Manager / Associate / Senior Associate, Special Projects

Special Projects Manager/(Senior) Associate

Apply by September 8th, 23:59 PDT. Early applications are encouraged.

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

Key Information

• Role: Special Projects Associate/Manager

• Salary:

  • Associate: $86,000 – $101,000

  • Senior Associate: $97,000 – $126,500

  • Manager: $122,000 - $165,000

  • Benefits include healthcare, retirement, and >$10k/year support budgets.

• Location: Open to candidates based in or willing to relocate to Washington, DC or the San Francisco Bay Area. We may consider exceptional candidates based in or willing to relocate to London.

• Start date: As soon as possible.

• Job type: Full-time, permanent position.

• Application deadline: September 8th, 2026, 23:59 PDT.

  • Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we expect to start making offers from mid-September for candidates who can move through the hiring process quickly.

• Contact: Please email careers@iaps.ai if you have any questions about the hiring process.

The IAPS Programs team plays a key role in building infrastructure in DC that the AI policy field needs to grow. We’re hiring 2-5 (Senior) Special Projects Associates/Managers to expand our portfolio of projects, on top of our competitive AI Policy Fellowship with thousands of applicants and our annual Alexandria Forum for senior AI policy leaders.

Whether it's bridging the knowledge gap between frontier lab workers and the US government, or building programs to support policymakers in DC, (Senior) Special Projects Associates/Managers will take a loosely scoped problem, turn it into a plan, and execute it. These roles are for people who can juggle multiple balls at once, exercise strong strategic judgment and critical thinking, and thrive in fast-paced environments where the playbook is still being written. You'll join a small team that has a bias towards action, iterates based on data, and builds impactful projects that help humanity navigate a world with transformative AI.

About IAPS

The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) is a nonpartisan think tank that produces forward-looking policy research to address the implications of advanced artificial intelligence, from today’s frontier models to potential AGI and beyond. Our work equips policymakers and industry leaders to protect innovation while navigating high-magnitude risks and opportunities at the intersection of AI, national security, and geopolitics.

Our work includes:

• 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.

About the Programs Team

IAPS Programs is building the infrastructure that the AI policy field needs to grow. We run a competitive AI Policy Fellowship with thousands of applicants, matching fellows with experts across key think tanks, governments, and industry, and convene senior AI policy leaders at our annual Alexandria Forum. In the second half of 2026, we're planning to incubate at least two additional programs to strengthen new talent and coordination in the AI policy landscape, as well as double the size of the fellowship. We're hiring (Senior) Special Projects Associates and Managers to help us execute on this expansion. The Programs team is currently 4 people, with plans to grow to around 10 by the end of the year; we expect strong performers will progress quickly (under a year) and take on increasing levels of responsibility and role scope.

About the Role

These roles exist because IAPS has more good ideas for programs than capacity to run them. You'll take one of those ideas, or bring your own, and turn it into something real. It’s scoped at three levels: Special Projects Associate, Senior Special Projects Associate, and Special Projects Manager. Candidates can choose to be considered for the Associate/Senior Associate track, the Manager track, or both. The final level reflects experience and scope of independent ownership. Core scope of work is similar across tiers, with Manager carrying explicit people or program management responsibility.

Some examples of special projects we are currently excited about:

AI security fieldbuilding: The national security community is short on people who deeply understand frontier AI risk, and the AI community is short on people who understand national security. This workstream builds the bridge by hosting workshops, convenings, and partnerships in DC that put technical experts from both worlds in the same room to discuss topics on AI security (read more about such topics here). You would own:

• Designing AI security programming that's appropriately in-depth, credible, and useful to people who know what they're talking about

• Curating the right audiences that will make a difference in AI security as a field

• Running workshops, convenings, and partnerships that put technical experts in the room with senior national security stakeholders

• Collaborating with other key organizations in the field of AI, including field-builders and experts

Bay Area-DC interface: There exists a gap between frontier AI being built in the Bay Area and governed in DC. This special project area would surface what's happening in AI labs and technical circles in the Bay Area for our DC policy audiences, and vice versa. You would own:

• Designing and running programming across the Bay Area and DC with audiences including Congressional staffers and technical researchers.

• Building and maintaining relationships with technical staff doing safety work in companies and think tanks in the Bay Area

• Tracking what's happening in AI labs and sharing it with our DC policy team, and vice versa

• Helping IAPS communicate clearly with both technical and policy audiences

DC-based special projects: IAPS equips DC policymakers to make decisions that influence how AI is developed and deployed in the US and the rest of the world. We already have a strong researcher core, but we are keen to leverage our intellectual production and policy networks to help build the talent pipelines and field of AI governance. We have a new 45-seat office in Dupont Circle and a 30-person fellowship cohort coming to DC every 6 months that could serve as a foundation for numerous special projects, such as:

• Running workshops on AI strategy for Congressional staffers.

• Building an IAPS network of non-residential fellows made of senior figures in government, industry, and other relevant think tanks.

• Bringing experts in relevant fields ranging from pre-deployment evaluations to verification to coordination events or briefings in DC.

Programs targeting senior policy audiences: IAPS is planning to launch programs to bring in policy entrepreneurs and technical professionals to expand our existing and developing research areas; for example, institutional resilience for advanced AI or AI x defense. Program participants will work semi-independently to explore new policy areas whilst scoping out the domain themselves, and will likely have unique experience in their field. These programs could feasibly result in new research directions, partnerships, or talent pipelines that we haven't yet mapped out, and may also include an ‘applied’ track to explore more practical endeavors. You might own scoping and launching any of the following:

• Residents program: a semi-independent, year-long program for people with a proven track record who have their own idea to incubate. Residents get IAPS's network, a project budget, and affiliation, in exchange for building out our portfolio and reach.

