Job Posting
Communications Generalist / Project Manager

We are looking for a capable and motivated generalist to help support our Communications Team in our efforts to spread awareness and understanding of the serious risks posed by smarter-than-human AI.

 

About MIRI

The Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI) is a nonprofit based in Berkeley, California, focused on ensuring that smarter-than-human AI has a positive impact.

This is a place where folks who care deeply about humanity and its future, and who share a loose set of intuitions about the challenges we face in safely navigating the development of smarter-than-human AI systems, have teamed up to work towards a brighter future.

Historically, our focus has been primarily on technical AI alignment research, with only occasional outreach/comms efforts. Since the start of 2023, given the increased public awareness and discussion of existential risks from AI, we have shifted focus to more public and targeted communication efforts (while still continuing to do alignment research).

See this TED talk and this TIME article by Eliezer Yudkowsky, MIRI’s co-founder, for more info on MIRI’s take on the situation the world currently finds itself in.

 

About the Communications Team

The comms team is broadly focused on increasing awareness and understanding of the risks from smarter-than-human AI, both in the general public and in key decision makers. This is a small, growing team.

 

About the Role

In this role, you will report to the Communication Manager (Gretta Duleba), and work on the Communications Team, with the following responsibilities:

  • Press Office – Process the constant stream of incoming media and press requests, vet and stack ranking opportunities, reply to inquiries, track things internally.
  • Surfing the Press Wave – Monitor the press/media landscape, build models of the key people/events/happenings, keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening, identify opportunities, raise important things to the team.
  • Project Management – Manage a variety of comms-related projects from start to completion, keep things organized and moving.

 

Who We’re Looking For

There are no formal degree or work experience requirements for this role, and we’re open to considering both applicants brand new to this specific type of work, as well as more experienced candidates. For example, candidates do not need prior experience working in a press office or similar context, as long as you fulfill the criteria below.

We are looking for candidates with the following skills:

  • Conscientiousness – You are diligent and hard-working, and complete your work reliably and dependably. You desire to do tasks well and effectively. You pay attention to details and are organized, and able to manage lots of small tasks and projects.
  • Agency – You get things done without someone constantly looking over your shoulder. You notice problems and are motivated to fix them. You focus on solving the problem, not waiting to be told what to do. You know when to defer to another’s decision, and when to ask for guidance. You are an active member of the team, not a mindless cog in the machine.
  • Communication – You keep teammates/manager in the loop about the status of projects you manage, when things are falling behind, when you need more information. You voice your confusions.
  • Modeling – You are able to build models about the world, how things work, and what works.

In addition, we are looking for candidates that:

  • Are excited to contribute to impact-driven work in a supportive capacity; you know that behind-the-scenes tasks are important, even if they seem indirect or tedious at face value.
  • Are passionate about MIRI’s mission and excited to support our work in reducing existential risks from AI.

Bonus points for:

  • Experience with media/press relations.
  • A basic understanding of the AI x-risk landscape and existing ecosystem.
  • Familiarity with website building platforms.

 

Working at MIRI

  • Employment – This is a full-time, salaried position.
  • Location – Remote or in-office (in Berkeley, CA) are both options.
    • We are unable to sponsor US visas for this role; however, remote work from an international location is possible.
    • Candidates are expected to work at times compatible with the US west coast time zone.
  • Compensation – $100–200k.
    • The wide range is due to the wide possibility space of experience and skills that candidates may bring to the role, as well as factors such as work location (i.e. local cost of living).
    • We strive to ensure that all staff are paid an appropriate and comfortable living wage such that they feel fairly compensated and are able to focus on doing great work.
  • Benefits – MIRI offers a variety of benefits including:
    • Health insurance (the best available plans from Kaiser and Blue Shield) as well as dental and vision coverage. (We cannot always offer comparable benefits to international staff.)
    • “No vacation policy” – staff are encouraged to take vacation when they want/need to.
  • Start Date – We’d like a candidate to start as soon as possible after receiving an offer.

 

How to Apply

Update: We have received more applications than expected and will not be processing new applications. We will re-open this job posting if we do not find a suitable candidate in our current pool of applicants.

Interested candidates should fill out this form.

 

EEO and Employment Eligibility

MIRI is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to making employment decisions based on merit and value. This commitment includes complying with all federal, state, and local laws. We desire to maintain a work environment free of harassment or discrimination due to sex, race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, marital status, familial status, ethnicity, ancestry, status as a victim of domestic violence, age, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.