The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is making a substantial investment in its well-established AI and national security team by launching the AI Policy Lab, and the Program Associate / Program Manager will be instrumental to that effort. The Program Associate / Program Manager will work closely with a cross-program group of researchers, designers, editors, product engineers, and communications specialists to tackle one of the most significant policy issues of our time.
The Program Associate / Program Manager, reporting to the Vice President of Strategy and Communications, will help coordinate the workflow of the AI Policy Lab team and grow the AI Policy Lab's convenings, programming, and networks on AI policy, national security, and AI-related economic competition. The Program Associate / Program Manager will serve as a key liaison and operator between CNAS and the broader AI policy ecosystem across Washington DC, the Bay Area, and the UK. This includes strengthening partnerships with organizations working on AI safety and security, AI-related economic competition, and the nexus of AI, defense, and geopolitics. Success in this role means deepening connection and collaboration between these communities and CNAS, including by conceiving, planning, and executing impactful events and programming. It also means a well-organized Lab that gets its research and products out on time.
The ideal candidate is passionate about AI safety and security, has strong connections in the AI policy and/or U.S. national security communities, and a genuine interest in building bridges between them. They should be a self-starter interested in effective project management, building partnerships, planning and hosting events, managing contact lists, and identifying candidates for the CNAS AI Policy Lab. This is a programmatic position with significant autonomy and responsibility; this is not a research position. The Program Associate / Program Manager will be an integral member of the team building the AI Policy Lab from the ground up.
The following is an overview of the primary responsibilities. Other tasks may be required, and responsibilities may vary to meet the AI Policy Lab's needs.
You might be well-suited for this role if you're:
- Highly organized and comfortable keeping track of many projects at once, setting timelines, and helping colleagues agree on priorities.
- Passionate about strengthening ties between the national security, frontier AI, AI safety and security, and AI-related economic and defense communities.
- Excited by the opportunity to design, organize, and execute impactful events convening high-level government officials, AI safety and security experts, industry, and foreign policy communities.
- Detail-oriented and able to independently plan delegations of 50+ professionals for study tours, including organizing meetings, booking travel, communicating schedule changes, and using productivity tools such as Notion and Airtable.
- Interested in strengthening awareness in the national security community about emerging AI safety and security challenges, including alignment, loss of control, and scheming.
- Energized by the prospect of attending multiple AI events per week and following up to strengthen CNAS' network.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordination
- Work with supervisor to coordinate quick-turnaround products, bringing together researchers, editors, and designers to publish timely analysis.
- Provide regular updates on Lab projects and deadlines to the Vice President of Strategy and Communications.
- Work with CNAS's communications, publications, and design teams so that Lab work fits center-wide schedules and standards.
- Events
- Design, curate, and execute thoughtful and high-impact events, in coordination with the CNAS events team, to strengthen ties between the national security and AI communities, including but not limited to briefings, roundtables, dinners, happy hours, and speaker series.
- Take end-to-end supervising role for events, from ideation to execution to post-event follow-ups, including logistics (booking cross-country and international travel, managing catering, event set-up and breakdown) and substantive content (identifying relevant stakeholders, drafting discussion questions, summarizing insights, etc.).
- Plan pop-up convenings and visiting delegations in the Washington, DC area.
- Coordinate weeklong trips for the CNAS NextGen fellows to the Bay Area to connect with technology companies, experts working on AI safety and security, and security/defense companies.
- Support colleagues in setting up events related to their AI policy research.
- Partnerships
- Strengthen partnerships with other think tanks and non-profit organizations working on AI policy through regular engagements across DC, the Bay Area, and London/Oxford.
- Serve as a primary point of contact with partner institutions working on AI policy, capabilities, safety, and security and AI-related economic and defense organizations.
- Serve as the primary liaison for temporary fellowships and external placements, including in CNAS, other think tanks and research organizations, and government.
