Founding Director, AI Initiative

PNP Staffing Group is excited to have been retained by the Computer History Museum to lead their search for a Founding Director, AI Initiative.

The Computer History Museum (CHM) is building its AI Initiative to become the world’s most comprehensive repository and public forum for the history of artificial intelligence and robotics – capturing the living history of today while safeguarding the record of the past. The AI Initiative will systematically collect born-digital materials, contemporary journalism and social media, oral histories, historical documentation and software, as well as physical artifacts, while interpreting these histories through digital content, live programs, and exhibits.

To capture the living history of today while safeguarding the record of the past, the Initiative cannot be built from the outside looking in. CHM will provide institutional credibility, relationships, and a strong foundation to build upon. But it requires a leader deeply embedded within the AI ecosystem.

This is a founder-style, hands‑on role at the very early stage of development. The Founding Director will initially operate as a one-person team, serving as CHM’s primary ambassador to the AI community—building trust, forging deep relationships with key figures and organizations, and establishing the Initiative as a vital, shared resource for the industry. In this role, the Director must be comfortable rolling up their sleeves, directly managing every aspect of the initiative.

As these relationships and the collection grow, the Director will work closely with CHM’s Development and Curatorial teams to drive a high‑impact fundraising strategy. Only through successful fundraising will there be the opportunity to expand the team, secure born‑digital materials, artifacts, and oral histories, and fully realize the Initiative’s vision.

Reporting to VP and Chief Curatorial & Exhibitions Officer, The Founding Director of the AI Initiative serves as the strategic, programmatic, and community lead for the AI Initiative. This role is responsible for forging authentic ties across the AI and robotics landscape, including building an advisory network. Then, operating from this foundation of community engagement, the Director will work together with Development to cultivate the strategic partnerships and philanthropic support necessary to scale the initiative and launch the right Capture (collecting and oral histories) and Share (public programs) activities.

• Community: Successfully established CHM as a trusted, known entity within key AI circles (research, safety, open‑source, policy), including having launched an active advisory group.
• Funding: Leveraged the newly established network, in partnership with Development, to secure lead gifts that underwrite CHM’s AI Initiative work and build a strong, multi‑year funding pipeline.
• Programs & Capture: Completed four CHM Live events and four foundational oral histories utilizing community connections; published highlights to drive reach.
• Operations: Delivered a comprehensive three‑year plan with established foundational processes.

• Serve as the highly visible face of the AI Initiative, embedding deeply within the AI, robotics, and broader tech communities.
• Convene and manage an influential advisory group of industry leaders, researchers, and historians.
• Represent CHM at key conferences, in online communities, and at industry hubs to build trust and awareness.
• Cultivate a network that provides first‑look access to emerging artifacts, foundational narratives, and potential partnerships.
• Leverage their expertise as an AI native, actively using and evangelizing AI tools within the museum to enhance research, programming, exhibits, and digital engagement.

• Leverage community trust and network engagement to help inform and strengthen a robust donor and sponsor pipeline in close partnership with…