• Senior affiliates: a network of senior professionals in influential decision-making roles across government and industry, or recently departed from them, affiliated with IAPS for 6-12 months and engaged through curated events on AI safety and security.

• Advisory council: a small, senior, DC-legible body that periodically advises on IAPS's research agenda and helps expand our reach and credibility, distinct from more hands-on working groups.

Your idea: We don't expect the list above to be exhaustive. If you have your own idea for a project that would strengthen the AI policy field, and can make the case for it, we want to hear it. Successful candidates will have access to IAPS' network of researchers, policymakers, and partner organizations to help scope and pressure-test their idea.

What We Are Looking For

Experience

• 1+ years for Special Projects Associate / 3+ years for Senior Special Projects Associate / 5+ years for Special Projects Manager of relevant experience. This could be in programs, policy, leading teams or organizations, operations, talent development, or other areas, as long as you can point to concrete examples of owning projects and delivering outcomes.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams under compressed timelines.

• Experience working with stakeholders across seniority levels, from early-career professionals to senior policymakers or equivalent.

• Track record of building something new, whether that's a program, a process, an organization, or a team.

Skills and Competencies

Required:

• We expect successful candidates to have strong experience in at least one of the following: AI governance, large-scale societal risk reduction, or policy careers.

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.

• Strong project management instincts and attention to detail.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will likely interact with senior policymakers, industry leaders, and thought leaders, helping build and strengthen relationships for IAPS.

• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to take vague ideas and turn them into concrete plans.

• A data-informed approach to decision-making, and a willingness to use retrospective analysis to improve programs rather than relying on assumptions.

• Proactiveness and a "figure it out" mentality.
  

Additional competencies that may qualify exceptional candidates for consideration for the Senior Special Projects Associate/Manager position:

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

• Prior experience in policy-focused organizations, particularly in AI, tech policy or national security.

• Experience designing or running competitive fellowship or talent programs at scale.

• Familiarity with the DC policy ecosystem and professional dynamics.

• Experience with Airtable, programming, or other tools for building operational workflows.

What We Offer

Compensation

• Associate: $86,000 – $101,000

• Senior Associate: $97,000 – $126,500

• Manager: $122,000 - $165,000

• Exact salary will be dependent on relevant experience. All salaries are pre-tax.

• Our posted ranges reflect the location-based adjustments we apply on top of our base remote pay (+10% for Washington, DC or San Francisco, +5% for London). Your actual range will therefore vary with your location, and we’re happy to confirm the exact range for your location on request.

Other Benefits

• Comprehensive global benefits package, including generous health insurance.

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

  • Unlimited vacation with a minimum 30 days off per year (which includes public local holidays).

  • Unlimited (within reason) personal and sick leave.

  • Parental leave: up to 6-9 months of a combination of paid and unpaid leave that can be taken within the first 2 years after a child’s birth or adoption.

• Technology budget equivalent to $2,000 USD every 3 years for purchasing work and office equipment.

• Coworking support (including in-person desk space in our hub locations) and AI tools budget to help you be your most productive self.

• Annual team retreat and other opportunities for paid travel of generally 1-2 weeks per trip, including stipends to help cover the cost of dependent care while traveling.

• A caring team that values respectful work relations and a healthy work-life balance.

• We encourage proactive professional development and offer learning opportunities, including conferences, workshops, training, and professional certifications.

• Relocation budget of up to $6,000 for those moving to DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, or London.

Role Logistics and Additional Information

• Location: This role is open only to candidates based in, or able to relocate to, Washington, DC or the San Francisco Bay Area. We are open to exceptional candidates based in or able to relocate to London.

  • We can sponsor U.S. work visas for this role, but these are not guaranteed. Candidates who need one will likely be hired in their current jurisdiction while we pursue a visa in parallel, with the expectation that they relocate to DC or the Bay Area.

• Hours: This is a full-time role, based on a 40-hour workweek.

• Travel: This role will involve travel to Washington, DC (up to 4 weeks per year) for IAPS events, with all travel expenses covered by IAPS. These trips are required for this role.

• Language: Please submit all of your application materials in English and note that we require professional-level English proficiency.

• Accessibility: We're committed to running an inclusive and accessible application process. We warmly invite you to reach out to careers@iaps.ai with any questions or accessibility requests.

• Hiring emails: Please add careers@iaps.ai to your trusted contacts and/or check your 'spam', 'promotions', and 'updates' folders if you don't hear from us within the expected timeframe.

Our Hiring Process

There are 4 evaluation stages for the (Senior) Special Projects Associate/Manager position:

1. Application questions

2. Work test mirroring tasks required in the role

3. Interviews with members of the programs team

4. Reference checks

Occasionally, we may insert additional steps to help us fairly assess candidates.

To apply, please click the 'Apply Now' button below. We recommend not spending more than two hours preparing your responses to the prompts in the form.

Note Before Applying: Please do not include a cover letter, photograph, or headshot of yourself, or any personal information that is not relevant to the role for which you're applying (including marital status, age, identity traits, etc.). Additionally, please do not ask our staff members involved in the hiring process to meet with you. To ensure fairness, we try to minimize these interactions, and requests for meetings with the hiring committee members during the process will be declined.

Contact: Please email careers@iaps.ai if you have any questions.

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IAPS is committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and supportive community for you to thrive and do your best work. We encourage everyone to apply regardless of your age, gender identity/expression, political identity, personal preferences, physical abilities, veteran status, neurodiversity, or any other background. Please apply even if you don't meet all the requirements above, or feel unsure about your qualifications – we are interested in a wide range of backgrounds!