Application Guide

How to Apply for Hackathons Program Manager

at Apart Research

🏢 About Apart Research

Apart Research is a unique decentralized organization focused exclusively on technical AI safety research, operating globally without a traditional headquarters. They foster a community-driven approach to solving critical AI alignment challenges, making them appealing to those passionate about preventing existential risks from advanced AI. Working here means contributing directly to one of humanity's most pressing problems through innovative, collaborative methods.

About This Role

As Hackathons Program Manager, you'll own and scale Apart Research's flagship hackathon program that attracts hundreds of global participants to tackle AI safety research challenges. You'll be responsible for end-to-end event management from planning and partnership development to community engagement on Discord, directly impacting how the organization builds its global research community. This role is crucial for expanding Apart Research's reach and identifying new talent in the AI safety field.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves coordinating across time zones to manage Discord communities, planning hackathon logistics with global partners, and recruiting AI safety experts as judges or mentors. You might spend mornings reviewing participant registrations and engagement metrics, afternoons designing challenge prompts with researchers, and evenings hosting community calls for international participants.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Apart Research Is Looking For

  • Has experience organizing virtual hackathons or large-scale online events with global participants
  • Demonstrates strong community management skills, particularly on Discord, with experience maintaining engagement before, during, and after events
  • Shows ability to recruit and coordinate high-profile speakers, judges, and mentors in technical fields (especially AI/ML)
  • Possesses operational expertise with registration systems, communication platforms, and tracking tools for participant management

📝 Tips for Applying to Apart Research

1

Highlight specific hackathons you've organized, including participant numbers, geographic reach, and technical focus areas (AI/ML experience is particularly relevant)

2

Demonstrate your Discord community management experience with metrics like engagement rates, member growth, or successful community-driven initiatives

3

Showcase your ability to recruit technical talent by mentioning specific speakers, judges, or mentors you've secured for past events

4

Describe your experience with operational systems like registration platforms (Eventbrite, Devpost), communication tools, and participant tracking

5

Express genuine passion for AI safety by referencing specific Apart Research projects or their decentralized approach to research

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience scaling virtual events globally and managing remote participants across time zones', 'Specific examples of building and maintaining engaged technical communities, particularly on Discord', 'Your approach to recruiting technical experts (speakers, judges, mentors) for AI/ML focused events', "How your operational skills would improve Apart Research's hackathon infrastructure and participant experience"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Apart Research's past hackathons and projects on their website to understand their technical focus areas
  • → Join their Discord community to observe current engagement patterns and community dynamics
  • → Research their decentralized organizational structure and how it differs from traditional research institutions
  • → Review their published research or blog posts to understand their specific approach to AI safety
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a hackathon challenge specifically focused on technical AI safety problems?
2 Describe your strategy for maintaining participant engagement on Discord for 3 months post-hackathon
3 How would you recruit judges and mentors from the AI safety research community who might be hesitant to participate?
4 What metrics would you track to measure the success of a decentralized, global hackathon?
5 How would you handle time zone challenges when running events for participants across North America, Europe, and Asia simultaneously?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on in-person event experience without demonstrating virtual/remote hackathon management
  • Generic community management experience without specific Discord platform expertise
  • Applying with a generic tech event background without showing understanding of AI safety's unique challenges

📅 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 Apart Research!

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