How to apply for Head of Labs
Kairos
About Kairos
Kairos is a unique AI safety fieldbuilding organization that focuses on addressing talent gaps within the AI safety field. Working here means contributing to the strategic development of the field, not just technical research, and having a direct impact on how new organizations are formed and supported.
About the role
As Head of Labs, you will design, launch, and lead Kairos Labs, an incubator for AI safety founders. This role is pivotal in shaping the future of AI safety by identifying and supporting the next generation of organizations, making it a high-impact opportunity for someone with entrepreneurial and program-building experience.
A typical day
Your day might start with a call with an incubated founder discussing their fundraising strategy, followed by reviewing applications for the next cohort. You might spend the afternoon refining the program's curriculum, meeting with potential partners, or writing a blog post to attract applicants. Evenings could be dedicated to reading AI safety research to stay informed.
Who Kairos is looking for
- -
- H
- a
- s
- e
- x
- p
- e
- r
- i
- e
- n
- c
- e
- l
- a
- u
- n
- c
- h
- i
- n
- g
- a
- n
- d
- r
- u
- n
- n
- i
- n
- g
- i
- n
- c
- u
- b
- a
- t
- o
- r
- s
- ,
- a
- c
- c
- e
- l
- e
- r
- a
- t
- o
- r
- s
- ,
- o
- r
- s
- i
- m
- i
- l
- a
- r
- p
- r
- o
- g
- r
- a
- m
- s
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- a
- t
- r
- a
- c
- k
- r
- e
- c
- o
- r
- d
- o
- f
- s
- u
- p
- p
- o
- r
- t
- i
- n
- g
- e
- a
- r
- l
- y
- -
- s
- t
- a
- g
- e
- v
- e
- n
- t
- u
- r
- e
- s
- .
- -
- P
- o
- s
- s
- e
- s
- s
- e
- s
- a
- d
- e
- e
- p
- u
- n
- d
- e
- r
- s
- t
- a
- n
- d
- i
- n
- g
- o
- f
- t
- h
- e
- A
- I
- s
- a
- f
- e
- t
- y
- l
- a
- n
- d
- s
- c
- a
- p
- e
- ,
- i
- n
- c
- l
- u
- d
- i
- n
- g
- k
- e
- y
- c
- h
- a
- l
- l
- e
- n
- g
- e
- s
- ,
- o
- r
- g
- a
- n
- i
- z
- a
- t
- i
- o
- n
- s
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- t
- a
- l
- e
- n
- t
- .
- -
- S
- t
- r
- o
- n
- g
- s
- t
- r
- a
- t
- e
- g
- i
- c
- t
- h
- i
- n
- k
- i
- n
- g
- a
- n
- d
- p
- r
- o
- g
- r
- a
- m
- d
- e
- s
- i
- g
- n
- s
- k
- i
- l
- l
- s
- ,
- a
- b
- l
- e
- t
- o
- d
- e
- f
- i
- n
- e
- p
- r
- o
- g
- r
- a
- m
- s
- t
- r
- u
- c
- t
- u
- r
- e
- ,
- s
- e
- l
- e
- c
- t
- i
- o
- n
- c
- r
- i
- t
- e
- r
- i
- a
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- s
- u
- c
- c
- e
- s
- s
- m
- e
- t
- r
- i
- c
- s
- .
- -
- E
- x
- c
- e
- l
- l
- e
- n
- t
- c
- o
- a
- c
- h
- i
- n
- g
- a
- n
- d
- a
- d
- v
- i
- s
- o
- r
- y
- s
- k
- i
- l
- l
- s
- ,
- c
- a
- p
- a
- b
- l
- e
- o
- f
- g
- u
- i
- d
- i
- n
- g
- f
- o
- u
- n
- d
- e
- r
- s
- o
- n
- s
- t
- r
- a
- t
- e
- g
- y
- ,
- f
- u
- n
- d
- r
- a
- i
- s
- i
- n
- g
- ,
- h
- i
- r
- i
- n
- g
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- o
- p
- e
- r
- a
- t
- i
- o
- n
- s
- .
Tips for this application
- Tailor your resume to highlight any experience designing or leading programs, especially those focused on entrepreneurship or field building.
- In your cover letter, explicitly connect your past achievements to the goals of Kairos Labs, showing how you would approach the role.
- Research Kairos's existing initiatives and the broader AI safety field to demonstrate your understanding of the ecosystem.
- Reach out to current or former Kairos team members on LinkedIn to learn more about the culture and role specifics.
- Be prepared to discuss your vision for the incubator, including how you would attract and select founders.
What to cover in your cover letter
- Emphasize your experience in program design and leadership, with concrete examples of building something from scratch. - Show your passion for AI safety and your understanding of the field's talent gaps. - Highlight your ability to advise and mentor early-stage founders, including your network in the startup or nonprofit world. - Express your strategic vision for how Kairos Labs can evolve and scale, aligning with Kairos's mission.
Draft a cover letterResearch before applying
- Explore Kairos's website and read their blog posts or annual reports to understand their current focus and achievements.
- Look into other AI safety incubators or fieldbuilding initiatives (e.g., Long-Term Future Fund, Open Philanthropy) to understand the landscape.
- Familiarize yourself with key AI safety organizations and their founders, as you'll be working with similar profiles.
- Check out interviews or talks by Kairos's leadership to grasp their philosophy and approach.
Likely interview topics
Based on the job description, expect questions about:
- How would you design the application and selection process for the first cohort of Kairos Labs?
- What types of AI safety organizations are most needed, and how would you identify promising founders?
- How would you measure the success of the program in the short and long term?
- Describe a time you advised a founder on a difficult strategic or fundraising decision.
- How would you balance the need for hands-on support with giving founders autonomy?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Don't submit a generic application that doesn't reference Kairos or AI safety specifically.
- Avoid focusing only on your entrepreneurial experience without connecting it to the nonprofit or fieldbuilding context.
- Don't underestimate the importance of the program's strategic direction; avoid vague answers about how you would lead.
Application timing
We do not have a confirmed application deadline for this listing. Check the original posting before preparing your application.