Strategy and Engagement Manager - AI

National Physical Laboratory (NPL); Teddington; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the UK seeks a Strategy & Engagement Manager to lead cross-functional teams, shape national AI initiatives, and engage policymakers, industry, and international partners across government and industry.

Based at our Teddington site, with travel to Glasgow and Cambridge hubs, you will drive strategic partnerships, develop communications, and translate AI science into practical impact for government, industry and the international AI ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and running complex projects in AI policy, governance, or research.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Excellent organisation and delivery skills; track record of managing cross-functional teams.
• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to translate technical material.
• Collaborative, proactive; comfortable with ambiguity in fast-moving field.
• Strong interest in technical and governance dimensions of AI.
• Experience with UK government departments or national missions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive stakeholder engagement activities across government, industry, academia, regulators, standards and assurance bodies, and NPL’s international counterparts.
• Lead the development and delivery of NPL’s national and international stakeholder engagement strategy across a portfolio of AI projects.
• Deliver the AI assurance innovation network, convening members, curating its programme of activities and helping to build a strong community of AI assurance practitioners.
• Plan, develop and deliver strategic initiatives aimed at improving AI testing and evaluation science and capability in the UK.
• Represent the programme in external meetings and events, communicating its objectives and activities clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Communication

Governance knowledge

AI policy understanding

Job description

NPL leads a growing portfolio of AI programmes and national initiatives focused on supporting the safe and responsible adoption of AI and strengthening the UK’s emerging AI assurance market. Our work spans the measurement science and protocols that underpin AI testing and evaluation; initiatives supporting the development and adoption of AI standards; strategic partnerships helping industry safely deploy advanced AI systems in high-risk, high-value sectors; and projects improving interoperability between international governance and assurance frameworks to reduce barriers to trade.

About the Role

NPL leads a growing portfolio of AI programmes and national initiatives focused on supporting the safe and responsible adoption of AI and strengthening the UK’s emerging AI assurance market. Our work spans the measurement science and protocols that underpin AI testing and evaluation; initiatives supporting the development and adoption of AI standards; strategic partnerships helping industry safely deploy advanced AI systems in high-risk, high-value sectors; and projects improving interoperability between international governance and assurance frameworks to reduce barriers to trade.

At the heart of this portfolio is the new, UK government-funded Centre for AI Measurement, which brings together collaborative research, practical industry application and ecosystem coordination to advance rigorous, repeatable and comparable approaches to AI testing and evaluation. Working across our growing portfolio of AI projects, you will help shape and deliver national initiatives, act as a key point of contact for strategic partners, and ensure that NPL’s scientific expertise translates into practical impact across government, industry and the international AI ecosystem.

The role will be based our main Teddington (London) site, with occasional travel required to our Glasgow and Cambridge Hub offices. Additional opportunities to travel both nationally and internationally will become available as part of your role in delivery projects, collaborating with partners, and through conference attendance.

About You

We are looking for a Strategy & engagement Manager with a proven ability to take a leading role in cross‑functional teams, deliver strategic initiatives, and engage stakeholders through workshops, events, and collaborative networks. You will be proactive, organised, and comfortable working in a fast‑moving environment, and motivated by the opportunity to shape the development, adoption, and impact of AI on a national and international scale.

Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder engagement and community building

• Develop and drive stakeholder engagement activities (e.g. workshops, webinars, roundtables) across government, industry, academia, regulators, standards and assurance bodies, and NPL’s international counterparts.
• Lead the development and delivery of NPL’s national and international stakeholder engagement strategy across a portfolio of AI projects
• Deliver the AI assurance innovation network, convening members, curating its programme of activities and helping to build a strong community of AI assurance practitioners.

Strategy and impact

• Work alongside the AI Strategic Programme Manager and other NPL colleagues to plan, develop and deliver strategic initiatives aimed at improving AI testing and evaluation science and capability in the UK.
• Lead the development of external facing materials, including presentations, briefings, and position papers, to effectively communicate the AI Programme aims and work to key stakeholders.
• Work closely with technical teams to translate cutting‑edge scientific research into clear, compelling outputs for government, industry and international audiences.
• Take a leading role in amplifying the impact and reach of the programme’s work, making sure it addresses user needs and translates into influence and uptake.
• Represent the programme in external meetings and events, communicating its objectives and activities clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.

Delivery

• Manage multidisciplinary matrix teams, coordinating colleagues from research, policy, business development, marketing and communications and operational functions to deliver shared programme outcomes.
• Work with the Delivery Manager to support end‑to‑end delivery of projects across the AI programme, reporting progress to senior stakeholders within NPL and externally.
• Identify delivery risks and blockers early, escalating issues where necessary and helping develop practical solutions.
• The role may include direct line‑management responsibility in the future as the programme and team develop.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience developing and running complex projects in a relevant field, such as AI/emerging tech policy, governance, or technical research
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship‑management skills, with credibility and confidence to act as an external point of contact
• Excellent organisation and delivery skills, with a strong track record of managing teams and complex projects end‑to‑end and coordinating cross‑functional teams
• Clear, confident written and verbal communication, including the ability to produce briefings and translate technical material for non‑specialist audiences
• A collaborative, proactive approach and comfort with ambiguity in a fast‑moving field
• Strong interest in technical and governance dimensions of AI
• Experience working with UK government departments or national level missions.

Desirable

• Understanding of AI testing and evaluation approaches and agreed best practices.
• A strong network of contacts across industry, government, assurance ecosystem and/or the third‑sector.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

However, to work in this role in the Data Science & AI department, you will need to have a current SC clearance, or you must have the ability to obtain an SC clearance.

About Us

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world‑leading centre of excellence that provides cutting‑edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditations to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well‑being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work‑life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.

If you would like to discuss, please contact us.