Application Guide

How to Apply for Head of Special Projects

at Kairos

🏢 About Kairos

Kairos is a unique AI safety fieldbuilding organization dedicated to mitigating risks from advanced AI by addressing talent gaps in the field. Working here means contributing directly to the safe development of AI, in a collaborative and mission-driven environment that values impact and innovation.

About This Role

As the Head of Special Projects, you will lead a team focused on identifying and executing high-impact opportunities for the AI safety ecosystem. This role involves managing a portfolio of projects from concept to launch, scaling successes, and ensuring lessons are learned from completed work. It's a dynamic position where you'll shape strategy and make a tangible difference in AI safety.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a team stand-up to review project progress, followed by meetings with stakeholders to evaluate new opportunities. You could spend time analyzing impact metrics, brainstorming with your team on scaling strategies, and perhaps interviewing candidates for new roles. The day would end with strategic planning and ensuring projects align with Kairos's mission.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Kairos Is Looking For

  • Proven experience in leading diverse projects from ideation to successful launch, ideally in a fast-paced or startup environment.
  • Strong strategic thinking and ability to evaluate and prioritize opportunities based on impact potential and alignment with Kairos's mission.
  • Excellent leadership and team management skills, with experience hiring and developing talent to run projects sustainably.
  • Adaptable and execution-focused, able to move quickly when impact windows close and comfortable with ambiguity.

📝 Tips for Applying to Kairos

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific projects you've led from concept to launch, emphasizing measurable impact and scale.

2

In your cover letter, mention how your experience aligns with Kairos's mission of AI safety and fieldbuilding, showing genuine interest in the cause.

3

Demonstrate your ability to evaluate and select opportunities by providing examples of strategic decisions you've made in past roles.

4

Highlight your experience in building systems and processes to scale projects, as well as your approach to winding down projects while preserving knowledge.

5

Research Kairos's current initiatives and mention how your skills could contribute to their ongoing projects in your application.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for AI safety and how you've taken concrete steps to contribute to the field.", 'Specific examples of leading high-impact projects, including how you decided which opportunities to pursue.', 'Your leadership style and experience in hiring and managing teams to achieve ambitious goals.', 'Your ability to think strategically and execute quickly, with a track record of adapting to changing priorities.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Familiarize yourself with Kairos's mission, history, and key projects by exploring their website and publications.
  • → Understand the current landscape of AI safety and the specific talent gaps Kairos aims to address.
  • → Look into the broader AI safety fieldbuilding community and key players to understand where Kairos fits.
  • → Review any recent news or blog posts from Kairos to stay up-to-date with their latest initiatives.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a project you led from concept to launch. How did you evaluate its potential impact and decide to pursue it?
2 How do you approach building systems to scale successful projects? Can you give an example?
3 Tell me about a time you had to wind down a project. How did you ensure lessons were captured and applied?
4 How would you identify high-impact opportunities in the AI safety ecosystem? What criteria would you use?
5 What is your experience in hiring and managing team members to run projects sustainably? How do you develop your team?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't show a clear understanding of or passion for AI safety.
  • Focusing too much on technical skills without demonstrating leadership and project management experience.
  • Not providing concrete examples of past projects, especially those that show strategic decision-making and scaling.

📅 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!

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