Associate Director or Deputy Director of Biosecurity Policy

Associate Director or Deputy Director of Biosecurity Policy

CLTR – the Centre for Long-Term Resilience – is a UK‑based, non‑profit think tank that works with governments and institutions to transform resilience to extreme risks. We focus on biosecurity, artificial intelligence and extreme risk governance, offering evidence‑based advice to help governments make informed decisions.

The Biosecurity Policy Unit develops, evaluates and advocates for policy recommendations to mitigate extreme biological risks. Our work responds swiftly to policy shifts and government initiatives while reserving time for gap analyses and deep research into critical biosecurity issues.

• Pandemics – natural, accidental or deliberate
• Emerging technologies at the intersection of AI and synthetic biology
• Biological weapons development and use by state and non‑state actors

As Associate Director (or Deputy Director with additional criteria) you will lead the unit and oversee a portfolio of biosecurity priorities, balancing strategic direction with practical execution.

• Unit Leadership (≈30%)
  • Collaborate with the Director on strategic direction and focus areas.
  • Oversee one or more focus areas: synthetic nucleic‑acid screening governance, medical countermeasure development, early warning systems, AI biosecurity risks, PPE, deterrence, emerging threats, supply‑chain resilience, or transmission suppression.
  • Line manage direct reports and contractors; support and coach team members.
• Policy Development (≈30%)
  • Prioritise work streams based on risk magnitude, tractability and neglectedness.
  • Develop evidence‑based policy recommendations and refine them through critical analysis.
  • Engage with academia, industry and think tanks; present at conferences and meetings.
  • Assist with running CLTR biosecurity events, workshops and round tables.
• Stakeholder Engagement (≈20%)
  • Meet with senior government officials and deliver research or policy analysis in response to high‑value requests.
  • Evaluate government plans, propose improvements and maintain positive relationships.
  • Connect subject‑matter experts to stakeholders and promote policy recommendations through media outreach.
• Teamwork and Cross‑Unit Collaboration (≈20%)
  • Collaborate with the broader CLTR team on fundraising, comms, advocacy, and policy frameworks.
  • Contribute to strategic plans, organisational development and cross‑unit projects.
  • Provide constructive feedback and reciprocate support with colleagues.

Short‑listing criteria include:

• Strong motivation to reduce extreme biological risks and alignment with CLTR’s mission.
• Experience in biosecurity or a related field and a good grasp of the biosecurity landscape.
• Clear, independent thinking about extreme risks and government mitigation roles.
• Strong research and critical‑thinking skills, including literature reviews.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication.
• Policy entrepreneurship: ability to scope, drive and complete projects.
• Confidentiality and discretion as required.
• Experience in advocacy or policy work.
• Strategic thinking balanced with pragmatic implementation.
• Line‑management experience and skills.
• Track record of managing multiple parallel work streams.
• Accountability and ownership.
• Ability to coach high‑performers and manage under‑performance.
• Capacity to review and elevate written work to a high standard.

• Represent CLTR in high‑stakes environments.
• Grow and lead a team.
• Make high‑stakes judgments and escalations.
• Foster an impact‑focused, fast‑paced, collaborative team environment.

£90,000 – £100,000, plus a generous benefits package. Exceptional candidates for the Deputy Director role may command a higher salary. To discuss flexibility on salary, contact our team.

Benefits include:

• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays.
• £5,000 wellbeing budget (pre‑tax).
• £3,000 learning and development budget + up to 5 days paid work time.
• £2,000 onboarding grant.
• Employer‑matched pension contribution up to 7%.
• Private health, group life insurance.
• Generous parental leave.
• Relocation budget if needed.
• Paid office lunches twice a week (including…