Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Director, Research Management

at Project CETI

🏢 About Project CETI

Project CETI is at the forefront of using advanced machine learning and robotics to decode sperm whale communication, a mission that combines cutting-edge technology with deep ocean conservation. As a National Geographic Society program, it offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of AI, linguistics, and marine biology in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.

About This Role

This role is the operational backbone of Project CETI's research strategy, ensuring seamless integration across biology, ML, linguistics, and robotics teams. You will drive program execution, manage cross-team dependencies, and support the CEO directly, making you central to translating groundbreaking research into real-world impact.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day starts with a cross-team standup to address blockers, followed by reviewing data pipeline reports and updating the master roadmap. You might then draft briefing materials for the CEO's upcoming meeting with a research partner, and later facilitate a dependency mapping session between the ML and biology teams. The day ends with tracking partner deliverables and identifying new risks.

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🎯 Who Project CETI Is Looking For

  • A technical project leader with an advanced degree in CS, ML, or robotics and 5+ years coordinating cross-functional teams in research-heavy settings like academia, FROs, or industry R&D.
  • Expert in program management and roadmapping, with a proven ability to map dependencies, track deliverables, and design effective meetings across diverse scientific domains.
  • A strong communicator who can translate between technical fields (e.g., explain ML model needs to biologists) and synthesize complex information for executive briefings.
  • Passionate about marine conservation and excited by the challenge of decoding animal communication using AI, with a collaborative mindset to work in a fast-paced, nonprofit startup environment.

📝 Tips for Applying to Project CETI

1

Highlight specific examples of managing cross-team dependencies in a multi-disciplinary research project (e.g., integrating ML models with field data collection).

2

Quantify your program management impact—mention milestones you set, risks you mitigated, or deliverables you tracked across teams.

3

Show your ability to support a founder/CEO by including examples of preparing briefing materials or vetting collaborations.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize technical fluency (ML, robotics) alongside operational skills—use keywords like 'roadmapping', 'dependency tracking', and 'cross-functional coordination'.

5

Include a brief note on why you care about sperm whale communication or marine conservation to demonstrate alignment with the mission.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience bridging technical and non-technical teams in a research context, with concrete examples of integration challenges you solved.', 'Your program management methodology (e.g., how you set annual milestones and track dependencies across disparate teams).', 'Your ability to operate at both strategic (research strategy) and tactical (CEO support) levels.', "Your passion for Project CETI's mission and how your skills can accelerate their goal of translating whale communication."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Project CETI's published research papers and recent updates on their website to understand current projects and challenges.
  • → Watch their TED Talk or media features to grasp the communication style and public narrative.
  • → Familiarize yourself with sperm whale communication basics (e.g., codas) and the key technologies they use (e.g., hydrophone arrays, reinforcement learning).
  • → Review the backgrounds of key team members (especially from biology, ML, and linguistics) to understand the interdisciplinary mix.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a roadmap integrating biology, ML, and linguistics teams working on sperm whale communication?
2 Describe a time you identified a critical dependency between two technical teams and how you resolved it.
3 How do you track progress and hold teams accountable in a remote, interdisciplinary research environment?
4 What experience do you have with data pipeline oversight, especially for large-scale acoustic or sensor data?
5 How would you prepare the CEO for a meeting with a potential research collaborator from a different scientific domain?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Project CETI's specific mission or technologies (e.g., whale communication, ML for conservation).
  • Overemphasizing pure management without demonstrating technical fluency—this role requires understanding ML and robotics concepts.
  • Ignoring the remote-first nature; showcase your experience with asynchronous communication and virtual team coordination.

📅 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 Project CETI!

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