[Hiring] Head of Kairos Labs @Kairos

Role Description

Design, launch, and lead our incubator for new AI safety organizations. Note: This role description is a first draft. Scope, salary, and responsibilities may evolve, and we’ll keep you in the loop about any changes if you apply. Applications are due by September 25, 2026. We’ll review applications after the deadline and get back to everyone shortly after.

The Role

We’re looking for a founding Head of Kairos Labs to design, launch, and lead Kairos Labs, our upcoming incubator for new AI safety projects and organizations. Kairos Labs will help founders take promising ideas from concept to independent organization, with hands-on advising and operational support. Where our Generator Residency gives generalists a platform to build projects within the ecosystem, Kairos Labs is aimed at people setting out to start something new.

Kairos Labs is at an early stage. The program is fully funded for its first two years and a priority for us, but most decisions about its shape haven’t been made yet, so you’d be building the program from the ground up. We hope to design it in late 2026 and launch in early 2027.

What You’ll Do

• Design the program.
• Own the launch.
• Support incubated projects.
• Own Kairos Labs’ strategic direction.
• Contribute to Kairos more broadly.

Qualifications

• Experience building organizations.
• AI safety context.
• Strong judgment about projects and people.
• High agency.
• Mission-aligned.
• Operationally fluent.

Why Work With Us

• You’ll be working toward reducing risks from advanced AI, potentially the most important challenge of our time.
• You’ll get to design and own the program from scratch, with the backing of an established, funded organization.
• We’re building a world-class team, so you’ll be in good company.
• Collaborate regularly with leading AI safety researchers, policy professionals, funders, and organizers.

What We Offer

• Salary: $140,000–$195,000 (baseline), $175,000–$245,000 (supported hubs), or $195,000–$270,000 (San Francisco Bay Area).
• Location: This is a remote role with access to office space in various cities.
• Benefits: Flexible working hours, highly competitive health insurance, dental and vision coverage, generous vacation policy, and professional development budget.
• Team retreats: All-team retreats three times a year.
• Travel: Work-related travel and expenses covered.

Logistics

• Start date: Ideally by October or early November 2026.
• Remote, with expected travel 3–6 times a year.
• Visa sponsorship may be possible depending on circumstances.

Our Culture

We’re a small, high-trust team motivated by the urgent challenge of making advanced AI go well. We value collaborative truth-seeking, a scout mindset, agility, and an alliance mindset with the broader ecosystem.

Application Process

Applications are due by September 25, 2026. We’ll review applications after the deadline and get back to everyone shortly after.

• Application form (10–20 mins)
• Screening call (15 mins)
• Take-home assignment (1.5–3 hours, paid)
• Interview (45 mins)
• Reference checks
• Work trial (3 days, paid)
• Offer

If you’re excited about this role but unsure whether you meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. If you’re interested in multiple roles, apply to the one that best fits your skills and interests, and note in your application the other roles that you’d like to be considered for.

Questions? Reach out at [email protected] .

Know someone who might be a good fit? If your referral gets hired and completes 6 months with us, we’ll pay you a $5,000 referral bonus.