As Director of Operations, you will lead a 13-person team and build the systems necessary to scale GovAI from 50 to 100+ staff. You will oversee finance, HR, and program administration while spearheading strategic initiatives to support our mission of guiding the transition to advanced AI safely and effectively.
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Director of Operations at GovAI
GovAI is seeking a Director of Operations to build the infrastructure for the world’s leading AI governance organization as it scales from 50 to 100 staff while managing thousands of applicants and influencing policy at the highest levels of international government. Leading a 13-person team across the UK and US, you will establish robust global systems for finance, HR, and strategic initiatives, serving as a critical force multiplier for a field-defining institution during this pivotal moment in the transition to advanced artificial intelligence.
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Location
London, United Kingdom / Remote
Compensation
$155k-$190k
Company
GovAI
Role overview
GovAI is a research and field‑building organisation focused on helping decision‑makers navigate the transition to a world with advanced artificial intelligence. It conducts rigorous, policy‑relevant research on the governance, risks, and societal impacts of advanced AI systems, and works to inform governments, industry leaders, and other institutions on how to manage AI’s opportunities and dangers. GovAI also invests heavily in talent development and community building, including fellowships, research collaborations, and other programs aimed at growing a global community of scholars and practitioners working on AI governance. Originally founded at Yale University in 2016, GovAI now operates as an independent non‑profit organisation dedicated to understanding and managing the risks and opportunities posed by advanced AI technologies.
What you will do
- Lead and grow a high-performing operations team, expanding from 13 FTEs to support a total organizational headcount of 100 staff within two years.
- Build robust operational infrastructure across finance, HR, legal, and program administration capable of managing over 20,000 annual fellowship applications.
- Collaborate with the Chief of Staff and Executive Director to design and execute organization-wide strategy and lead high-priority strategic initiatives.
Who this is a fit for
- Proven experience scaling operations in a high-growth environment, ideally taking a mission-driven organization from 50 to 100+ employees.
- Versatile generalist expertise across core functions including finance, HR, legal compliance, and complex program management for large-scale talent initiatives.
- Strong people management skills with a track record of building healthy team cultures and mentoring leaders in a fast-paced, mission-driven setting.
Why this role is remarkable
- Exceptional organizational leverage as a force multiplier for the world's leading AI governance research body during a critical phase of global growth.
- Unique intellectual environment that balances rigorous research with a supportive, high-performing culture often described as an exceptional place to work.
- Direct impact on global policy; GovAI alumni hold pivotal roles in the UK Prime Minister’s office, the EU AI Office, and labs like OpenAI and Anthropic.
How Jack & Jill work together
I get to know what you’re great at, then find roles you’d never find yourself.Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
I recruit from Jack’s network and make the intro when I spot a great match.And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.
Jack gets to know what you're great at and what you want next, then searches 15 million jobs daily and helps you discover roles at companies like this.
Meet Jack
What happens next?
Jack’s an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you.
Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack’s network.
If your profile’s a match and GovAI wants to meet, Jill will make the intro. In the meantime, Jack will send you excellent alternatives.