Pillar Guide
Effective Altruism Jobs: The Complete Remote Career Guide
Effective altruism (EA) isn't just a philosophy — it's a growing professional ecosystem. From grantmaking to alignment research, EA-aligned organisations offer some of the most impactful career paths available, and many are remote-first.
What is effective altruism?
Effective altruism is a research field and community that uses evidence and careful reasoning to determine the most effective ways to benefit others. EA-aligned organisations concentrate on cause areas where marginal resources can do the most good: global health and development (via organisations like GiveWell and the Against Malaria Foundation), animal welfare (Animal Charity Evaluators), existential risk reduction (AI safety, biosecurity), and improving institutional decision-making.
Careers in EA span far beyond philosophy. The community needs software engineers, operations managers, grantmakers, researchers, communicators, and executive leaders. 80,000 Hours, the leading EA career advisory, consistently highlights that "talent gaps" in operations and management are among the most pressing bottlenecks in the ecosystem.
Key skills employers look for
- Research & analysis — Cost-effectiveness analysis, literature reviews, Bayesian reasoning, forecasting.
- Grantmaking & evaluation — Due diligence, impact assessment, portfolio management.
- Operations & people management — Scaling small orgs, hiring, finance, compliance.
- Communications & field-building — Community management, content creation, event organising.
- Software engineering — Many EA orgs build internal tools, platforms, and research infrastructure.
- Quantitative reasoning — Comfort with expected-value calculations, uncertainty, and thinking in terms of counterfactual impact.
How to get started
Start with 80,000 Hours' free career planning resources — their problem profiles and career reviews are the gold standard. Attend an EAGx conference (they have events worldwide and offer travel grants). Engage on the EA Forum by writing about your area of expertise. Apply for structured programmes like the EA Cambridge fellowship or local EA group facilitator roles. If you're mid-career, your existing skills are likely in high demand — EA orgs are chronically short on experienced operations, finance, and management professionals.
Frequently asked questions
What is effective altruism?
Effective altruism is a philosophy and community that uses evidence and careful reasoning to determine the most effective ways to benefit others. It focuses on cause areas where resources can do the most good: global health, animal welfare, AI safety, biosecurity, and institutional decision-making.
Do I have to agree with EA philosophy to work at an EA org?
No. Mission alignment helps, but EA organisations hire from diverse backgrounds. What matters is a commitment to evidence-based impact and strong professional skills.
What EA organisations are hiring remotely?
GiveWell, Open Philanthropy, 80,000 Hours, CEA, Rethink Priorities, Animal Charity Evaluators, and many smaller orgs. Check our effective altruism category for current listings.
How do I find EA job openings?
The 80,000 Hours job board, EA Opportunity Board, EA Forum job listings, and Remote Impact. Networking at EAGx conferences and the EA Forum also surfaces unlisted opportunities.