Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Associate / Program Officer, AI Governance

at Effective Institutions Project

🏢 About Effective Institutions Project

The Effective Institutions Project is unique as a global working group focused specifically on improving institutional decision-making worldwide, operating at the intersection of governance, strategy, and philanthropy. This organization offers the opportunity to work on high-impact AI governance initiatives with a remote, global team dedicated to systemic change rather than incremental improvements.

About This Role

This Senior Associate/Program Officer role involves driving grantmaking strategy for AI safety and AGI/democracy initiatives, requiring both analytical rigor to evaluate opportunities and relationship skills to guide grantees. The position is impactful because it directly shapes funding flows toward the most promising approaches to AI governance, potentially influencing how institutions worldwide manage transformative technologies.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing grant proposals for AI safety research, developing evaluation frameworks for potential funding opportunities, and coordinating with international partners across time zones. You'd likely spend significant time analyzing theories of change for different interventions, communicating with grantees about their progress, and preparing impact reports for donors interested in institutional decision-making improvements.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Effective Institutions Project Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years of experience in philanthropic grantmaking with demonstrated ability to develop and implement funding strategies for complex technical or governance challenges
  • Can articulate clear theories of change for AI safety interventions and explain why certain funding approaches would be more cost-effective than alternatives
  • Possesses strong relationship management skills with experience guiding technical grantees (AI researchers, governance experts) while maintaining accountability for outcomes
  • Demonstrates excellent written communication skills specifically for donor reporting and cross-organizational coordination in the AI governance ecosystem

📝 Tips for Applying to Effective Institutions Project

1

Quantify your grantmaking experience: specify the size of portfolios you've managed, number of grants evaluated, and measurable outcomes of your funding decisions

2

Include a brief (1-2 paragraph) analysis of one current AI governance challenge and how you would approach funding solutions, either in your cover letter or as a separate document

3

Demonstrate familiarity with EIP's existing work by referencing specific projects or publications from their website in your application materials

4

Highlight any experience working across time zones or with international partners, given the global remote nature of the position

5

Show how you've previously developed theories of change for complex problems, ideally with examples from technology or governance domains

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience evaluating and managing grants for technical or governance-focused initiatives, with concrete examples', 'How you develop theories of change for cost-effective funding, particularly for emerging technology challenges', 'Your approach to balancing grantee autonomy with strategic guidance in sensitive domains like AI safety', "Why you're specifically interested in EIP's institutional decision-making focus rather than just AI governance generally"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review EIP's published work on institutional decision-making, particularly any AI-related publications or blog posts
  • → Understand the organization's position within the effective altruism and AI governance ecosystems by researching their partnerships and network
  • → Study their current and past grantees to understand their funding priorities and approach to grantmaking
  • → Familiarize yourself with key debates in AI safety and AGI governance to speak knowledgeably about the field
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would evaluate a grant proposal for an AI safety technical research project versus a democracy-focused AI governance initiative
2 How would you develop a theory of change for funding work on AI corporate governance, and what metrics would you use to assess effectiveness?
3 Describe a time you had to manage a challenging relationship with a grantee working on sensitive technical research
4 How would you communicate the impact of a failed grant to donors while maintaining their trust in the funding strategy?
5 What do you see as the most cost-effective intervention points in the current AI governance landscape, and why?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with generic AI enthusiasm rather than specific knowledge of governance challenges and grantmaking approaches
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of how institutional decision-making differs from individual or technical solutions
  • Presenting yourself as purely analytical without showing relationship management skills crucial for guiding grantees

📅 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 Effective Institutions Project!

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