Application Guide
How to Apply for Programme Manager, International Programme on AI Evaluation
at Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative (BERI)
🏢 About Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative (BERI)
BERI (Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative) is a nonprofit that provides operational and administrative backbone support to university research groups working on existential risk reduction, letting scientists focus on research instead of logistics. Working here means directly enabling high-impact AI safety and evaluation work at a global scale, with a remote-first, mission-driven team.
About This Role
As Programme Manager for the second edition of BERI's International Programme on AI Evaluation, you'll own the end-to-end operations of a global graduate training program—from recruiting 40+ students worldwide to coordinating twelve modules taught by faculty from frontier AI labs and universities. You'll be the central nervous system connecting students, faculty, and partners across time zones, ensuring assessments, capstones, and community-building run smoothly.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve onboarding a new faculty member for an upcoming module, troubleshooting a scheduling conflict across three time zones, and checking in with students on Slack to gather feedback on the latest assessment. You might also review applications for the next cohort, coordinate with a partner university on capstone logistics, and update the learning platform with new materials—all while keeping the program's global community engaged and supported.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative (BERI) Is Looking For
- Has 3+ years of programme or project management experience in higher education, international education, or a similar multi-stakeholder environment, ideally with remote/global cohorts.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate faculty, students, and external partners across multiple time zones, with strong scheduling, onboarding, and communication systems.
- Familiarity with AI concepts and the AI safety/evaluation landscape—enough to speak credibly with faculty from frontier labs and to support technical curriculum logistics.
- Fluent English required; Spanish proficiency is a plus, especially if an in-person week proceeds. Comfortable with learning platforms, Slack community management, and running assessments/capstones.
📝 Tips for Applying to Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative (BERI)
Highlight any experience managing international or multi-time-zone educational programs—BERI specifically needs someone who can coordinate faculty and students across the globe, so quantify cohort sizes and time zones you've handled.
Show familiarity with AI evaluation and safety: mention relevant coursework, projects, or even self-study in AI alignment, evals, or safety, since you'll be coordinating technical modules with frontier lab faculty.
Emphasize your ability to build community in remote settings—describe how you've used Slack, check-ins, or feedback loops to keep distributed groups engaged and supported.
If you have Spanish proficiency, state it clearly and note your level, as it's explicitly helpful if the in-person week happens.
Demonstrate comfort with learning platforms and assessment logistics—name specific tools (e.g., Moodle, Canvas, Notion, Slack) and describe how you've used them to run programs.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
Focus on: (1) your track record managing international, multi-stakeholder educational programs, including cohort recruitment and faculty coordination; (2) your familiarity with AI evaluation/safety and ability to support technical curriculum logistics; (3) your systems for remote community-building and student support across time zones; (4) your motivation to support BERI's mission of reducing existential risk by enabling high-impact AI safety training.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read BERI's website and recent reports to understand their model of supporting university research groups and their specific focus on existential risk reduction.
- → Research the first edition of the International Programme on AI Evaluation—look for public materials, curriculum, or participant feedback to understand its scope and success metrics.
- → Familiarize yourself with key AI evaluation and safety concepts, organizations (e.g., frontier labs, alignment research groups), and current debates to speak credibly in interviews.
- → Investigate BERI's partners and the faculty likely involved—universities and frontier labs—to tailor your questions and show genuine interest.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying with a generic programme management cover letter that doesn't mention AI evaluation, existential risk, or international graduate education—BERI needs mission-aligned candidates.
- Underestimating the technical familiarity required: avoid claiming AI expertise without substance, but also don't ignore the AI context entirely.
- Neglecting to address time-zone coordination and remote community-building—these are core to the role, so failing to demonstrate relevant experience is a major gap.
📅 Application Timeline
⏰ Deadline: October 9, 2026
We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative (BERI)!