The Simon Institute for Longterm Governance (SI) is a Geneva-based think tank working at the intersection of frontier AI governance and international diplomacy. SI analyzes trends and ecosystems, convenes experts, advises decision-makers, and builds bridges between governments, companies, the multilateral system, and frontier tech experts. Over its 5 years it has put AI governance on the UN agenda, helped launch the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, and shaped multilateral AI governance from the OECD to UNDRR.
SI is looking for a Chief of Staff to its CEO, Maxime Stauffer. With the CEO's delegated authority, the Chief of Staff focuses on scaling and coordinating the team — becoming the CEO's tactical confidant, building the team on his behalf, and coordinating governance, culture, workforce planning, recruiting, and internal communications.
Concretely you will: own org governance and the operating model, and set standards for performance management, people development, and project management; support line managers and hold the central view of workforce planning (what roles SI needs over the next 12-24 months); coordinate recruiting (source leads, calibrate evaluations, coordinate trials, assess resource utilization); maintain a clear current picture of internal developments; advise the CEO on which decisions, 1:1s, and reviews are needed and when; share internal updates and collect team input; pressure-test the CEO's communications to the board, all-hands, and in written briefs; own the development of a remote-first culture; and shadow the CEO to calibrate asks to his capacity.
Essential: a team-building track record scaling an early team (hiring, managing, developing, and parting ways with people); 5-10 years of experience with the most recent few in a lead or entrepreneurial position; strategic credibility; clear communication adaptable from diplomats to ML researchers; low ego and high spine; status-blind maturity; self-direction; team play; judgment and discretion with confidential work; mission alignment on transformative AI going well for humanity; and being impact-driven. Bonus: executive coaching experience, context on AI governance and Track II diplomacy, a policy/research/funder network, experience scaling a mission-driven org, French and/or Mandarin proficiency, and being based in Geneva. Competitive salary of CHF 118,000-175,000, 7 weeks of annual leave, generous parental leave, professional development budget, and flexible home-office arrangements. Geneva is strongly preferred; hybrid is in scope but requires ~1 week per month on-site for the first 6-12 months.
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit your application via the application form (https://airtable.com/app0qyG5UfGFlRNdU/pag1xYu2HOdHZY0W6/form). You may indicate any other SI openings that could fit you. Process: screening call (15-25 min) with hiring partner Impact Ops; a recorded interview with the CEO followed by interviews with prospective colleagues across leadership and the team; a 1-day in-person work trial in Geneva (SI covers reasonable costs); 2-3 references.