Member of Policy Staff, Government Affairs

Job description

### About METR We are a nonprofit research organization that develops scientific methods to assess AI capabilities, risks, and mitigations, with a specific focus on threats related to AI R&D automation and misalignment. We believe it is robustly good for policymakers and civil society to have a clear understanding of risks from AI systems, and we are extremely excited to build a team of ambitious, excellent people to tackle one of the most important challenges of our time. ### About the role You will work as METR’s point-of-contact for the executive branch, the national security community, and Congress. As loss-of-control risks become more prominent, we expect METR’s role as a scientific advisor and third-party risk assessor (METR does not take policy positions) to become more important. Additionally, METR has started embedding researchers inside frontier labs to investigate incidents, stress-test labs’ internal agent monitoring systems, and assess loss-of-control risks from internal deployment. As agent capabilities increase, **we expect this to be one of the most important sources of independent information the world has about catastrophic risk from advanced AI.** Your role will be communicating this information to policymakers to inform high-stakes decisions. ### What this role looks like You will serve as METR’s point-of-contact in DC for congressional staff and policymakers, executive-branch agencies, and the national security community, including by: - Building and maintaining durable bipartisan relationships on a foundation of unbiased analysis and technical understanding. - Synthesizing political dynamics into clear recommendations and analysis for staff to directly inform METR’s overall strategy. - Managing visits and briefings from METR staff in DC, including on very short notice during times of intense need. - Supporting METR’s formal work with government partners, including maintaining key agency relationships and coordinating on contracts and other agreements. - Translating complex technical findings into briefings and memos fit for policymakers. - Scoping and driving new DC initiatives as the policy landscape evolves. This role is based in DC, with periodic travel to Berkeley, CA, where our research team is based. In your first year, you’ll spend about two months embedded with the research team. ### Required attributes - You have established relationships with policymakers, and a track record of building relationships with senior officials. - You have experience translating complex technical topics into actionable language in environments with significant institutional resistance or uncertainty. - You understand how the policymaking process and key institutions work, the perspectives of different stakeholder groups, and have a track record of operating effectively in DC. - You are committed to accuracy, transparency over advocacy, and informing over persuading. You have experience engaging productively with stakeholders with different starting assumptions and subject-area expertise. - You take initiative without extensive oversight, and are comfortable making consequential decisions, pivoting when the landscape changes, and building systems from scratch. - You keep confidential and sensitive information private to maintain trust with policymakers and the public. - You are eligible for a TS/SCI security clearance from the US government. ### Nice-to-haves - Experience managing outside counsel, coalitions, third-party groups, and communications resources. - Familiarity with federal contracting, grants, or other agreements with government agencies. - Prior service in national security, intelligence, or cybersecurity roles in government. ### Compensation and benefits This role has an annual salary of between $328,380 and $385,490, with no bonuses or other compensation. METR also has a host of benefits: - Retirement: 401(k) with a 100% match up to 8% of salary - Life Insurance: Employer-paid basic life insurance at 1x salary - Time-off and leave: Unlimited PTO and 21-week parental leave for new parents - Health: - Medical, dental and vision coverage with 99% employee premiums paid - Employer funded HRA for out-of-pocket health costs - Fertility benefits through Carrot - Additional stipends: - Relocation: for moving to DC - Wellness: for gym memberships, equipment, therapy, medication, and other wellness expenses⁠ - Commuter: Monthly transit/parking stipend and an annual Uber budget - Professional development: for training, courses, conferences, and AI safety education⁠ - Work equipment: for home office and workstation equipment⁠ expenses - Management coaching for managers ### Our culture METR is a mission-driven organization. We believe our work can meaningfully shape humanity's future for the better, and we want to be the best people in the world doing this work. We have a tight-knit, collaborative research culture rooted in truth-seeking and integrity. We're fiercely committed to producing high-quality, trustworthy science. We're honest and transparent about our results, especially when they may go against the grain. We've earned trust as reliable partners who handle confidential information with care. We maintain a low-ego, drama-free environment focused on what matters.