Director, AI Policy

FAS•Washington, DC

3d•$175,000 - $215,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is seeking a Director, AI Policy to lead its growing AI portfolio. This role involves setting strategy, managing staff, overseeing grant-funded projects, and working with policymakers to address challenging AI policy issues. The position spans AI safety and security, fair and trustworthy AI, responsible public-sector use, AI research and development, and AI applications for public missions. The ideal candidate will have a clear perspective on AI risks and opportunities, strong expertise in at least one AI policy domain, and the ability to manage a team with diverse expertise. A spirit of policy entrepreneurship is essential for driving policy change. The role requires visionary leadership, strong relationship-building skills, political savvy, an entrepreneurial mindset, a collaborative approach, adaptability, and integrity.

Requirements

10+ years of relevant experience across government, think tanks, philanthropy, civil society, academia, industry, or another policy-relevant institution.
Substantial work on AI, emerging technology, national security, science and technology policy, civil rights, or related issues.
Fluency in AI safety and security policy, including catastrophic and systemic risks from advanced AI systems.
Experience engaging with frontier model capabilities, dangerous capability evaluations, misuse risk, incident reporting, interpretability, model transparency, and AI-enabled security risks.
Expertise in one or more of the following topics: AI safety and security, fair and trustworthy AI, responsible public-sector use, AI research and development, and uses of AI that can advance the public interest.
Excellent writing and editing skills, demonstrated by a strong research or publication record on AI policy, technology governance, national security, civil rights, science and technology policy, or related topics.
Experience managing people and complex projects.
Experience cultivating and stewarding support from philanthropic partners focused on AI safety, global catastrophic risks, science and technology policy, fair and trustworthy AI, and/or AI innovation.
Strong relationship management skills, including existing and robust professional networks in relevant domains.
Ability to build trust with researchers, advocates, funders, policymakers, civil society organizations, industry experts, and colleagues.

Nice To Haves

Experience in government, on Capitol Hill, in a federal agency, or in a state policy role.
Experience engaging policymakers, especially Congress, federal agencies, or state governments.
Experience briefing senior decision-makers.
Experience convening groups that do not usually work together, especially across technical, policy, civil society, industry, and community-based organizations.
Hands-on technical experience in AI, machine learning, data science, computer science, or another technical field relevant to AI governance.
Advanced degree, such as an MS, JD, MPP/MPA, MBA, or PhD, in a field relevant to AI governance, public policy, computer science, national security, law, social science, or science and technology policy.

Responsibilities

Lead a portfolio including AI safety and security (e.g., frontier AI governance, catastrophic risks, model transparency, national security risks).
Oversee topics related to fair and trustworthy AI (e.g., civil rights, bias, public-sector use, privacy, labor, environmental impacts).
Manage initiatives focused on AI progress in the public interest (e.g., AI for science, energy innovation, government effectiveness).
Engage in field building and policy entrepreneurship through fellowships, sprints, convenings, and technical assistance.
Manage a multi-million dollar budget for the FAS AI portfolio.
Manage policy experts and two additional mid-level roles, with potential for further hires based on funding.
Develop and execute multi-year strategies to expand the reach, impact, and sustainability of the AI portfolio.
Serve as a senior member of the FAS leadership team, contributing to organization-wide strategic planning.
Set program vision and strategy and oversee its execution across various AI policy domains.
Oversee portfolio budgets, ensuring efficient resource allocation and financial sustainability.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that values innovation and integration across policy teams.
Cultivate and steward support from philanthropic partners.
Build and maintain professional networks in relevant domains and foster trust with diverse stakeholders.