Senior Programs Lead, AI Safety Field-Building

Center for AI Safety (CAIS); San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K plan + 4% matching

Unlimited PTO

Lunch and dinner at the office

Annual Professional Development Stiped

Job summary

The Center for AI Safety (CAIS) in San Francisco is seeking a Senior Manager, Programs to turn early ideas into high‑quality, repeatable programs that advance AI safety research and policy initiatives. This hands-on role requires leading complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives from concept through delivery.

You will own goals, plan budgets, recruit speakers and participants, and build scalable processes that can be reused next year.

Qualifications

• 6+ years designing and running programs that convene people (fellowships, workshops, conferences, speaker series, or educational programs).
• Experience directly managing and developing program staff.
• Track record turning ideas into launches with limited guidance and high standards.
• Experience managing multiple programs with sound prioritization.
• Strong budget ownership and resource management.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders without direct authority and establish accountability.
• Demonstrated systems thinking and development of repeatable processes.
• Ability to quickly learn in unfamiliar domains by consulting experts and research.
• Sound judgment under uncertainty and knowing when to escalate.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; concise leadership updates.
• High agency and a strong commitment to quality.
• Understanding why AI safety matters and ability to explain it clearly.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Define program goals, scope, audience, format, speakers, timeline, and budget.
• Collaborate with VP of Operations to plan programs and manage delivery.
• Recruit participants, speakers, and facilitators; design agendas that foster productive conversations.
• Build and maintain relationships with researchers, academic institutions, and partner organizations.
• Own program delivery end-to-end; ensure scope, timeline, and quality are met.
• Identify risks, address challenges, and escalate issues as needed.
• Document and report program details using appropriate project management tools.
• Manage external partners and vendors to meet program requirements.
• Monitor budgets and resources; align with financial goals.
• Lead cross-functional teams and mentor Programs staff.

Skills

Program management

Budget management

Stakeholder influence

Team leadership

Communication

Decision making

Learning agility

Quality focus

Systems thinking

AI safety understanding

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

The Center for AI Safety (CAIS) in San Francisco is seeking a Senior Manager, Programs to turn early ideas into high‑quality, repeatable programs that advance AI safety research and policy initiatives. This hands-on role requires leading complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives from concept through delivery.

You will own goals, plan budgets, recruit speakers and participants, and build scalable processes that can be reused next year.