiconductor Strategy and emerging tech missions. You will manage delivery partnerships, direct funding to priority areas, and ensure programmes are aligned with national resilience and economic growth objectives.
Oversee the AI Security Institute, ensuring its status as a globally recognised centre of excellence for evaluating frontier AI systems. While the opportunities of AI for the UK are massive, in this role you will also be responsible for monitoring risks and challenges and working with government departments and regulators to manage these.
Lead DSIT’s work on online safety and digital harms, working closely with Ofcom and the Home Office to support implementation of the Online Safety Act, develop new policy as technology evolves and new evidence of harms emerges, striking the balance between safety, innovation and freedom of expression.
Represent the UK internationally on emerging tech governance, including follow-up to the 2023 AI Safety Summit. You will lead bilateral and multilateral engagements, shape global standards and secure strategic partnerships with allies and leading firms.
Lead a multidisciplinary team of 500 staff, including policy professionals, technical experts, analysts and programme managers. You will foster collaboration between civil servants and AI researchers, build inclusive capability, and support staff working on sensitive and high-pressure issues such as online harms and national security.
Advise ministers, Parliament and senior officials, providing clear, evidence-based recommendations on emerging technology policy, investment and regulation. You will be a visible leader across government and in public discourse, shaping the UK’s narrative on responsible tech leadership.
As DG For Emerging Technology & AI, You Will
Lead implementation of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, delivering key milestones including the delivery of AI Growth Zones, expansion of public sector compute capacity, and delivery of AI skills programmes. You will coordinate across departments and industry to ensure the UK’s AI ecosystem is supported by infrastructure, talent and investment.
Oversee major programmes in quantum, semiconductors and robotics, including the National Quantum Strategy, the Semiconductor Strategy and emerging tech missions. You will manage delivery partnerships, direct funding to priority areas, and ensure programmes are aligned with national resilience and economic growth objectives.
Oversee the AI Security Institute, ensuring its status as a globally recognised centre of excellence for evaluating frontier AI systems. While the opportunities of AI for the UK are massive, in this role you will also be responsible for monitoring risks and challenges and working with government departments and regulators to manage these.
Lead DSIT’s work on online safety and digital harms, working closely with Ofcom and the Home Office to support implementation of the Online Safety Act, develop new policy as technology evolves and new evidence of harms emerges, striking the balance between safety, innovation and freedom of expression.
Represent the UK internationally on emerging tech governance, including follow-up to the 2023 AI Safety Summit. You will lead bilateral and multilateral engagements, shape global standards and secure strategic partnerships with allies and leading firms.
Lead a multidisciplinary t