Communications Director and Staff Director

Future of Life Institute; Remote; ZAR 1 499 000 - 2 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization focused on AI safety is seeking a combined Communications Director and Staff Director to enhance its mission. This unique role requires over 4 years of communications experience, with responsibilities including strategy development, executive support, and operational oversight. The ideal candidate has exceptional writing skills, project management experience, and knowledge of AI safety. The role is remote but includes occasional travel for team meetings and events, offering a salary range of $90,000 - $150,000 along with benefits.

Benefits

Good benefits

Flexible work schedule

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in communications with skill in complex concepts translation.
• Experience in executive support in a research or advocacy environment.
• Strong project management skills with attention to detail.
• Exceptional writing and editing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement CARMA's communications strategy across multiple channels.
• Serve as a trusted right hand to the Executive Director.
• Liaise between CARMA team members and our fiscal sponsor.
• Coordinate project tracking and facilitate organizational communication.

Skills

Communications strategy development

Writing and editing

Project management

Interpersonal skills

AI safety knowledge

Job description

Position Overview

CARMA is seeking an exceptional combined Communications Director and Staff Director, in one person, to play a pivotal role in advancing our mission. This position combines both strategic leadership and hands‑on execution of communications with high‑level organizational support to ensure CARMA operates effectively while communicating its critical work with clarity and impact.

As a focused organization addressing complex challenges in AI safety, CARMA maintains a lean team structure where team members take on complementary responsibilities. Understanding this space is an important prerequisite to being able to do well in this role. This combined role reflects our strategic approach to organizational efficiency while ensuring critical communications and operational functions receive dedicated leadership.

You’ll join our collaborative team dedicated to addressing one of humanity’s most crucial technological challenges, with the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to AI safety and governance during this pivotal period. While the position is fully remote, occasional travel for team meetings and events is required (of course with expenses reimbursed).

About CARMA

The Center for AI Risk Management & Alignment (CARMA) works to help society navigate the complex and potentially catastrophic risks arising from increasingly powerful AI systems. Our mission is specifically to lower the risks to humanity and the biosphere from transformative AI.

We focus on grounding AI risk management in rigorous analysis, developing policy frameworks that squarely address AGI, advancing technical safety approaches, and fostering global perspectives on durable safety. Through these complementary approaches, CARMA aims to provide critical support to society for managing the outsized risks from advanced AI before they materialize.

CARMA is a fiscally-sponsored project of Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation.

Key Responsibilities

Communications Leadership Functions

• Develop and implement CARMA's communications strategy across multiple channels
• Guide program staff in crafting compelling blog posts and social media research summaries that effectively translate complex concepts for various audiences
• Manage CARMA's social media presence with thoughtful content development and consistent cadence
• Ensure communications maintain scientific accuracy while being accessible and persuasive to key stakeholders
• Coordinate with researchers to develop compelling narratives around their work

Staff Director Functions

• Serve as a trusted right hand to the Executive Director, helping prioritize initiatives and manage organizational workflows
• Establish and maintain cross-organizational systems for tracking project progress and deliverables
• Facilitate information flow between teams and leadership to ensure alignment on priorities
• Lead special projects that require cross‑functional coordination
• Draft and implement organizational policies and procedures that align with our fiscal sponsor requirements while meeting CARMA's specific needs

Operational Oversight Functions

• Liaise between CARMA team members and our fiscal sponsor (which handles many of our back‑office functions) to resolve administrative challenges, with the assistance of an EA
• Co‑manage the Executive Assistant to ensure efficient administrative operations
• Ensure timely follow‑through on operational matters such as HR processes, disbursements, and compliance requirements
• Develop and update organizational documentation including org charts, reporting processes, and internal protocols

Qualifications

Required

• 4+ years of progressive experience in communications, with demonstrated skill in translating complex concepts for diverse audiences
• Experience in an executive support role, preferably in a fast‑paced research, policy, advocacy, or technology organization
• Exceptional writing and editing abilities
• Strong project management skills with attention to detail and follow‑through
• Demonstrable familiarity with AI safety, AI governance, or adjacent fields
• Exceptional organizational abilities with a systems‑thinking approach
• Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity in a rapidly evolving field
• Strong interpersonal skills and diplomatic abilities
• Commitment to CARMA's mission of reducing catastrophic AI risk
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across teams and facilitate collaboration
• Self‑directed with excellent judgment and discretion
• Ability to maintain perspective on urgent short‑term needs while advancing long‑term objectives

Preferred

• Strong experience in AI safety, AI governance, or adjacent fields
• Background in science communication, particularly related to emerging technologies
• Experience working with fiscal sponsors or in nonprofit settings
• Familiarity with policy development processes
• Track record of building efficient organizational systems

CARMA/SEE is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, gender reassignment, partnership status, maternity, or sexual orientation. We are, by policy and action, an inclusive organization and actively promote equal opportunities for all humans with the right mix of talent, knowledge, skills, attitude, and potential, so hiring is only based on individual merit for the job. Our organization operates through a fiscal sponsor whose infrastructure only supports persons authorized to work in the U.S. as employees. Candidates outside the U.S. would be engaged as independent contractors with project‑focused responsibilities. Note that we are unable to sponsor visas at this time.

$90,000 - $150,000 a year plus good benefits (for U.S.-based employees)