Program Manager, AI Safety

Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 87,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellness & benefits

Learning & growth

Inclusive culture

Hybrid work model (3 days in office)

Parental leave top-ups

Job summary

Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) seeks a Program Manager, AI Safety to lead the CAISI research program and coordinate national AI safety initiatives. The role involves collaboration with senior leaders to shape research agendas and manage programs and partnerships.

Based in a hybrid Toronto office, the position requires three days in the office weekly, enabling in-person collaboration with a busy community of researchers and policy experts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in a post‑secondary institution, research agency, or similar environment.
• Experience in research grants administration.
• Professional experience in program management within academic or philanthropic sectors.
• Strong project management skills and expertise.
• Well-developed writing and general communication skills.
• Ability to gather, organize, and synthesize large volumes of information.
• Data management proficiency.
• Excellent relationship management abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with academia and the research process is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, and Associate Director, AI Safety, to develop and deliver a national research program on AI Safety.
• Provide program and administrative leadership to AI Safety initiatives, programs, and partnerships.
• Support the CAISI Research Director(s) and the CAISI Research Council.
• Manage calls for proposals for new research initiatives on AI Safety, including organizing peer review processes, selection procedures, and managing award terms and conditions.
• Liaise with Canada’s AI Institutes to establish and support collaborative research projects on AI Safety.
• Organize and deliver AI Safety-related events, such as workshops, panels, and conferences.
• Work closely with internal CIFAR teams to ensure the successful delivery of CAISI’s mandate.

Skills

Program management

Grant administration

Communication

Data management

Relationship management

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Graduate degree (MA/MS)

Job description

PROGRAM MANAGER, AI SAFETY

La version française

This is a hybrid position based out of the CIFAR office located in the MaRs Discovery building. Staff are required to be in the office three days a week, ensuring a balance of in-person collaboration and flexibility.

This posting is for a newly created position.

About CIFAR

The Next Leap Starts Here. At CIFAR, we don’t just solve complex challenges; we imagine new possibilities for humanity. We are a global catalyst for breakthroughs, mobilizing the world’s most brilliant minds to tackle the questions that define our future. Founded in Canada and connected to the world, CIFAR is a not-for-profit research organization that provides the platform for high-risk, high-reward research. When you join CIFAR, you aren’t just taking a job: you are joining a community dedicated to the long-term benefit of people and the planet.

For more information, please visit our website.

The Opportunity

The Program Manager, AI Safety, plays a critical role in the development, management, and administration of the Canadian AI Safety Institute (CAISI) research program at CIFAR. In this position, you will contribute to advancing a national research agenda focused on AI safety, helping to shape a rapidly evolving field that sits at the intersection of science, society, and policy.

Key Responsibilities & Impact

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, and Associate Director, AI Safety, to develop and deliver a national research program on AI Safety.
• Provide program and administrative leadership to AI Safety initiatives, programs, and partnerships.
• Support the CAISI Research Director(s) and the CAISI Research Council.
• Manage calls for proposals for new research initiatives on AI Safety, including organizing peer review processes, selection procedures, and managing award terms and conditions.
• Liaise with Canada’s AI Institutes to establish and support collaborative research projects on AI Safety.
• Organize and deliver AI Safety-related events, such as workshops, panels, and conferences.
• Work closely with internal CIFAR teams to ensure the successful delivery of CAISI’s mandate.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree (MA/MS) preferred.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in a post‑secondary institution, research agency, or similar environment.
• Experience in research grants administration.
• Professional experience in program management, particularly within the academic or philanthropic sectors.
• Strong project management skills and expertise.
• Well‑developed writing and general communication skills.
• Ability to gather, organize, and synthesize large volumes of information.
• Data management proficiency.
• Excellent relationship management abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Familiarity with academia and the research process is considered an asset.

Hiring Salary Range

$86,674.50 – $101,970. To ensure fair and equitable pay at CIFAR, placement on the salary range will be based on your years of experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

What We Offer

Just as we champion the world’s best researchers, we champion our people. We offer a culture of collaboration, courage, clarity and curiosity. Our benefits prioritize your well-being, growth and inclusion so you can do your best work in a community of extraordinary thinkers.

Our team members benefit from

• Comprehensive wellness and benefits - extended health coverage, mental health supports, a defined benefit pension, 4 weeks’ vacation, and “CIFAR Days” (days off with pay) throughout the year.
• Opportunities for learning and growth - supported by professional development resources.
• An inclusive, collaborative culture - grounded in our values the “4Cs” (Collaboration, Curiosity, Courage and Clarity), where diverse perspectives are valued and ideas are encouraged.
• Work Flexibility - We encourage a hybrid working model that includes work-from-home arrangements with a minimum of 3 days in the office and Focus Fridays (meeting‑free Fridays every week).
• Employee Focused - We offer generous maternity and parental leave top‑ups and a flexible work environment, including CIFAR Days (designated days off in addition to vacation allotments).

Our Commitment to Inclusion

CIFAR is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognize that bringing together individuals from multiple backgrounds, perspectives and experiences is integral to advancing excellence and increasing the impact of our organization. Our leadership, staff and volunteers strive to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace and, in turn, an environment that will give our diverse global community of researchers the support to successfully address the most important questions facing science and humanity. Ensuring that every person feels valued and welcome, regardless of age, education, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, parental status/responsibility, immigration status, Indigenous status, religion, disability, language, race, place of origin, ethnicity, culture, socio‑economic status, and other attributes is vital to achieving our mission. We strongly encourage applications from members of our society who face systemic barriers and biases, including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous persons, members of visible minority/racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, members of marginalized gender identity communities, and persons with disabilities. Applicants may confidentially self‑identify at the time of application.

ACCESSIBILITY FOR APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES

CIFAR is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email [e-mail] and include the term ‘Accessibility’ in the Subject Line, or call 416-971-4251. Please provide your name, preferred contact method, and a detailed description of the nature of any accommodation that you may require. Please include any materials or processes that may be used to ensure your equal participation.

CIFAR frequently communicates in both official languages and our preference is to hire employees who are fluent in both English and French where possible. Other languages are also considered an asset. For a French version of the job posting, please visit www.cifar.ca.

CIFAR is supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta, and Quebec, as well as international partner organizations, individuals, foundations, and corporations.