Technology Fellow: AI and Philanthropy

Ford Foundation • New York, NY

1d • $166,000 - $170,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Ford Foundation seeks a two-year Technology Fellow for AI and Philanthropy. This internally-facing position will focus on cross-programmatic learning and advisory support. The AI Tech Fellow will support Foundation staff in building and adapting internal frameworks for evaluating AI use in ways that prioritize mission and strategy and address ethical, sociotechnical, and operational considerations. Reporting to the Director, Technology and Society, they will be responsible for designing and curating practical, hands-on training, workshops, and learning sessions for Foundation staff to build practical familiarity with AI tools and practices and help staff critically assess their value and efficacy. Additionally, they will curate sociotechnical conversations exploring how philanthropy and the nonprofit sector more broadly are experimenting with AI in ways that respect and advance mission, privacy, safety, and equity, and create accessible documentation and guides on AI experimentation for Foundation staff. The AI Tech Fellow will also be responsible for research and field engagement. They will monitor emerging, global AI developments relevant to the Foundation's program strategies and operations, providing timely briefings and analysis to program teams. They will conduct landscape research on AI initiatives in the philanthropy and social justice sectors, build relationships with AI researchers, practitioners, and organizations working on mission-enabling AI development, and identify and connect grantees and partners who are thoughtfully experimenting with the use of AI and related technologies in their work.

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years working within public interest, government, civil society, or commercial technology sectors.
• Baccalaureate degree in related field or relevant and equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated sociotechnical expertise in artificial intelligence and related technologies, including understanding the practical applications of machine learning systems, generative AI, and their societal implications.
• Ability to critically evaluate and assess the practical application of AI and related technologies within social change organizations, particularly regarding usefulness, effectiveness, security, and potential social and environmental impact.
• Experience in understanding the technical needs of mission driven organizations, and collaboratively designing technical solutions to advance organizational mission and strategy.
• Experience designing, implementing, or supporting AI applications and tools in a complex, global setting.
• Strong strategic communication skills, including the ability to collaborate with and articulate the potential roles and importance of technology to diverse audiences.
• Experience working with diverse individuals across civil society, government, and the private sector.
• Familiarity with information and communication technologies specifically designed to serve the public interest.
• Ability to evaluate existing and emerging technologies for usefulness, effectiveness, security risks, and potential alignment with Ford’s programmatic work.
• Excellent analytical, writing, oral presentation, information curation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle confidential issues with appropriate discretion.
• Action-oriented, disciplined, and self-motivated; highly comfortable working both independently and collaboratively with diverse teams.
• Demonstrates humility, a capacity for self-reflection, and a sense of humor.
• Ways of working and engaging that aligns with the Foundation’s mission, core values and commitment to creating a culture of excellence.
• Willingness to work in New York City.
• All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in change management and organizational transition is preferred.
• Familiarity with the regional context and cultures, including geopolitical landscape, in which Ford works.

Responsibilities

• Designing and curating practical, hands-on training, workshops, and learning sessions for Foundation staff to build practical familiarity with AI tools and practices and help staff critically assess their value and efficacy.
• Curating sociotechnical conversations exploring how philanthropy and the nonprofit sector more broadly are experimenting with AI in ways that respect and advance mission, privacy, safety, and equity.
• Creating accessible documentation and guides on AI experimentation for Foundation staff.
• Monitoring emerging, global AI developments relevant to the Foundation's program strategies and operations, providing timely briefings and analysis to program teams.
• Conducting landscape research on AI initiatives in the philanthropy and social justice sectors.
• Building relationships with AI researchers, practitioners, and organizations working on mission-enabling AI development.
• Identifying and connecting grantees and partners who are thoughtfully experimenting with the use of AI and related technologies in their work.
• Help Foundation staff examine the role of technology in advancing organizational objectives.
• Inform development of technology strategies within program and/or operations areas, and conducting landscape research.
• Develop accessible documentation and guides on mission aligned AI experimentation for Foundation staff.
• Serve as an internal technology advisory resource on how philanthropy and the nonprofit sector are experimenting with AI in ways that respect and advance mission.
• In collaboration with the Tech and Society team, develop learning sessions and training for foundation staff about the intersections of social justice and technology.
• Support the Technology and Society Director on other Foundation priorities.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision benefits effective on your first day
• Generous time off, including personal, vacation, sick, extended holiday time off, and wellness days
• Generous parental leave policy, including birth, surrogacy, adoptive, foster parents, and resources for backup child and elder care that support our colleagues’ ability to attend to family responsibilities
• Comprehensive retirement benefits options (with employee and employer contributions of to 13%), allowing you to invest in your financial future with confidence

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree