How to apply for SPAR Research Manager

About Kairos

Kairos is a nonprofit that trains people for AI safety and policy roles. It runs SPAR, the largest AI safety research fellowship, with 800+ mentees per round mentored by researchers from Anthropic, Redwood Research, RAND, MIT, and the UK AI Security Institute. It also runs the Generator Residency, Global Challenges Project, and Pathfinder Fellowship, and plans to double in size over the next six months.

About the role

You will help SPAR's mentors become excellent research leads. This means improving how mentors guide fellows through AI safety research projects, which directly affects the quality of the 800+ mentees per round. The role is remote and full-time, and the job description is a first draft, so scope and responsibilities may change.

A typical day

A typical day may involve working with SPAR mentors to improve how they lead research projects, reviewing mentor feedback, and coordinating remotely with Kairos staff. The job description is a first draft, so ask about daily routines and team structure during the interview.

Who Kairos is looking for

• Has experience leading AI safety research projects or supervising junior researchers.
• Has mentored or trained researchers and can improve how others lead research.
• Understands the AI safety field and the talent gaps Kairos aims to fill.
• Can work remotely and adapt to a role whose scope may evolve.

Tips for this application

• Apply early. Kairos reviews applications on a rolling basis.
• Read the full job description carefully. It is a first draft, so show you are comfortable with evolving scope.
• Reference SPAR specifically. Mention its scale (800+ mentees per round) and its mentors from Anthropic, Redwood Research, RAND, MIT, and the UK AI Security Institute.
• Explain how you would help mentors become better research leads. Give concrete examples from your own experience.
• If you have questions about salary, scope, or responsibilities, ask them in your application or early in the process. Kairos says it will keep you in the loop about changes.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your experience leading or supervising AI safety research projects.', 'How you have helped researchers or mentors improve their research leadership.', 'Your understanding of SPAR and its role as the largest AI safety research fellowship.', 'Why you want to work at Kairos specifically, given its other programs (Generator Residency, Global Challenges Project, Pathfinder Fellowship) and its plan to double in size.']

Research before applying

• Read the Kairos website, especially the SPAR program page, to understand the fellowship's structure and scale.
• Look up the mentors' organizations: Anthropic, Redwood Research, RAND, MIT, and the UK AI Security Institute.
• Read about Kairos's other programs: Generator Residency, Global Challenges Project, and Pathfinder Fellowship.
• Check the job description for updates. It is a first draft, and Kairos says scope, salary, and responsibilities may evolve.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would help SPAR mentors become excellent research leads.
• Your experience managing or mentoring researchers in AI safety.
• How you would handle a role whose scope and responsibilities may evolve.
• What you know about SPAR's structure: 800+ mentees per round, mentors from Anthropic, Redwood Research, RAND, MIT, and the UK AI Security Institute.
• How you would work remotely with mentors and fellows across different organizations.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating the job description as final. It is a first draft, so do not assume the role is fixed.
• Ignoring SPAR's scale. Mentioning 800+ mentees per round shows you read the details.
• Applying late. Kairos reviews applications on a rolling basis, so early applications are better.