Sourcing Partner

Job SummaryMost headhunters spend their careers moving executives into roles that don’t change much. This one decides whether governments can rise to the challenge of advanced AI.The UK government is leading the world on preparing for transformative AI. The AI Security Institute (AISI) is the world’s largest and best-funded team dedicated to understanding frontier AI risks and translating that knowledge into action. Alongside us, the Incubator for AI (i.AI) and the AI Opportunities Unit (AIO) are making rapid progress on getting the public and private sectors to capture AI’s potential.These three teams work in the heart of the UK government, with direct lines to No.10 and partnerships with frontier AI labs, academia, startups, and governments worldwide. It’s a unique position: no other government has moved this fast, with this much backing, on the most important technology of our lifetimes.And if we can’t bring in the right people, we waste that opportunity.Job DescriptionRole Overview As a Sourcing Partner, your work will determine whether the UK can staff the programmes that matter most to its action on frontier AI. You’ll compete head-to-head with top AI companies that pay more. You'll win with sharper storytelling, stronger sourcing, and the power of our mission.A separate team handles applications, interview scheduling, and onboarding — so you focus on high-leverage headhunting, events, brand, and relationship building work.What you’ll do: Drive end-to-end sourcing for critical roles: map the market, run multichannel outbound, pitch and qualify leads, prep and coach hiring managers, and drive to offer/accept. Lead creative events, branding, and partnerships projects to boost talent attraction: conference sponsorships, targeted workshops, written and video content, and external partnerships Keep pipelines tight: maintain immaculate data, report on funnel progress, and iterate to bring in top talent fast Build relationships with AI and government leaders: work with world-leading talent and collaborators from frontier AI labs, startups, academia, and government In one year... you'll have brought dozens of talented AI researchers and operators into some of the UK's most important AI roles Why it matters:This is a hard role. And that’s the point. Governments aren’t good at building world-class technical teams. We need to change that.The next few years will decide whether AI transforms billions of lives for the better, or whether the technology is allowed to be developed unchecked, creating huge risks for society and national security. This depends on whether governments can rise to the challenge.AISI, AIO, and i.AI have the mandates, resources, and global access. But without the right people in place, that mission fails.If you want your sourcing work to be more than commercial transactions, if you want to mobilise exceptional people into the most consequential work of this decade, this is the role for you. Apply to lead the team that ensures the UK doesn’t waste its once-in-history chance to shape AI for good.Person specificationA mission-driven operator with sharp judgement, speed, and resilience. Executive search, technical sourcing, or similar people-facing operator experience Judgment and taste in assessing and attracting elite technical talent: you can filter signal from noise and coach your team to do effective research and networking.Outstanding written and verbal communicator across audiences. Organised, data-driven, and creative in solving sourcing challenges. BehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:Managing a Quality ServiceDelivering at PaceCommunicating and InfluencingBenefitsAlongside your salary of £58,040, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £16,814 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.Office attendanceThe Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home-based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.Things you need to knowSelection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.Selection process detailsAs part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and additional role specific questions (personal statement).Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.The process for this role will be split across four stages, as follows: Application Review [w/c 13th October] – Candidates will submit an anonymised CV, and responses to the below questions within their personal statement (500 words max)Why are you interested in this role?  What experience and traits make you a good fit (beyond what we can see from your CV)? In the case of high applicant numbers, applications will be sifted on the CV.Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. Initial interview about your career experience and interest in this role. Presentation panel interview assessing behaviours - 36 hours before the interview, we will send you hypothetical sourcing challenges and you will prepare your answers as a presentation. During this interview, you’ll present and we’ll ask questions. Final conversation with senior leadership.Interview Location: We anticipate interviews will take place via MS Teams.Candidates are asked to exercise flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.Interview dates to be confirmed.Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at final interview may be offered a future post at the grade below the one advertised.Further InformationReasonable AdjustmentWe are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DSIT Candidate Guidance. A DSIT Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.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.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.FeedbackFeedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirementsThis job is broadly open to the following groups:UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals 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) (opens in a new window)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 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further informationThis vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicantsJob contact :Name : Olivia JimenezEmail : Olivia.Jimenez@dsit.gov.ukRecruitment teamEmail : Evie.Ridout@dsit.gov.ukFurther informationAppointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance DSITrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk . If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints.