In A Nutshell
Support the development (and then lead the delivery) of Ada’s work on public sector use of data and AI, as part of Ada’s mission to ensure data and AI work for people and society.
Responsibilities
Development and delivery of public services strategy (20%)
- Work with the Associate Director (social and economic policy) to develop public services strategy, aligned with our new organisation strategy.
- Undertake rapid scoping to consider which issues to engage with, where Ada has a unique contribution to give, and the appropriate methods.
- Lead the successful delivery of public services strategy which balances responsive research, deeper primary/secondary research projects, cross-Ada and cross-Nuffield collaborative projects, convening, and synthesis.
- Map, establish and build key relationships with decision-makers and thinkers in order to position Ada, and specifically the Social and Economic Policy research domain, as a key influencer on questions of data and AI use in public services.
- Develop partnership with key actors, like regulators, what works centres, sector bodies, public services and parts of the public sector (like the Digital Centre of Government).
- Scope and consider international or comparative research and where UK research may be of value to wider audiences.
Research, writing and convening projects (60%)
- Scope, develop, lead and contribute to research, writing and convening projects related to
the use of data/AI in the public sector in the UK and elsewhere. - Conduct responsive research, analysis and translation on key public service questions.
- Exercise thought leadership and speak publicly to represent Ada in private and public
forums, deputising for Associate Directors where appropriate.
Identify potential project opportunities and contribute to funding bids.
Development of policy and practice recommendations (10%)
- Lead projects which support policy, advocacy and communications activities across S.
- Consider how to develop practical recommendations on top of Ada’s research to support public services making decisions about the use of data/AI.
Resource and people management (10%)
- Line management responsibility for up to three direct reports or consultants.
- To play a leading role in supportive a positive culture and effective working practices in
SES and across Ada, championing existing processes and suggesting how Ada could continue to evolve. - To have excellent working relationships with other research domains, communications and public participation and research practice.
- To manage own work and time effectively.
Skillset
- Experience of undertaking and working with primary and secondary research.
- Experience working on issues of data, technology and AI policy and/or its impact on society.
- Excellent editorial, synthesis and analysis skills.
- Experience working within a public sector or public service, or experience undertaking research or seeking to influence public sector practice or policy (from industry, charitable or civil society organisations, international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), think tanks or learned societies).
- Clear and persuasive communications, written and spoken.
- Experience contributing to the design and planning of policy/influencing strategy.
- Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Ability to produce and execute an ambitious but achievable agenda with high impact at pace.
- Ability to manage people, relationships and networks efficiently and with care.
- Experience of line management.
- A willingness to continually learn and immerse oneself in the issues raised by using data and AI.
- A keen and demonstrable interest in issues of social, public and tech issues; public sector reform; AI and data ethics; responsible research and innovation; and wider tech policy issues.
- A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and to addressing structural inequalities and injustice.
- Approaches research and project management in an organised and structured way.
- Strategic and tactical thinking, with a good political antenna, able to spot opportunities, gaps and positioning, weighing short-term and long-term ambitions for the organisation.
- Flexible and creative, able to think outside the box.
- Ability to speak with a non-partisan voice, reflecting Ada’s commitment to independence, diversity, pluralistic and evidence-based positions.
- Comfortable working at pace and with a large degree of independence.
- Embracing a collaborative approach to research, thinking and writing.
- A caring, mentoring and coaching approach to people management.