Manager, Programs

CAIS • San Francisco, CA

13h • Onsite

About The Position

The Center for AI Safety (CAIS) is a research and advocacy organization focused on mitigating societal-scale risks from AI. Its programs—including fellowships, workshops, convenings, speaker series, and educational courses—bring together researchers, students, policymakers, and other professionals to help build the AI safety field.

The Manager, Programs owns programs from planning through delivery and improvement. Working with the Senior Manager, Programs, the Manager turns portfolio priorities into executable plans, recruits participants and speakers, manages partners and budgets, oversees delivery, and records lessons so programs can be repeated and improved. Program assignments may include running a fellowship cohort, developing a workshop from an initial brief, coordinating a convening, or documenting an established program for repeat delivery. The role does not require a technical AI background, but requires a genuine understanding of why AI safety matters and the ability to discuss it credibly.

This is an on-site role in San Francisco, California, five days per week; local candidates only. The Manager reports to the Senior Manager, Programs, who sets direction and priorities for the program portfolio.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience running programs that convene people, such as fellowships, workshops, conferences, speaker series, or community or educational programs, including end-to-end delivery ownership.
• Experience managing multiple programs or workstreams simultaneously and prioritizing across them.
• Strong project-planning skills, including timelines, budgets, milestones, and follow-through.
• Experience managing diverse stakeholders, including external partners and vendors.
• Ability to learn unfamiliar domains quickly from experts, papers, and other sources.
• Agility when circumstances change, with judgment about when to adjust course and when to escalate.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Conscientiousness and a high quality bar.
• Openness to feedback and honesty with oneself and others, including in uncomfortable situations.
• Genuine understanding of why AI safety matters and ability to explain it in one's own words.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Must be a local candidate for the on-site San Francisco role; the position is on-site five days per week.

Nice To Haves

• Existing relationships in the AI safety, AI research, or AI policy community.
• Experience in a research organization, AI or technology company, or policy or field-building organization.
• Experience at an early-stage or fast-growing mission-driven organization.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Senior Manager, Programs, to turn program goals into concrete plans, including audience, format, participants, timeline, and budget.
• Conduct preliminary research for new programs to clarify goals and requirements.
• Recruit and select participants, speakers, and facilitators; develop agendas and formats that support productive conversations and lasting connections.
• Gather context in unfamiliar domains by consulting experts, reviewing research, and using available resources.
• Own end-to-end program delivery and ensure programs meet agreed scope, timelines, and quality expectations.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks; address challenges proactively and escalate critical issues to the Senior Manager as needed.
• Maintain accurate program documentation and reporting, including program details in project management software.
• Manage relationships with external partners, vendors, and other stakeholders to meet program requirements.
• Track program budgets and expenses and align spending with financial goals.
• Coordinate cross-functional teammates and external partners to deliver programs.
• Delegate work to contractors, partners, or program support staff when appropriate, providing clear guidance and follow-through.
• Run post-program evaluations and document lessons to support repeatable and improved programs.

Benefits

• Health insurance for the employee and dependents.
• 401(k) plan with 4% matching.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• Lunch and dinner at the office.
• Annual professional development stipend.
• Access to leading talent working on technical and conceptual AI safety research.
• Referral program with a $1,500 bonus if a referred candidate is hired and remains with CAIS for 90 days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager