Technical Research Manager (Bay Area)

About Iliad

Iliad is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing foundational AI alignment research. Our research division is made up of several teams working on the mathematical and conceptual foundations of the field, including Learning Theory, Abstractions & Representations, Agency, and Scalable Oversight & Heuristic Arguments. Alongside our own research, we train new alignment researchers through the Iliad Intensive and the Iliad Fellowship, incubate research organizations and an academic journal, and run a range of conferences that bring together researchers working on the hardest problems in AI safety. We're a small and quickly growing team.

About the Role

The Iliad Fellowship mentors researchers who want to move into AI safety research through a three-month program. As a Technical Research Manager, you’ll help fellows get the most out of that time. You meet the fellows regularly to help them with day-to-day issues, help connect them to other fellows, and support them (together with their mentor) through the challenges of the research process. You notice when someone is stuck in any way, and you help them get unstuck.

While you need a technical background and some understanding of the AI safety landscape, the core of the role is not research. Aspirationally, after onboarding, there is time to participate in some of the research efforts.

You will:

• Manage the fellows’ research efforts: regular 1:1s, help with scoping, track progress, unblock them.
• Manage the fellow-mentor relationship, stepping in when fellows or mentors are unhappy and helping them work together.
• Help design and run selection to identify strong candidates.
• Be the main on-the-ground point of contact in Berkeley for fellows, mentors, and Iliad leadership.

What We're Looking For

We think strong candidates will meet most of these criteria, but don't expect any individual to meet all of them. We would encourage you to apply, even if you are uncertain.

• 2+ years of hands-on experience doing technical, theoretical research (e.g. a Ph.D. or equivalent in math, theoretical physics, theoretical computer science, or similar).
• A grasp of the alignment landscape.
• Experience working with researchers and supporting or guiding their work. This does not need to be a formal management experience, but could also be experience as a teaching assistant or similar.
• You enjoy spending time talking to people, you are empathetic, while also willing to have hard conversations.
• Organized and reliable; fellows and mentors can trust that you follow up.
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Bay Area. This role requires in-person work in Berkeley.

If you're interested but unsure whether you're a fit, please apply. We want to hear from you, even if you don't meet every requirement.

Benefits

Our benefits include:

• Time Off: 25 days paid vacation annually, plus local holidays.
• Flexible Working Hours: We're a distributed organization with employees in a variety of locations and offer flexible working hours.
• Personal development budget (e.g. books, courses, conferences relating to your role).
• Work Laptop.
• Team Retreats: We have occasional in-person team retreats in California and England.
• Parental Leave (4 months fully paid for birth parent, 1 month fully paid for non-birth parent).

Apply here by October 25, 23:59 AoE (Anywhere on Earth).