Application Guide

How to Apply for IT & Security Manager

at Far.Ai

🏢 About Far.Ai

FAR.AI is a non-profit AI research institute dedicated to ensuring advanced AI is safe and beneficial for everyone, operating independently with a portfolio approach across the AI safety stack. With 50+ staff, 40+ academic papers, and partnerships with frontier labs and governments, it offers a unique chance to work on high-impact AI safety challenges in a mission-driven, remote-first environment.

About This Role

As the IT & Security Manager, you will own the IT infrastructure and security posture of a cutting-edge AI research institute, enabling researchers to focus on safety breakthroughs. This role is critical for protecting sensitive research, ensuring compliance, and supporting a distributed team, directly contributing to FAR.AI's mission of safe AI development.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing security alerts, collaborating with researchers on secure access to compute resources, updating incident response plans, and evaluating new tools to streamline remote onboarding. You'll also spend time coordinating with external partners on security assessments and ensuring compliance with data protection policies, all while supporting FAR.AI's mission to advance AI safety.

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🎯 Who Far.Ai Is Looking For

  • 5+ years of experience in IT management and security operations, preferably in a research, non-profit, or tech startup environment.
  • Deep knowledge of security frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001), cloud security (AWS, GCP), and endpoint protection, with hands-on experience securing remote teams.
  • Proven ability to design and implement IT policies, incident response plans, and security awareness training for a distributed workforce.
  • Strong communication skills to collaborate with researchers, engineers, and external partners, translating technical risks into actionable insights.
  • Experience managing compliance (e.g., SOC 2, GDPR) and vendor relationships, with a proactive, mission-aligned mindset.

📝 Tips for Applying to Far.Ai

1

Highlight specific experience securing remote-first organizations, as FAR.AI is fully remote and needs robust security without a central office.

2

Emphasize any work with AI research or high-sensitivity data, showing you understand the unique risks in AI safety (e.g., model theft, data poisoning).

3

Demonstrate familiarity with compliance standards relevant to non-profits and research (e.g., GDPR, SOC 2) in your resume and cover letter.

4

Show passion for AI safety by referencing FAR.AI's publications or events, and explain how IT/security supports their mission.

5

Provide concrete examples of automating IT processes (e.g., onboarding, access management) to support a lean team, as FAR.AI values efficiency.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

In your cover letter, focus on: (1) your experience building security programs for remote research or tech teams, (2) how you've enabled researchers by streamlining IT without compromising security, (3) your alignment with FAR.AI's mission and understanding of AI-specific threats, and (4) a specific achievement where you improved an organization's security posture while maintaining usability.

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read FAR.AI's recent publications and blog posts to understand their research focus and the types of data they handle.
  • → Explore their website to learn about their team structure, events, and partnerships—this will help you tailor your answers to their culture.
  • → Research common security challenges in AI research organizations, such as protecting model weights, preventing data leaks, and securing collaboration tools.
  • → Look into FAR.AI's stance on AI safety and their theory of change to align your responses with their mission during interviews.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a security awareness program for a remote team of AI researchers who may be targeted by sophisticated actors?
2 Describe your approach to incident response in a cloud-first, remote environment—what tools and processes would you prioritize?
3 FAR.AI collaborates with frontier labs and governments; how would you handle security due diligence and data sharing agreements?
4 What metrics would you use to measure the effectiveness of FAR.AI's IT and security operations?
5 Given FAR.AI's non-profit status and limited resources, how would you prioritize security investments to maximize impact?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on traditional IT support without addressing security strategy—FAR.AI needs a manager who can balance both.
  • Ignoring the remote-first context; proposing solutions that assume a physical office or on-site hardware.
  • Being vague about compliance experience; FAR.AI likely needs someone who can navigate regulations for a non-profit with global collaborators.

📅 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!

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Good luck with your application to Far.Ai!

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