Executive Director, Oxford Programme for Cyber and Technology Policy

About the Blavatnik School of Government

Our vision is of a world better led, a world better served and a world better governed. We are a global school committed to improving the quality of government and public policymaking worldwide, through three routes: teaching current and future leaders; generating research with impact; and engaging with governments and practitioners.

What we offer

The School is a collaborative, friendly, and dynamic department based in an award-winning building in Oxford. We host regular events and talks with well-known guest speakers – all of which are open to staff. On the social side, we have regular coffee/cake mornings for staff, a family-friendly Halloween event, and Christmas and summer parties.

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days’ annual leave
• Family leave schemes and a comprehensive range of childcare services
• Cycle loan scheme and discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
• Opportunities for hybrid working (typically 60% of working hours on-site and 40% remotely)

More information about working at the School can be found on our jobs page.

About the role

We are looking to recruit to an Executive Director to the Oxford Programme for Cyber and Technology Policy. They will lead and manage a new research initiative designed to help governments navigate the digital frontier through the responsible adoption of emerging technologies. The programme’s initial focus is on AI and cyber security, supported by a two-year research initiative funded by Open Philanthropy that explores how governments can collaborate with frontier AI organisations to protect advanced AI systems from cyber theft. OxCTP also convenes a Global Tech Policy Seminar Series, bringing together leading academics, policymakers and industry experts to address evolving global challenges, ranging from cyber trends and data privacy to the risks of cloud concentration and the role of AI in national security

This post is fixed term for 1 year in the first instance and is full time.

About you

You will hold a doctorate in public policy or a related field. You will possess significant professional experience, including suitable senior-level government service (e.g., senior analyst or team lead). Appropriate to career stage, have a strong record of publishing policy analysis on AI governance, AI and national security, and related technology issues. Possess sufficient specialist expertise to navigate the intersection of law, ethics, and policy as applied to emerging technologies.

Application process

Please upload a supporting statement that outlines how you meet the selection criteria in your own words, along with your CV and the details of three referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is at 12 noon (UK time) on 23 April 2025. Interviews will be held virtually shortly after the closing date.

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