GCP Program Manager

GCP Program Manager - Kairos

The Global Challenges Project (GCP), part of Kairos, is hiring a Program Manager to build and lead residential workshops that help talented individuals pursue impactful careers in AI safety, biosecurity, and policy. GCP has organized dozens of workshops for more than 400 students, primarily in Oxford, Boston, and Berkeley. The organization is expanding its portfolio of programs to become a leading workshop organizer in these fields.

The Program Manager will own at least two workshop programs, overseeing strategy, design, outreach, participant selection, guest recruitment, delivery, team leadership, and impact evaluation. Reporting to Sam Glendenning, the role offers significant autonomy to develop new programs, test different formats, and scale successful initiatives. Programs will evolve based on results, and the manager must be comfortable discontinuing approaches that do not deliver sufficient value.

Key Responsibilities

The Program Manager will lead multiple programs serving students exploring AI safety, professionals considering career transitions, and individuals interested in policy or politics. Responsibilities include developing workshop concepts, supporting other organizations with workshop delivery, and proposing new high-impact formats. The manager will experiment with program structures and objectives to identify the most effective approaches.

The role involves developing outreach and marketing strategies, building applicant pools, selecting suitable participants, and recruiting researchers, policymakers, funders, operators, and other experts as guest speakers. The manager will design workshop content, sessions, and participant experiences, deliver talks, introduce guests, advise participants, and oversee on-site operations during residential events.

Additional responsibilities include directing teams of staff, interns, and volunteers, typically three to four people per workshop. As the team expands, the manager may supervise GCP team members and interns directly. The role also requires collecting participant feedback, tracking longer-term outcomes, evaluating program effectiveness, improving delivery systems, developing automation, contributing to organizational strategy, and helping launch an internship program.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates should have experience organizing and delivering workshops, conferences, retreats, or other complex in-person events. They must be comfortable making decisions under pressure and managing the practical demands of multi-day residential programs. Previous experience leading operational or program teams is highly desirable.

Applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to reducing risks associated with advanced AI and biotechnology and understand how workshops can help talented people enter these fields. Strong interpersonal skills, enthusiasm for engaging with participants and guests, and the ability to maintain smooth event operations are essential.

The ideal candidate demonstrates initiative, independent problem-solving, adaptability, and excellent organizational skills. They should be capable of managing multiple programs, workstreams, teams, and deadlines simultaneously. Familiarity with the AI safety ecosystem, its major organizations, key individuals, and career opportunities is important. Experience with biosecurity or US policy is an advantage for relevant programs.

Work Environment and Benefits

Kairos offers the opportunity to develop and lead programs addressing global challenges while building relationships with experts across AI safety and biosecurity. Team members work alongside professionals with backgrounds at organizations including METR, Coefficient Giving, Rethink Priorities, the UK AI Security Institute, and CEA.

Compensation ranges from $140,000 to $195,000 for baseline locations, $175,000 to $245,000 for supported hubs such as London, Washington, DC, Boston, and New York City, and $195,000 to $270,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Compensation depends on experience, with potential additional pay for exceptional candidates.

The remote role offers flexible working hours, health insurance, dental and vision coverage, generous vacation, a professional development budget, home-office expense coverage, and access to office spaces in San Francisco, Berkeley, London, or Boston. Work-related travel expenses are covered, and the organization holds three team retreats annually.

Location and Logistics

This is a remote-first position with approximately 8 to 12 work-related trips per year, generally lasting three to six days for workshops, conferences, and events, primarily in the UK and US. Candidates within five hours of UK time are preferred, although exceptional applicants in other time zones will be considered.

The preferred start date is October or early November 2026, with flexibility for the right candidate. Visa sponsorship for the UK or US may be possible depending on individual circumstances, including potential O-1A visa sponsorship, but approval is not guaranteed.

Company Culture

Kairos is a small, collaborative, high-trust team focused on ensuring advanced AI develops safely. The organization values honest feedback, evidence-based decision-making, adaptability, collaboration, and continuous learning. It also emphasizes employee well-being, enjoyable teamwork, celebrating achievements, and maintaining a healthy sense of humor while addressing challenging problems.