Research Lead (Tech Industry)

The Effective Institutions Project is looking to hire a Research Lead who will have principal responsibility for EIP’s research and advocacy on the governance of emerging technologies. The Research Lead will be a core member of EIP’s leadership team who will also help to implement the organization’s broader research vision and agenda, support EIP’s learning infrastructure and knowledge management operations, and contribute to the overall growth of the organization. We seek a strong analytical thinker and excellent communicator who is passionate about the challenge of navigating large and complex organizational systems in search of meaningful opportunities for societal benefit.

About the Effective Institutions Project

About the Role

The Research Lead (Tech Industry) will design and oversee targeted research projects, engage with high-level stakeholders from the tech industry and government, and offer critical insight on topics such as AI/ML, cloud computing, semiconductor technologies, cybersecurity, recommendation algorithms, and other emerging technologies. In this role, you can expect to:

  • Help shape EIP’s research vision and strategy in close collaboration with EIP’s Executive Director and strategic advisors. This includes providing input into the selection of priority focus areas, planning and sequencing research projects, and overseeing research teams.
  • Commission and manage research projects on specific tech industry and tech-relevant institutions in accordance with the research priorities above by seeking out, engaging, and serving as primary point of contact for well-qualified external collaborators.
  • Expand EIP’s expert network by leading outreach to high-level stakeholders in the tech industry, government, and multilateral institutions on key policy issues to build relationships in support of our mission.
  • Staying up-to-date with research and developments in the tech industry and tech policy, contribute to our knowledge management systems in other areas and actively participate in organization-wide learning and sensemaking activities across issue verticals.
  • Draft and refine EIP knowledge products including policy proposals, reports, funder guides, and other materials. Synthesize and communicate key insights internally and externally as appropriate.
  • Contribute to EIP’s organizational growth strategy, helping to attract the resources and talent necessary to deliver on the organization’s ambitious goals
  • Create opportunities to expand EIP’s reach by helping to source new funders and civil society partners who may be interested in using our research to make an impact
  • Contribute ideas and informed opinions to EIP’s own institutional growth and development; pilot and document innovative decision-making and management practices
  • Occasionally travel for conferences and other in-person events (reasonable expenses will be reimbursed)

Ideal Profile

Our ideal candidate will have most if not all of the following:

  • Innate intellectual curiosity and a passionate drive to understand social and organizational systems in all of their complexity
  • A strong understanding of tech industry business dynamics, including key revenue drivers, product lines, competitive pressures, and workplace cultures
  • An uncommon ability to distill complex information signals from a vast and diverse knowledge base into actionable recommendations
  • Excellent organizational skills, reliability, and attention to detail
  • Strong epistemic rigor and reasoning transparency
  • Clear verbal and written communication in English
  • High standards for professionalism and a commitment to representing the organization well at all times
  • A strong ethical compass and motivation to work toward the benefit of others, both today and in the future

In addition, the following strengths are highly desirable but not required:

  • Past experience working for or with one or more of the top-ranked technology companies or regulators identified in EIP’s most recent landscape analysis
  • In-depth content expertise in one or more of the following: AI policy and governance proposals (e.g., responsible scaling policies, dangerous capability evaluations, etc.); data centers and cloud computing; the semiconductor industry and supply chain; open-source community norms and discourse; technical AI alignment paradigms; or cybersecurity
  • Experience in forecasting or journalism, and facility with social media
  • Experience with event planning and production
  • Facility and experience with quantitative reasoning or cost-effectiveness analysis

Compensation and benefits

This position is remote and can be based in most countries, although we require a minimum 4-hour overlap with US East Coast working hours. For a US-based candidate, we expect the salary to be approximately $100,000-140,000 per year with benefits including paid time off, employer-provided health insurance (including coverage for dependents), and a 5% unconditional 401(k) employer contribution on top of your salary. We are also open to candidates from other countries, and we will try our best to offer an equivalent compensation package regardless of location.

To apply

To apply for this role, please complete this form. Note: the application form requires a Google account in order to upload your resume. If you don’t have a Google account, feel free to email your materials and answers to the application questions, following all character limits, to info@effectiveinstitutionsproject.org. A cover letter is not required.

Rolling Deadline. We are actively interviewing candidates for this role. We will periodically review new applications until the position is filled; if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible.

The Effective Institutions Project is committed to building a diverse applicant pool. We strongly encourage interested candidates to apply regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, physical ability, educational background, socioeconomic status, etc.