AI Industry Associate​/Lead

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an AI Industry Associate/Lead based in Italy.

As an AI Industry Associate/Lead, you will help shape a human-centered approach to artificial intelligence that prioritizes safety, reliability, and human control. You will contribute to developing a compelling alternative to AI strategies focused on increasingly autonomous, general-purpose systems, emphasizing technologies that enhance human capabilities and support societal progress. Working at the intersection of AI technology, public policy, and industry strategy, you will monitor emerging developments and identify promising approaches to responsible AI innovation.

You will engage with policymakers and international stakeholders to advance practical strategies that align technological progress with effective safety measures. Through research, strategic analysis, and coalition-building, you will translate complex technical concepts into actionable policy recommendations. This fully remote opportunity offers flexibility in seniority and scope, with the chance to influence international discussions about the future of AI and its role in society.

Accountabilities

Develop AI industry strategy:  At the Lead level, formulate a rigorous, evidence-based argument for a credible AI development strategy that does not depend on building or adopting maximally general and autonomous AI systems.

Monitor industry and technical developments:  Track emerging alternatives to hyperscaling, including smaller and more efficient models, open-source and open-science AI, physical AI and robotics, and high-value applications of AI in industry and scientific research.

Analyze AI capabilities and safety:  Assess developments in advanced AI, including capabilities trajectories, agentic systems, evaluation methodologies, and verification techniques, to identify opportunities for reliable, controllable, and human-directed AI.

Engage policymakers and institutional stakeholders:  Build relationships with policymakers exploring sovereign AI strategies, particularly across Brazil, Canada, European Union member states, and relevant European institutions.

Translate strategy into policy recommendations:  Develop clear, actionable, policy-ready proposals that help governments align AI innovation with safety, accountability, and human-centered outcomes.

Build coalitions and strategic partnerships:  Collaborate with industry representatives, researchers, policymakers, and international partners to advance practical alternatives to highly autonomous AI development.

Communicate complex technical concepts:  Produce high-quality written analysis and represent the organization's strategic position in expert discussions, policy meetings, and other high-level forums.

Contribute to organizational strategy:  Take ownership of relevant strategic priorities, identify emerging opportunities, and adapt recommendations as the AI landscape and policy environment evolve.

Advance responsible AI development:  Support initiatives that mitigate catastrophic technological risks while promoting positive, human-centered futures and ensuring that AI strengthens rather than undermines human capabilities and institutions.

Requirements

Relevant technology strategy experience:  Demonstrated experience as a technology strategist, ideally in AI policy, the technology industry, a startup, or a related policy-focused environment.

Technical understanding of advanced AI:  Sufficient technical fluency to engage credibly with AI experts on capabilities trajectories, agentic systems, evaluation and verification methods, and alternative approaches to AI development.

Independent strategic judgment:  The ability to critically assess prevailing AI industry assumptions and develop well-supported positions on alternative development pathways.

International policy experience:  Previous experience engaging with policymakers outside the United States and China, or a demonstrated ability to build effective relationships in international policy environments.

Excellent communication skills:  Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce policy-ready analysis and represent strategic positions in expert-level and high-level settings.

Ability to translate technical concepts:  Proven experience explaining complex technological ideas to non-technical audiences and translating technical analysis into practical…