Director, Global Biological Policy and Programs (NTI | bio)

NTI – a nonprofit, nonpartisan global security organization focused on reducing nuclear, biological, and emerging technology threats imperiling humanity – is seeking a Director to join the Global Biological Policy and Programs team.

The NTI | bio team is focused on reducing catastrophic biological risks, and we are working toward this goal by strengthening biotechnology governance; bolstering biosecurity in countries around the world; strengthening international capabilities to uphold the norm against bioweapon development and use; driving progress in Global Health Security; and building the biosecurity field.

This position reports to the NTI Vice President for Global Biological Policy and Programs. This is a full-time hybrid position, working a minimum of three days a week in our Washington, DC office.

The selected candidate will lead the NTI | bio AIxBio Global Forum, an international platform that convenes policymakers, AI developers, and biosecurity experts on the risks and opportunities where artificial intelligence meets the life sciences. This is a role with real ownership as the Forum enters its next phase. Your input will decide how it will contribute to a safer future for humanity.

You will run the Forum and its three working groups, manage the budget, own the deliverables, and manage the daily operational decisions, working directly with the Vice President and Deputy Vice President on strategy. Responsibilities will include:

• Leading the AIxBio Global Forum and its working groups, including virtual and in-person convenings, and deepening engagement with international partners across the AI Safety and Security landscape
• Designing projects and forging partnerships with a clear theory for change with trackable progress and outcome measures
• Setting working group agendas that support fast-moving AI capabilities in the life sciences with easily adopted safeguards and best practices
• Managing the Forum’s budget, work plan, and deliverables, with oversight from the Vice President and Deputy Vice President
• Building and sustaining relationships across governments, AI developers, industry, academia, and civil society in multiple jurisdictions
• Shaping innovative efforts to strengthen biosecurity and biotechnology governance, including work to reduce risks associated with AI-enabled capabilities to engineer living systems
• Leading and overseeing research and writing focused on development of practical, innovative risk-reduction approaches that can be applied throughout the bioscience and biotechnology research and development life-cycle.
• Managing projects, budgets, and staff to meet strategic objectives

In addition, you may have opportunities to work on other projects or support other NTI | bio activities.

• Drafting internal leadership memos and briefing documents
• Collaborating with NTI’s Communications program to translate complex subject matter into accessible content for varied audiences through op-eds, blog posts, social media content, talking points, and other outreach materials, while contributing to NTI’s external visibility and thought leadership
• Assisting with preparation and management of grant proposals and reports
• Other activities, as needed

What are the requirements for the position?  Preferred candidates will have:

• A bachelor’s degree, masters preferred, in a relevant field (e.g., biophysics, bioengineering, computer science, machine learning, computational biology, biology, chemistry, biosecurity, international affairs, public health, or a related field)
• At least 8 years of policy, research, and/or project management experience, including relevant graduate research, in biosecurity, international security, global health, artificial intelligence, or international affairs
• Demonstrated success leading a complex, international, multi-stakeholder project from design through delivery
• Experience managing at least one direct report

What would make you stand out?

• You can demonstrate your commitment to safeguarding modern bioscience and biotechnology to guard against misuse and abuse.
• You have deep technical expertise in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, or both, as well as demonstrated capacity to think creatively about biosecurity and to develop and execute new, innovative projects.
• You bring technical depth in AI as it applies to the life sciences, whether from work with a frontier AI developer, from building or evaluating biological design and prediction models, or from research at that boundary.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn and establish credibility in new technical fields, while proactively seeking opportunities to further strengthen subject matter expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate how messaging may be perceived in different regional and cultural contexts, proactively adjusting communications to meet the expectations and sensitivities of the audience to achieve intended outcomes.
• You have strong written and oral communication skills and can tailor that communication to resonate with both technical and policy communities.
• You are familiar with key biosecurity concepts and approaches, including the evolution of the field as biotechnology advances.
• You have experience engaging international and/or domestic stakeholders to drive toward actionable policy outcomes.
• You can brief senior leaders on complex topics, providing concise and clear information they need to make informed decisions.
• You can juggle multiple projects with competing deadlines, and you have strong interpersonal skills.
• You have experience across communications channels—from social media and video to public speaking and events—and want to build visibility for your work and for NTI.
• You have a master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., biophysics, bioengineering, computer science, machine learning, computational biology, biology, chemistry, biosecurity, or a related field).

This position will require some domestic and international travel, typically less than 20% of your time.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements.

Hiring pay range: $152,000 – $172,000.  This position is eligible for health insurance benefits, as well as other generous benefits that are part of the NTI compensation package.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship, now or in the future.  Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.  Candidates must reside in, or be willing to relocate to, Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia before their start date and maintain residence within this geographic area throughout employment.

NTI is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered without attention to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, District of Columbia, or other applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by law.