How to apply for General Counsel

About Safe AI Forum

The Safe AI Forum (SAIF) is a mission-driven nonprofit working at the intersection of AI safety and global governance, aiming to reduce catastrophic risks from advanced AI through international coordination. Unlike typical tech companies, SAIF operates as a diplomatic bridge between key global actors, including the US, UK, and China, making its work uniquely impactful in shaping responsible AI policy. Joining SAIF means contributing to one of the most pressing existential challenges of our time in a collaborative, high-stakes environment.

About the role

As the first General Counsel at SAIF, you will build the legal function from the ground up, directly advising leadership on legal, operational, and reputational risks in international AI safety efforts. You will own critical compliance areas such as trade controls, FARA, and researcher vetting, while managing outside counsel across multiple jurisdictions. This role is pivotal in balancing legal risk with mission priorities, ensuring SAIF can operate effectively across borders.

A typical day

Your day might start with a call with outside counsel in London to discuss a UK regulatory filing, followed by a strategy session with SAIF leadership on a researcher vetting issue that has trade control implications. Later, you might draft a policy for FARA compliance and review a contract with a Chinese partner, all while ensuring legal risks are balanced against the mission's urgent goals.

Who Safe AI Forum is looking for

• 5+ years of legal practice with significant in-house experience, ideally in a startup or nonprofit setting where you've built legal processes from scratch.
• Deep expertise in US trade controls (OFAC, EAR, ITAR), FARA compliance, and nonprofit governance, with familiarity with UK and China regulatory landscapes.
• Proven ability to translate complex legal advice into actionable guidance for non-lawyers, serving as a strategic thought partner to executive leadership.
• Strong mission alignment with AI safety and global governance, coupled with excellent judgment in high-stakes, cross-cultural contexts.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience you have with trade controls, FARA, or international compliance in your resume and cover letter—these are core to the role and rare to find.
• Demonstrate familiarity with AI safety or emerging tech governance by referencing specific challenges (e.g., export controls on AI models, researcher vetting) in your application.
• Emphasize your ability to build legal infrastructure from scratch, providing concrete examples of processes or policies you've implemented.
• Show cultural sensitivity and experience working across US, UK, and China jurisdictions, as this is critical for managing outside counsel and compliance.
• Connect your personal motivation to SAIF's mission—this nonprofit values mission alignment deeply, so articulate why AI safety governance matters to you.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your track record of building legal functions in fast-paced, mission-driven organizations, with specific examples of balancing risk and mission.', "Direct experience with trade controls, FARA, and international compliance, and how you've navigated complex regulatory environments.", 'Your ability to work effectively with non-lawyers and translate legal concepts into strategic advice for leadership.', "A clear statement of why you're passionate about AI safety and global governance, and how you see legal work contributing to SAIF's mission."]

Research before applying

• Explore SAIF's website, reports, and any public statements to understand their specific approach to AI safety governance and current projects.
• Research recent developments in US export controls on AI, FARA enforcement, and UK/China regulations affecting nonprofits and tech policy.
• Learn about key global actors in AI safety (e.g., US, UK, China governments, international bodies) and SAIF's role in facilitating collaboration.
• Investigate common legal challenges faced by nonprofits operating internationally, such as foreign agent registration, tax-exempt status, and data privacy.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach building a legal function from scratch at a small nonprofit focused on international AI safety?
• Describe your experience with US trade controls and FARA compliance. How would you handle a situation where a researcher's activities raise red flags?
• How do you balance legal risk mitigation with mission urgency, especially when advising non-lawyer leadership?
• What strategies would you use to manage outside counsel across US, UK, and China to ensure consistent, actionable advice?
• How would you ensure compliance for a US 501(c)(3) and a UK entity while coordinating international activities?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on traditional corporate legal experience without addressing the unique nonprofit and international governance aspects of this role.
• Underestimating the importance of mission alignment—SAIF seeks candidates genuinely committed to AI safety, not just any legal job.
• Neglecting to mention specific compliance areas like trade controls or FARA, which are explicitly called out in the job description.