Head of AI, Technology and Regulation in City of London

Eligibility: Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK, as we are unable to sponsor visas.

Location: London

Job Type: Full-Time, hybrid (3 days in the office, 2 days remote)

Contract: Two-year fixed-term contract, with funding secured for the period

Reports to: Director General

Travel: International travel will be required

We are interested in candidates who combine intellectual depth with curiosity, adaptability and strong people skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and Intellectual Leadership
• Develop the intellectual direction and research programme of the AI, Technology and Regulation Desk in collaboration with the Director General, Senior Fellows and relevant advisers.
• Undertake rigorous research into AI governance, regulation, emerging technologies and institutional capacity.
• Produce high-quality research papers, policy briefings, working papers and other publications capable of informing policymakers, regulators, businesses and wider public debate.
• Develop original research questions that look beyond immediate policy controversies and anticipate emerging challenges over the next five to ten years.
• Monitor developments in artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and technology regulation across North America, the European Union, the United Kingdom, India, and other relevant jurisdictions.
• Produce rapid-response analysis where developments warrant timely intervention, while ensuring that the Desk's research programme remains focused on longer-term strategic questions.
• Contribute to research across other ICfS Desks where AI and technology intersect with democracy, security, sustainability, markets, education and institutional resilience.
• Design and contribute to private roundtables, public lectures, workshops, conferences, podcasts and other convenings
• Establish a network of advisers and collaborators around the Desk, drawing on expertise from academia, government, regulators, industry and technology.
• Build relationships with universities, regulators, technology companies, research organisations and policy institutes across North America, the UK, Europe, India and internationally.
• Contribute to media commentary and public discussion where appropriate.
• Manage and mentor interns and junior researchers working on Desk projects.
• Set clear research tasks, review work and support the development of junior researchers.
• Work collaboratively with ICfS Fellows, researchers and operational colleagues.
• Contribute actively to the intellectual life of the Centre, including research meetings, workshops and cross-Desk projects.

AI adoption and building ICfS capability

• Help ICfS understand and adopt emerging AI technologies responsibly and effectively.
• Experiment with AI-enabled research methods, tools and workflows that can improve the quality, speed and effectiveness of research across the organisation.
• Support the development of appropriate internal approaches to the governance, evaluation and responsible use of AI.

Requirements

• Strong academic or professional training in artificial intelligence policy, science and technology policy, science and policy studies, public policy, technology governance, regulation or a closely related discipline.
• A PhD, relevant postgraduate research training, or equivalent professional and research experience would be highly desirable. Exceptional candidates with other demonstrably relevant experience will also be considered.
• A strong understanding of AI governance, public policy and emerging technologies.
• A serious intellectual interest in how technology affects institutions, democracy, markets and society.
• A strong interest in transnational and comparative research, particularly how different political, regulatory and institutional systems respond to emerging technologies.
• Excellent analytical and research skills, with the ability to identify important questions rather than simply summarise existing debates.
• Excellent written English and the ability to communicate technically complex ideas clearly and concisely.
• The ability to translate academic, technical and regulatory debates into practical policy analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the confidence to engage constructively with academics, policymakers, regulators, business leaders, technologists and colleagues.
• Collaborative and intellectually generous, with an ability to draw effectively on the expertise of Senior Fellows and external advisers.
• Ability to manage multiple research priorities and deliver high-quality work to deadline.
• Willingness to undertake international travel.
• Academic or professional familiarity with areas such as cybersecurity, cryptography, AI safety, model evaluation or other emerging technology fields.
• Experience producing policy papers, academic research, policy briefings or substantive analytical writing.
• Experience working with or engaging government, regulators, think tanks, universities or technology companies.
• Experience organising or contributing to policy roundtables, conferences or other high-level convenings.
• Practical experience using AI tools for research, analysis, knowledge management or organisational productivity.
• Experience managing interns, researchers or collaborative research projects.

AI, Technology and Regulation Desk

The Desk's working mission is: Building bridges to enable AI for inclusive, sustainable and civilisational flourishing.

A central question will guide its work:

What institutions will society need five or ten years from now, which existing institutions may struggle or fail, and what new forms of institutional architecture may become necessary?

The Desk will bring together technology, policy, regulation and institutional analysis. It will take a comparative Canada-EU-UK-India perspective while remaining globally relevant, including engagement with developments in the United States and other major technology jurisdictions.

About the ICfS

The International Centre for Sustainability is a London based independent think tank committed to fostering deeper alliances between the US-UK-India and other global stakeholders. For us this means to strengthen people to people ties on a basis of a shared vision and shared values, to deliver better governance.

ICfS is committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background.

We acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in research and policy-making, and we are committed to doing what we can to correct this.

We welcome applications from candidates with diverse academic, professional and personal backgrounds and encourage candidates to apply even where they do not meet every desirable criterion.

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