- Regularly engage with the AI safety and security policy ecosystem, including by attending events, convenings, and shared workspaces.
- Proactively share CNAS AI research to strengthen impactful partnerships with other institutions and serve as a conduit for insights from external organizations to inform colleagues' research.
- Networks
- Build and manage updated contact lists of policy officials, subject matter experts, and other relevant stakeholders for CNAS events.
- Conduct congressional and executive branch outreach.
- Assist CNAS researchers in identifying which external AI experts and organizations should be engaged across specific topics.
- Assist CNAS researchers in targeted outreach to specific communities, experts, and organizations in Washington, the Bay Area, and the UK.
- Identify potential candidates for visiting or full-time positions in the CNAS AI Policy Lab.
- Reporting
- Write impact statements for grant reporting as required.
- Track and manage Lab budget and expenses.
- Other Duties
- Proactively pitch new means to effectively engage stakeholders and strengthen partnerships to deepen the impact for CNAS's AI policy research.
- Take on other duties as required to maximize impact for CNAS's AI policy research.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Passion for AI safety/security and strengthening ties between the AI and national security communities.
- Experience planning events and bridging diverse stakeholders, including managing logistics, travel, and substantive content.
- Experience managing projects and schedules across several teams or stakeholders.
- Familiarity with key stakeholders in the AI policy community in Washington, the Bay Area, and London/Oxford.
- Familiarity with key technology industry, economic, and defense stakeholders.
- Self-starter and entrepreneurial.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, with an ability to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities.
- Flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities, given the fast-paced nature of AI policy.
- Bachelor's degree or higher.
- Legal right to work in the United States.
Preferred:
- Strong existing networks in the AI policy, safety, and security communities.
- Experience with CRM or data management tools.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- $70,000 - $150,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
- CNAS offers a complete and competitive benefits package for employees which includes medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, 403(b) retirement accounts, transportation subsidies, and an employee assistance program.
LOGISTICS
- This is a full-time, in-person role based in Washington, D.C.
- Expect to travel to the San Francisco Bay Area, London/Oxford, and other locations as needed.
- This role is within the CNAS AI Policy Lab and reports to the Vice President of Strategy and Communications.
- This is a two-year, term-limited appointment.
- We are open to hiring a range of experience levels, from Program Associate (0-3 years) to Program Manager (3-5+ years).
- Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.
- Candidates may start as soon as available.
About the CNAS AI Policy Lab
AI progress is fast outpacing policy. The opportunities and challenges of the AI age demand bold new ideas for U.S. national security that meet the moment. The CNAS AI Policy Lab fuses in-depth AI and national security expertise to produce cutting-edge, technically informed policy analysis. The United States and its allies must harness the benefits, manage the risks, and ensure democracies lead in this era-defining technology.
The AI Policy Lab integrates CNAS's technology, defense, regional, and economic expertise to address how AI is reshaping every dimension of national power and geopolitical competition. The Lab will serve as a hub for curated workshops, discussions, partnerships, and other convenings to bring industry, researchers, and the national security community to develop policy solutions. By bridging the divide between innovators and national security policymakers, the Lab will ensure that policy can match the unprecedented pace of technological innovation, harnessing the transformative power of AI while managing risks.
The AI Policy Lab builds on a sustained track record of CNAS leadership in AI policymaking. CNAS experts and alumni have written the rules for how the Pentagon incorporates autonomous systems, developed policies intended to preserve the United States's AI lead, and served in the highest levels of AI policymaking.
To Apply
CNAS accepts online applications only.
A complete application will include a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position, along with your resume or CV. Your cover letter should explain, in your voice, why this role fits your interests and experience. Candidates who advance in the process will be asked to share writing samples and references and will also be asked to complete a timed practical exercise.
While we understand the value of AI tools for increasing productivity, please do not use any AI tools to generate, rewrite, or revise your application materials. Your application materials must authentically represent your own voice, skills, and communication style.
