Communications Manager

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is hiring a US Communications Manager to drive our outreach and communications activities. The US Communications Manager will report directly to FLI's Communications Director.

Do you believe we need to raise awareness about the risks and benefits of cutting-edge technologies like AI biotech and nuclear? Do you appreciate the role of communications in driving AI policy and stakeholder behavior?

FLI works to reduce global catastrophic risks from transformative technologies and develop optimistic yet realistic visions of the future.

As US Communications Manager you will:

• Drive FLI's communications activities in the United States and helping to ensure our communications activities support our strategic goals.

• Work with FLI's Policy team to identify opportunities (and mitigate risks) to create change within key US media markets/audiences.

• Collaborate with the rest of the Communications team (including website social media and podcast) to ensure content output serves our US campaign objectives with specificity and nuance.

• Create and cultivate media relationships in the US proactively building rapport and trust with outlets and journalists in key regions and beats.

• Produce press releases op-eds statements and other written content to support FLI announcements and in response to external developments.

• Contribute insights to the production process of creative assets (videos animations infographics.)

• Help craft messaging to assist FLI staff and allies to communicate our key issues.

• Help run FLI's press office and lead when the UK office is closed.

• When appropriate help produce and run US-based events to grow our network and drive awareness on our issues.

• Contribute to the overall strategic direction of FLI's Communications team.

Required Qualifications

• Experience leading on nonprofit and/or issue-based campaigns that deliver tangible impact.

• Experience and understanding of how to work with press to place stories and drive earned media.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Proven self-starter with a track record of showing initiative creativity and autonomy in driving communications campaigns forward.

• Excited by the prospect of joining a small but influential team looking to improve humanity’s future.

Preferred Qualifications

• Located in the SF Bay Area or DC (remote work supported.)

• BA or higher in Communications Political Science Marketing or related field.

• Interest in AI/transformative technology.

$100000 - $140000 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.

Application Process

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 cover letter alongside a short answer to the following question:

- What are the challenges and approaches of communicating large-scale risks from AI? [250 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 [email protected].

About the Future of Life Institute

Founded in 2014 FLI is an independent non-profit working to steer transformative technology towards benefitting 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 30000 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.