Societal Defense Researcher (AI Governance)

TL;DR

Societal Defense Researcher (AI Governance): Developing AI governance and disaster preparedness frameworks to mitigate systemic risks from advanced AI systems with an accent on vulnerability assessments and emergency response. Focus on translating complex technical risks into actionable policy recommendations and designing resilience strategies for critical societal systems.

Location: Remote (Global). Note: Candidates authorized to work in the U.S. may be hired as employees; candidates outside the U.S. will be engaged as independent contractors.

Salary: $85,000 – $135,000 per year

Company

The Center for AI Risk Management & Alignment (hirify.global) is a non-profit organization dedicated to lowering catastrophic risks to humanity and the biosphere from transformative AI through rigorous analysis and policy frameworks.

What you will do

• Conduct rigorous policy research to map AI governance landscapes and identify fragilities in existing frameworks.
• Assess societal vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure, physical safety, and information ecosystems.
• Develop comprehensive AI disaster scenario plans adaptable to various jurisdictional and governance structures.
• Translate complex technical risk scenarios into actionable policy briefs and reports for decision-makers.
• Design simulation materials and tabletop exercises to stress-test emergency response protocols.
• Identify early warning indicators and map institutional dependencies in cross-jurisdictional disaster responses.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, or related field (or Bachelor's with substantial professional experience).
• Proven ability to conduct thorough policy analysis and produce high-quality written outputs for academic and policy audiences.
• Strong understanding of AI safety concerns, systemic risks, and sociotechnical implications of capable AI.
• Broad literacy across the sciences and both physical and information technologies.
• Experience managing complex projects independently within a remote team environment.
• Authorized to work in the U.S. for employment; otherwise, available to work as an independent contractor.

Nice to have

• Experience in crisis response planning, disaster preparedness, or emergency management.
• Background in cybersecurity, biosecurity, or critical infrastructure protection.
• Familiarity with technical and governance aspects of AI alignment challenges.
• Knowledge of civil defense planning, continuity of government, or supply chain resilience.
• Experience with scenario planning methodologies and strategic foresight techniques.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive annual compensation with benefits for U.S.-based employees.
• 100% remote work arrangement with occasional travel requirements.
• Direct opportunity to shape global policy responses to emerging risks from advanced AI.
• Engagement with critical AI safety challenges in a mission-driven environment.