[Hiring] Scientific Director, Youth Safety & Wellbeing @American Psychological Association

Role Description

The Scientific Director is the person who carries scientific authority for the Youth Safety & Wellbeing priority area, chairs and manages the Youth Safety & Wellbeing Scientific Advisory Group, and ensures the Center's Specifications and Public Guidance workstreams are grounded in rigorous, defensible science.

• Demonstrated experience guiding and organizing groups composed of senior academic and clinical experts.
• Ability to provide independent scientific leadership in conversations with AI industry partners, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Deep subject-matter expertise in psychological science relevant to youth safety and well-being.
• Judgment to make sound, timely decisions in a rapidly changing technological environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., developmental or clinical psychology, public health, human-computer interaction, cognitive/behavioral science, or a related discipline).
• Active or recent research record in youth development, media/technology effects, or a closely related area.
• Working knowledge of AI systems to inform the translation of scientific findings into technical specifications.
• Established standing in the youth safety/wellbeing research field, evidenced by publications and leadership roles.
• Prior experience chairing or running a scientific advisory board or review panel preferred.
• Strong ability to build relationships with senior academics, AI-company leadership, funders, and policymakers.
• Demonstrated moral and scientific integrity with a track record of independent positions.
• Strong network across academic, clinical, industry, and policy communities working on youth safety and technology.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate scientific nuance for various audiences.

Requirements

• Chair and manage the Youth Safety & Wellbeing Scientific Advisory.
• Own the Specifications workstream for Youth Safety & Wellbeing.
• Serve as scientific reviewer and sign-off authority for Public Guidance deliverables.
• Hold the line on scientific conclusions against commercial or reputational pressure.
• Represent CBSAI's science externally at major convenings and public forums.
• Directly supervise the Product Lead and help define team growth.
• Some domestic and international travel to represent CBSAI at major events.

Benefits

• Remote Work/Flexible Scheduling.
• 401(k) option with employer match of up to 4%.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Paid personal/vacation time plus 12 paid holidays.
• Family/Medical Leave.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.

Company Description

The Center for Behavioral Science and AI (CBSAI) is a new APA entity built to shape how AI systems affect the people who use them, focusing on Youth Safety & Wellbeing. The Center seeks to broaden the role of psychological science in AI's ecosystem, bridging academic research and real-world impact.