Application Guide

How to Apply for Generalist, SPAR

at Kairos Project

🏢 About Kairos Project

The Kairos Project is a nonprofit focused on reducing catastrophic risks from nuclear weapons through research, advocacy, and international engagement. Working here means contributing directly to global security and existential risk reduction, alongside a mission-driven team that values high agency and reliability. The organization's expansion into AI safety via the SPAR fellowship offers a unique chance to shape a rapidly growing field.

About This Role

As Generalist, SPAR, you'll manage the operational backbone and mentee support for a large AI safety research fellowship with 800+ participants. You'll handle scheduling, communications, deadlines, and logistics across mentors and mentees, while also designing workshops and Demo Day events to deepen participants' understanding of AI safety. This role is pivotal in ensuring the fellowship runs smoothly and that mentees remain engaged and supported.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve checking in on Slack channels, responding to mentee questions, updating schedules for upcoming workshops, and coordinating with mentors on deadlines. You might also host an office hours session, troubleshoot a logistical issue, and plan programming for Demo Day. Expect a mix of reactive support and proactive planning, all while keeping the fellowship running smoothly.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Kairos Project Is Looking For

  • Proven experience in operations, program coordination, or fellowship management, ideally in a remote, fast-paced nonprofit or educational setting.
  • Strong organizational skills and reliability, with the ability to juggle multiple deadlines, schedules, and communications across hundreds of participants.
  • High agency and problem-solving mindset, comfortable flagging and addressing engagement issues proactively via Slack, email, office hours, and 1:1s.
  • Familiarity with AI safety concepts and prior mentoring or teaching experience, enabling you to design and deliver effective workshops and programming.

📝 Tips for Applying to Kairos Project

1

Highlight any experience managing large-scale programs or fellowships (800+ participants) and specify the tools you used (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace, CRM).

2

Demonstrate your understanding of AI safety by referencing specific concepts (e.g., alignment, interpretability, governance) and how you've engaged with the field.

3

Show your high agency by describing times you proactively identified and solved operational or engagement issues without being asked.

4

Emphasize your ability to design and deliver workshops or events, especially those that deepen technical understanding for diverse audiences.

5

Mention your willingness and ability to travel 3–6 times per year for US conferences, and your comfort with remote work and optional work from AI safety hubs.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your direct experience managing logistics and support for large-scale fellowship or educational programs, including specific metrics (e.g., number of participants, engagement rates).', 'Your familiarity with AI safety and your ability to translate complex concepts into accessible workshops and programming.', 'Your high agency and reliability, illustrated by examples of troubleshooting engagement issues and improving processes.', "Your enthusiasm for The Kairos Project's mission to reduce catastrophic risks, and how you see the SPAR fellowship contributing to that goal."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore The Kairos Project's website and recent reports to understand their nuclear risk reduction work and how the SPAR fellowship fits into their mission.
  • → Read about the SPAR fellowship: its structure, goals, and past cohorts, to understand the scale and expectations of the role.
  • → Familiarize yourself with key AI safety organizations and concepts (e.g., MIRI, ARC, alignment) to speak credibly about the field.
  • → Look up recent news or publications from The Kairos Project to reference in your application and interview.
Visit Kairos Project's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you handle a mentee who stops responding and misses deadlines? Walk us through your process.
2 Describe your experience with designing and delivering workshops or events for a technical audience. What did you learn?
3 How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple deadlines and communications across hundreds of participants?
4 What interests you about AI safety, and how do you stay current with developments in the field?
5 Give an example of a time you took initiative to improve a program or process without being asked.
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Being vague about your operational experience—avoid general statements like 'managed projects'; instead, quantify and specify.
  • Showing lack of familiarity with AI safety—demonstrate you've done basic research and can discuss why it matters.
  • Underestimating the importance of high agency—don't just say you're proactive; provide concrete examples of when you took initiative.

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Kairos Project!

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