(Senior) Programs Associate

We’re hiring!

If you have any issues applying, please email info@iaps.ai.

Key information

• Role: (Senior) Programs Associate

• Salary: $70,000 – $110,000 (pre-tax) per year

• Location: Washington, D.C., open to remote for exceptional candidates

• Job type: full-time by default, open to part-time arrangements for exceptional candidates

• Contract length: 3-6 months, by default expecting the role to become permanent

• Start date: as soon as possible. We’re open to hearing from candidates who can only start later in the year as we plan to grow the team again towards the end of the year

• Application deadline: rolling basis

The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) is hiring a (Senior) Programs Associate to play a central role in expanding our programs team, starting with growing our AI Policy Fellowship and helping IAPS expand our portfolio of programs aimed at talented professionals, field-building, and coordination among key actors focused on advanced AI policy. 

The role will involve working closely with the IAPS programs lead on designing and running the AI Policy Fellowship, which will run between Sep 1 – Nov 21, 2025, and creating activities to support senior policy professionals interested in transitioning into AI policy careers or being part of the IAPS network of experts, such as non-residential fellowships and affiliation programs. 

We expect the most competitive applicants to have a bachelor’s degree, strong project management abilities, including experience balancing competing priorities over a compressed timeline, a passion for mentorship and talent development, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, some pre-existing network in AI or tech policy, especially in the U.S.

We will pay $500 for a referral that leads to a successful hire. However, please just share this with people you know and avoid sending unsolicited emails to other parties about this position.

About IAPS

The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) is a non-partisan policy research think tank with the mission to secure the benefits and manage the risks of advanced AI systems.

Our work involves:

• Conducting forward-looking policy research in areas including preparedness, information and supply chain security, and international coordination needed to navigate strategic competition with adversaries who may misuse AI.

• Cultivating policy talent — IAPS is forging a community of researchers and practitioners from across many policy areas and backgrounds to meet this critical moment.

• Providing relevant and timely insights to stakeholders across Congress, the executive branch, industry, academia, and civil society.

Follow these links to read more about our work and our team, and sign up to our newsletter.

IAPS is a project fiscally sponsored by Rethink Priorities, a US-based 501(c)(3).

About the role

The (senior) program associate will work closely with the IAPS programs lead, Renan Araujo, in shaping the rapidly-growing Programs vertical and ensuring that IAPS and its fellows are set up for success. Responsibilities will include:

• Curating a best-in-class AI policy curriculum for Fellows and Senior Fellows during their 2-week in-person fellowship component in Washington, D.C. This will involve securing the participation of policymakers and AI experts for roundtables and expert talks, with the aim of providing Fellows and Senior Fellows with an immersive introduction to AI policy in D.C. 

• Tasks may include: designing an immersive AI policy curriculum in collaboration with IAPS experts; leading outreach to senior policymakers, industry representatives, and members of civil society; and operational support for events, such as booking venues, managing contractors or vendors, tracking budgets, and managing invites.

• Supporting Fellows and Senior Fellows as a coach in topics such as productivity, career next steps, connections with relevant experts in the IAPS network, and project management.

• Tasks may include: managing IAPS’s relationships with the experts supervising fellows, regular 1-1 check-ins with fellows, and monitoring the progress of fellows’ research deliverables. 

• Providing strategic career advice for fellows to facilitate their transition to impactful AI policy roles. 

• Tasks may include: working with Fellows and Senior Fellows to develop their career plans; tracking career plans; and networking with other AI policy professionals to identify possible job opportunities. 

• Exploring other programs IAPS wants to run, including a non-resident fellowship targeted at senior professionals, secondment programs, and other experimental ideas.

• In the future, running the selection process for another cohort of Fellows and Senior Fellows for the IAPS AI Policy Fellowship by designing and implementing an effective, scalable hiring funnel. 

• Tasks may include: using Airtable to manage fellowship applications, developing assessment materials and rubrics to identify high-potential candidates, evaluating written materials from candidates, supervising and coordinating interviews with other supporting staff, and selecting the final fellowship cohort.

Competitive candidates will likely have

• Organizational and project management abilities, including experience balancing competing priorities over a compressed timeline for fellowship selection and curriculum design.

• Passion for mentorship and talent development, particularly in facilitating the career growth of individuals spanning a wide range of seniority from recent graduates to experienced mid-career professionals.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for interacting with senior policymakers and industry leaders, external mentors for our fellows, fellowship candidates, and staff Some pre-existing network with the AI or tech policy space that they can draw from to identify promising programs participants.

• Some pre-existing networks in AI or tech policy, especially in the U.S.

• Strong attention to detail and a keen understanding of protocol, along with experience navigating professional dynamics in DC.

• The ability to plan both public and private events ranging in size from 10-120 people, including in short timeframes.

• An innovative, self-starter streak and an eye for opportunity.

Additionally, experience in these areas would be appreciated: 

• Prior experience designing and implementing highly competitive fellowships, ideally at scale (e.g., we had nearly 6,000 applicants for 30 fellowship slots!), would be a strong plus.

• Experience working with Airtable is a plus.

• Prior experience in policy-focused organizations, ideally in tech policy or national security, is a plus.

You will be the second hire on the Programs team, managed by Renan Araujo. We expect to grow the Programs team as IAPS scales its fellowship programs in frequency, scale, and ambition. As an early hire, you will play a large role shaping the team’s direction and success.

You will also work with the other IAPS policy and research teams, who will be able to support you with strong knowledge of AI policy stakeholders and topics in the Washington, D.C. ecosystem and global policymaking environment. You will be able to draw on previous event plans and processes, and will have weekly 1-1 meetings and availability from your manager for fast approvals and responses to questions. 

Candidates will have the opportunity for professional development time, and may be eligible to enroll into our benefit plans (medical, dental, and vision) and take advantage of other perks available to temporary and permanent staff (e.g., generous PTO policy). 

What we offer

• Remote-first work environment, including flexible work hours and schedule

• Comprehensive global benefits program, including supplemental benefits specific to a local country, as available and mandated by local law

• Generous paid time off (PTO) leave, including:

• Ten (10) days of PTO for vacation leave (excluding local, public holidays) for all temporary staff who have a 3-month contract with IAPS (time off is proportional/prorated according to how many hours per week a temporary staff works)

• “Mandated” mid- and end-year, organization-wide breaks (if the temporary employment contract falls within the break timeline)

• Annual technology stipend of the equivalent of $500 USD that can be used to cover costs of purchasing work and office equipment

• Unlimited (within reason) personal and sick paid and unpaid leave

FAQ

What does the application process look like?

We will review candidates on a rolling basis. Select candidates will be interviewed with a member of the hiring committee. We are keen for candidates to start as soon as possible.

How important is being located in D.C.?

Washington, D.C. is preferred, but we will consider remote candidates with the ability to travel regularly to D.C. (with IAPS travel support), as most program activities will be in the D.C. area.

Are you open to higher salaries?

The salary is $70,000 – $110,000 (pre-tax) per year prorated to the number of hours worked and the duration of contract. We’re open to a higher salary for particularly experienced candidates.

Is this a permanent role in the IAPS team?

We aim for this to be a permanent hire, but will initially offer a 3-6 month, temporary contract, with a decision to be made in late 2025. 

What’s the minimum number of hours you’re open to?

We may consider hiring exceptional candidates on a part-time basis at 20-35 hours/week, or even additional hires who are part-time on top of a permanent hire.

Do you still have questions? Send an email to info@iaps.ai if you have any questions.