How to apply for Principal, Project Development

About Future of Life Foundation

The Future of Life Foundation is uniquely focused on steering transformative technologies like AI toward benefiting life and mitigating extreme risks. It operates like a startup incubator for high-impact projects, offering a chance to work on cutting-edge issues with a mission-driven team.

About the role

This role involves owning initiative areas end-to-end, from identifying opportunities and recruiting founders to launching organizations and running fellowships. You'll drive strategic plans and execution, directly shaping projects that could have global impact on existential risk reduction.

A typical day

A typical day might start with reviewing progress on ongoing initiatives, then meeting with a potential founder you're recruiting. Afternoon could involve researching a new opportunity area, followed by a call with a contractor to scope a deliverable. You might end the day by updating strategic plans based on new insights.

Who Future of Life Foundation is looking for

• Proven experience in project development, including scoping, resourcing, and delivering outcomes in ambiguous environments.
• Strong research and analytical skills to evaluate opportunities for impact, especially in AI safety or existential risk domains.
• Ability to recruit and evaluate top talent, including founders and leaders, with a network in tech or nonprofit sectors.
• Exceptional leadership and organizational skills to manage multiple initiatives and vendor relationships simultaneously.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your resume to highlight end-to-end project ownership, not just participation. Use metrics to show impact.
• In your cover letter, explicitly connect your past work to mitigating existential risks or transformative technology.
• Research the foundation's current initiatives (e.g., AI safety, biosecurity) and mention specific ones you'd want to develop.
• Demonstrate your ability to recruit by mentioning any successful founder or team you've brought together.
• Show comfort with ambiguity by describing a time you scoped a project from scratch with limited resources.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Emphasize your passion for existential risk reduction and alignment with the foundation's mission.", 'Highlight specific examples of project development from idea to execution, including recruiting and resourcing.', "Show strategic thinking by proposing a new initiative area you've researched that fits the foundation's goals.", 'Mention any experience with AI, biotech, or other transformative technologies relevant to the role.']

Research before applying

• Read the foundation's website and blog to understand its current initiatives and theory of change.
• Study the background of key staff and board members to understand their focus areas.
• Review recent reports or publications on AI safety and existential risk (e.g., from MIRI, FLI).
• Look into the foundation's past incubated projects to see the types of organizations they've launched.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you identify and evaluate a new initiative area for the foundation? Walk us through your process.
• Describe a time you recruited a founder or leader for a project. What criteria did you use?
• How do you prioritize multiple projects with limited resources? Give a concrete example.
• What do you see as the biggest opportunities for impact in AI safety or existential risk?
• How would you handle a situation where an initiative you launched is failing to meet milestones?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Don't submit a generic application that doesn't show specific knowledge of existential risk or the foundation's work.
• Avoid being overly academic without demonstrating practical execution experience.
• Don't neglect to show your recruiting and team-building skills, which are central to this role.