Operations Associate

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is hiring an Operations Associate. This role is critical to enabling FLI to scale will multiply the effectiveness of our entire organization. The Operations Associate will report to our Director of Operations. FLI works to reduce global catastrophic risks from transformative technologies and develop optimistic yet realistic visions of the future. This is a generalist role. Our operations team covers HR, IT, finance, events, grant management, strategic planning, and anything else that needs to get done. Your exact responsibilities will depend on your background and interests. Our needs are currently greatest in recruiting and HR. As Operations Associate, you might:

• Drive the end-to-end recruiting process, from candidate sourcing to onboarding
• Evaluate, select, and manage external contractors
• Plan engaging events, including our semi-annual retreat
• Research, recommend, and implement new software solutions
• Spearhead initiatives to boost employee satisfaction and retention
• Jump in to help the wider team in whatever way is most needed
  
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Proactive problem-solver: demonstrated track record of identifying and addressing issues independently
• Proven ability to plan and execute complex projects
• Systems thinker: Skilled at analyzing root causes and implementing effective, scalable solutions
• Exceptional organizational abilities: Meticulous attention to detail coupled with strong prioritization skills
• Outstanding communicator: Ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing
• Adaptability: Thrives in a dynamic environment and can quickly adjust to changing priorities
• Ability to work hours with significant overlap with US Pacific Time
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in non-profit operations, including HR, IT, finance or events management
• SF Bay area location (able to work in our Campbell, CA office at least once per week)
  
  
  

Application Deadline: August 4, 2024 Rolling applications may be considered after the application deadline if the position has not been filled. Start Date: We'd like the chosen candidate to start as soon as possible after accepting an offer. Application Process: Apply by uploading your resume and optional cover letter, alongside a short answer to the following question: - Please describe a time you improved the way something was being done. (200 words max) - What do you think about existential risk? (200 words max) FLI aims to be an inclusive organization. We proactively seek job applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. If you are passionate about FLI’s mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role even though you may not check all the boxes, please still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. Questions may be directed to jobsadmin@futureoflife.org. About the Future of Life Institute Founded in 2014, FLI is an independent non-profit working to steer transformative technology towards benefiting life and away from extreme large-scale risks. Our work includes grantmaking, educational outreach, and policy engagement. Our work has been featured in The Washington Post, Politico, Vox, Forbes, The Guardian, the BBC, and Wired. Some of our achievements include: - Pause Giant AI Experiments, an open letter calling for a 6 month pause on the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. The letter has been signed by more than 30,000 people, including Yoshua Bengio, Stuart Russell, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, Yuval Noah Harari, and Andrew Yang. - The Asilomar AI Principles, one of the earliest and most influential sets of AI governance principles. - Slaughterbots, a viral video campaign raising awareness about the dangers of lethal autonomous weapons. - The Future of Life Award, which retrospectively awards unsung heroes who made the world a better place. Past winners include individuals who prevented nuclear wars, helped to eradicate smallpox, and solved the ozone crisis. - Worldbuild.ai, which imagines flourishing futures with strong AI and works out how to get there. FLI is a largely virtual organization, with a team of 20 distributed across Europe and the US. We have offices in Campbell, California and in Brussels, Belgium, and meet in person as a full team twice a year. Compensation will vary depending on experience and geography. Additional benefits include, health insurance, 24+ days of PTO per year, paid parental leave, 401k matching in the US, and a work from home allowance for the purchase of office supplies or equipment.