Talent Lead

You make sure the best people apply to Pivotal's programs, and that we select the right ones.

• Salary: £86,750–£155,500 per year, depending on seniority. We may be able to pay more for exceptional candidates.

• Location: London, at our office at LISA

• Hours: Full time

• Visa: We can sponsor a Skilled Worker visa, but approval isn't guaranteed.

Why work at Pivotal

Pivotal finds people who can work on the biggest risks from advanced AI and gets them working on them. Since 2024, 135 fellows have taken part in our fellowships, and alumni now work at METR, Apollo Research, UK AISI and GovAI. We have grown from 2 staff in 2024 to 10 today, and we plan to reach at least 16 in 2027. Read more about us at pivotal-research.org, and about what it is like to work here.

What you will own

You’ll own how people find Pivotal’s programs and how we select them. This runs from the first time someone hears about us to the final decision, which you make with mentors. In 2027 we plan up to 4 more application rounds, and for our Q1 2027 round we received 5,000+ applications.

The primary focus will be to grow the number of strong applicants, including people from outside the usual AI safety pipeline, such as mid-career professionals. You’ll also run selection at scale, which is getting harder because AI-written applications make written answers a weaker signal. You’ll design each round, check afterwards whether it picked the right people, and change it when it did not.

• Outreach and marketing. Grow the number of strong applicants for each program through channels, campaigns, partner organisations, and presence at universities and conferences.

• Communications for applicants. Program pages, application guidance and messages to applicants.

• The selection process. Design and run each round: forms, AI-assisted screening, contract reviewers, work tasks, interviews, and final decisions with mentors and Research Managers. Keep it fair, fast and compliant with data protection law.

• Learning from results. Track which selection signals predict good fellowships and careers. This includes fellows who did worse than expected and strong applicants we turned down. Change the process based on what you find.

Who does well in this role

• You have run recruiting, admissions, marketing or talent search for a selective program or organisation, and you can show results.

• You have good judgement about people, and you can make it explicit so that others can apply it consistently.

• You want to find out if your process works, and you change it when it does not.

• You are good at outreach & communications, including outside the AI safety community.

• You use AI tools well, for example to screen at scale, and you know where they fail.

• You care about reducing catastrophic risks from AI. You do not need a research background.

We don’t expect anyone to be strong in all of this. If the role excites you, please apply, even if you match only part of what we describe here.

How we hire

We review applications as they come in, so applying early helps. The process has these stages:

• Written application. A short form and your CV. It takes about 30 minutes.

• Automated video interview. About 10 minutes. You record short answers to a few questions, at a time that suits you.

• Work task. About 2 hours, based on real work in this role. We pay you for this time. You may use AI tools, as you would in the job. Tell us which ones you used and how.

• Personal interview. About 45 minutes. We discuss your work task and how you would approach the role. With your consent, we record it so that more of the team can review it.

• Work trial and references. Up to three paid days working with us at our office in London. We also speak to two referees, after asking you.

If you need an adjustment at any stage, such as extra time, tell us and we will arrange it. If you have questions, email team@pivotal-research.org.