Director, AI Opportunity

Overview

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. We work on transformative change in areas of climate change, criminal justice reform, revitalizing local news, and corruption in Nigeria. We also invest in Chicago and in just journalism.

Opportunity

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform many aspects of society. The MacArthur Foundation has advanced democratic oversight of AI through its Technology in the Public Interest program. We are now building a dedicated program on AI Opportunity, focusing on the intersection of AI, the economy, and the workforce—especially young people in Chicago, community‑centered AI development, and nonprofit AI applications.

What You’ll Do

As inaugural Director, you will apply your fluency in AI to fund work that expands access to good jobs and economic mobility in Chicago. You will translate between AI researchers and civil society leaders, forge partnerships with employers and educators, and guide philanthropic investments that demonstrate responsible, equitable AI adoption. You will publish insights, represent the Foundation nationally and internationally, and build a team to develop and implement the program’s strategy for a five‑year time‑limited role with the possibility of extension.

Role Overview

As the first person in this role, you will help shape the vision, approach, and ways of working for this Big Bet program. You will provide expertise, guidance, and oversight of strategy, field leadership, staff management, program leadership, internal collaboration, and process management. This hybrid role is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Strategy Momentum and Progress

• Oversee the design and development of grantmaking strategies
• Understand the impact, progress, interactions, and relationships of individual grants
• Monitor and evaluate progress to ensure grantmaking, team, and Foundation goals are met and modify strategies to ensure achievement of goals
• Identify and develop strategic initiatives that respond timely to special opportunities or critical challenges
• Connect the dots, translate ideas into action, and guide long‑term strategy with humility and clarity
• Coordinate with Humanity AI and TPI to ensure alignment of intent and coherence of execution

Field Leadership

Staff Management and Motivation

Program Leadership

Internal Collaboration

Process Management

Compensation and Benefits

Annual salary for this role will start at $210,100. The Foundation offers a generous total compensation package that emphasizes base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support life, health, and well‑being.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The work environment is an office setting. Intermittent physical activities include bending, reaching, sitting, and moving around the office during working hours. Reasonable requests for accommodation will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job. Reasonable accommodations will also be made available to candidates during the interview process.

Location

Chicago, Illinois. Hybrid role.

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