Application Guide

How to Apply for Head of Special Projects

at Kairos Project

🏢 About Kairos Project

The Kairos Project is a unique nonprofit dedicated to reducing catastrophic risks from nuclear weapons, now expanding into AI safety. Working here means contributing to high-stakes, mission-driven projects with a lean, entrepreneurial team that values speed and impact over bureaucracy.

About This Role

As Head of Special Projects, you'll lead a new team launching high-impact, time-bound projects across the AI safety ecosystem. You'll have the autonomy to identify and run early-stage initiatives from concept to operation, scaling successful pilots or winding them down cleanly. This role is perfect for a builder who thrives in ambiguity and wants to directly shape the future of AI safety.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning check-ins with your remote team, followed by deep work on a project's strategy or partnerships. You might spend time evaluating a new opportunity, writing a proposal, or troubleshooting a pilot's operational issues. Afternoons could include virtual meetings with AI safety researchers, stakeholders, or potential hires, ending with a review of project metrics and adjusting plans for the next day.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Kairos Project

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Kairos Project Is Looking For

  • You have a proven track record of starting programs, organizations, or products from zero to launch, ideally in a technical or policy-heavy domain.
  • You possess deep AI safety context—whether through research, policy, or engineering—and can speak fluently about the field's key challenges and stakeholders.
  • You are comfortable making decisions with incomplete information, moving quickly to test hypotheses, and iterating based on results.
  • You have experience hiring and managing small teams, and you can balance hands-on execution with strategic oversight.

📝 Tips for Applying to Kairos Project

1

Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight specific examples of projects you've started from scratch, including the problem, your actions, and the outcome.

2

Showcase your AI safety knowledge by referencing recent developments, papers, or organizations in your application, and explain how your experience aligns with the field's current needs.

3

Quantify your impact where possible—e.g., 'grew initiative from 0 to 10k users' or 'secured $500k in funding'—to demonstrate your ability to deliver results.

4

Since the role is remote and fast-paced, emphasize your ability to work autonomously and communicate effectively across time zones.

5

Avoid generic templates; instead, write a custom cover letter that directly addresses why you're excited about Kairos's dual focus on nuclear and AI risks.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Express genuine passion for reducing catastrophic risks, and connect your personal mission to Kairos's unique position at the intersection of nuclear and AI threats.", 'Detail your experience launching projects or organizations from scratch, using specific stories that show your ability to navigate ambiguity and drive to impact.', 'Highlight your AI safety expertise, including any relevant research, policy work, or engineering, and how it enables you to identify high-leverage opportunities.', "Explain why you're drawn to the 'special projects' nature of the role—your ability to quickly prototype, scale, and sometimes kill projects for the greater good."]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Research Kairos's existing projects and publications on nuclear risk to understand their approach and how AI safety fits into their mission.
  • → Familiarize yourself with key AI safety organizations (e.g., Anthropic, OpenAI, MIRI, CSET) and recent policy debates to speak to the ecosystem's landscape.
  • → Look into the funders and partners of Kairos to understand their network and potential collaboration opportunities.
  • → Review the career backgrounds of the leadership team to gauge their working style and the type of projects they value.
Visit Kairos Project's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you decide which early-stage projects to pursue in AI safety, and what criteria would you use to prioritize?
2 Describe a time you had to launch a project with incomplete information. How did you handle uncertainty, and what was the outcome?
3 How do you approach hiring for a small, fast-moving team? What traits do you look for in project-based roles?
4 How would you handle a project that isn't gaining traction? When would you decide to wind it down, and how would you do so cleanly?
5 What do you see as the biggest opportunities or gaps in the AI safety ecosystem that Kairos could address?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't underestimate the need for AI safety context—avoid applying if you can't speak to the current state of the field; it's a core requirement.
  • Don't focus solely on your management experience; the role emphasizes hands-on project creation, so highlight your ability to build from the ground up.
  • Don't be vague about your experience with 'starting things'—provide concrete examples with measurable outcomes, not just responsibilities.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: September 25, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

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!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →