Chief AI Scientist

Harnham; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work

Executive package

Global partnerships

Collaborative culture

Job summary

A mission-driven nonprofit research organization seeks a Chief Scientist to lead long-term scientific strategy across AI and interdisciplinary programs. You will build and guide a high-performing research organization, align priorities with funding and mission, mentor senior researchers, engage with external partners, and steward budgets to maximize scientific impact.

Flexible working arrangements and a competitive executive package are offered.

Qualifications

• PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computational Biology, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in AI research or large-scale AI projects.
• Proven leadership of senior researchers and large teams.
• Deep understanding of foundation models and large-scale training systems.
• Ability to set technical direction and assess research quality.
• Extensive professional network in AI/ML with track record of attracting top talent.
• Exceptional communication with executives, boards, funders, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization's long-term scientific strategy across AI, ML, and interdisciplinary programs.
• Build and oversee a high-performing research organization and leadership team.
• Align AI research with domain science and organizational goals.
• Partner with executives to coordinate priorities, funding, and mission objectives.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain top research talent; shape teams and capabilities.
• Represent the organization through publications, conferences, and partnerships.
• Oversee budgets, resources, and strategic investments for impact.
• Foster scientific rigor, reproducibility, ethics, collaboration, and innovation.

Skills

15+ years leadership in AI

Strategic leadership

Executive communication

Research governance

Talent attraction

Education

PhD in ML/CS/EE/Computational Biology

Job description

Our client is a mission-driven nonprofit research organization operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, natural sciences, and emerging technologies. The organization is pioneering the application of advanced AI and machine learning techniques to better understand communication and behavior in the natural world.

Working with leading researchers, academic institutions, and global partners, the organization is building cutting-edge research programs that combine foundation models, large-scale scientific datasets, and interdisciplinary expertise. This is a rare opportunity to join a purpose-led organization tackling one of the most ambitious scientific challenges of our time.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the organization's long-term scientific strategy across AI, machine learning, and interdisciplinary research programs.
• Build, develop, and oversee a high-performing research organization, providing leadership to senior research leaders and their teams.
• Ensure strong integration between AI research initiatives and domain-specific scientific research, creating a cohesive and impactful research agenda.
• Partner with executive leadership to align research priorities with organizational goals, funding strategies, and long-term mission objectives.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain exceptional research talent while shaping organizational design, team structures, and capability development.
• Represent the organization externally through scientific publications, conferences, industry engagement, partnerships, and thought leadership activities.
• Oversee research budgets, resource allocation, and strategic investment decisions to maximize scientific impact.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, reproducibility, ethical stewardship, collaboration, and innovation.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computational Biology, or a closely related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience spanning AI research, large-scale AI implementation, or a combination of both.
• Proven leadership experience managing senior researchers and directing complex research organizations.
• Deep understanding of modern AI and machine learning, including foundation models, large-scale training systems, and applied research methodologies.
• Strong ability to assess research quality, set technical direction, and provide strategic oversight to advanced research teams.
• Established professional network within the AI and machine learning community with a demonstrable track record of attracting top talent.
• Exceptional communication skills, with experience engaging executive stakeholders, boards, funders, research communities, and external partners.

Preferred

• Experience applying AI to scientific or natural science research domains.
• Background spanning both academic and commercial research environments.
• Expertise in audio, speech, computer vision, bioacoustics, or related machine learning disciplines.
• Experience working within nonprofit, mission-driven, research-intensive, or field-science organizations.
• Familiarity with AI ethics, responsible AI frameworks, and research governance.

BENEFITS

• Executive-level leadership opportunity with significant scientific and organizational influence.
• Opportunity to shape an ambitious, globally relevant research agenda at the frontier of AI and science.
• Collaboration with leading researchers, academics, and strategic partners.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Competitive executive compensation package commensurate with experience.

KEY TERMS

Chief Scientist | AI Research Leadership | Executive Leadership | Machine Learning | Foundation Models | Research Strategy | Artificial Intelligence | Scientific Leadership | Applied AI | Deep Learning | Research Management | Computational Biology | Bioacoustics | Natural Sciences | Interdisciplinary Research | Nonprofit Research | AI Infrastructure | Research Operations | Executive Team | Talent Development | Responsible AI | Scientific Innovation | Audio | Speech | Mulitmodal | Multi modal | Multimodality | Multi-agent | Agentic AI | Generative AI | Non-profit | NGO | Executive