Application Guide
How to Apply for Executive Director
at New Grassroots AI Org
🏢 About New Grassroots AI Org
This is a rare opportunity to join a brand-new, well-funded organization at its inception, spun out of Humans First with a laser focus on passing meaningful federal AI legislation by 2030. As a left-of-center group, you'll work at the intersection of technology and public policy, shaping how the US governs one of the most consequential technologies of our time. The mission is urgent and the stakes are high—your work will directly impact whether society addresses catastrophic risks from AI.
About This Role
As the founding Executive Director, you will build the organization from the ground up—hiring a team, setting strategy, and driving day-to-day execution across c3 and c4 entities. Your primary goal: secure federal AI legislation within 3-6 years, which requires navigating a complex political landscape, building coalitions, and managing both policy advocacy and public communications. This role is ideal for a seasoned leader who thrives on creating structure from ambiguity and has a proven track record of turning mandates into results.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a 9am team standup to align on priorities across policy, comms, and operations, followed by a strategy session with the policy director on upcoming congressional hearings. Midday, you could be meeting with a potential funder to pitch the organization's vision, then spend the afternoon reviewing a draft op-ed and coaching the comms lead on messaging. Evenings might involve a virtual coalition call with allied groups or a board update on hiring progress.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who New Grassroots AI Org Is Looking For
- A senior leader with 10+ years of experience, including at least 3-5 years as an executive director or equivalent at a mission-driven organization, with a demonstrated 'builder mindset'—you've started or scaled something from scratch.
- Deep strategic and political judgment, evidenced by experience building power through movements (e.g., labor, climate, civil rights) or winning major policy campaigns at the federal or state level.
- Strong team management skills: you've recruited and managed diverse teams across functions (policy, comms, ops), set clear goals, and held people accountable without micromanaging.
- A genuine commitment to AI policy and a belief that federal legislation is necessary to protect Americans from AI risks—you can articulate why this matters and how it fits into a broader progressive agenda.
📝 Tips for Applying to New Grassroots AI Org
In your cover letter, explicitly connect your past experience building or scaling an organization to the specific challenge of creating a new entity focused on AI legislation. Use concrete examples (e.g., 'I grew my previous org from 3 to 30 staff and secured a major policy win in X years').
Highlight any experience working with c3/c4 structures or dual-entity advocacy organizations—this role requires managing both tax-exempt and political arms, so fluency in compliance and coordination is a plus.
Tailor your resume to emphasize 'power-building' and 'movement' experience, not just policy expertise. The job description stresses building power through movements, so include examples of coalition building, grassroots engagement, or labor/community organizing.
Research Humans First and the broader AI policy landscape (e.g., the AI Act in Europe, current US bills like the SAFE Innovation Act). Mention specific legislation or frameworks you admire in your application to show depth.
Show humility about the learning curve—acknowledge that AI is a complex, fast-moving field, but demonstrate how your leadership skills will enable you to recruit top technical talent and learn quickly.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your track record of building and leading high-performing teams from scratch or turning around struggling organizations.', "Specific examples of strategic campaigns you've led that resulted in legislative or regulatory change, especially at the federal level.", 'Your ability to navigate both inside (policy, lobbying) and outside (movement building, communications) strategies to create political will.', 'A clear articulation of why AI risk is a critical issue and how it aligns with left-of-center values (e.g., protecting workers, ensuring equity, preventing corporate capture).']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read Humans First's public materials (website, reports, press releases) to understand the parent organization's mission and how this spinoff fits into their broader strategy.
- → Study the current state of federal AI legislation: key bills, committee hearings, and the positions of major players (e.g., Schumer's AI framework, the Biden executive order, industry lobbying).
- → Look into the c3/c4 structure and legal requirements for coordination—this is a niche but critical aspect of the role. Familiarize yourself with examples like Planned Parenthood or the Sierra Club's dual entities.
- → Research the backgrounds of the board members (if known) or the founders to understand their priorities and what they value in a leader.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't focus solely on AI expertise—the job is about leadership and organizational building, not being a technical expert. Avoid jargon or overemphasizing your AI knowledge unless it's directly tied to leadership.
- Don't submit a generic cover letter. This is a unique, high-stakes role; generic language like 'I'm a passionate leader' without specifics will be ignored.
- Don't underestimate the political complexity. Avoid framing AI policy as purely a technical problem; show you understand the need for coalition building, power dynamics, and strategic compromise.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
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Good luck with your application to New Grassroots AI Org!