Chief of Staff

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Position description

The Simon Institute for Longterm Governance (SI) is a Geneva-based think tank working at the intersection of frontier AI governance and international diplomacy. Our namesake, Herbert Simon, is a Nobel laureate and Turing Award winner who pioneered work on bounded rationality, AI, and decision-making, and led exchanges between Western and Chinese researchers. Similarly, we analyze trends and ecosystems, convene experts, advise decision-makers, and build bridges between governments, companies, the multilateral system, and frontier tech experts.

In our 5 years of existence, we have put AI governance on the agenda at the UN, played a key role in launching the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, shaped multilateral AI governance from the OECD to UNDRR, and become a trusted adviser to key policy and industry stakeholders across China, Europe, and the US. As an impartial facilitator with technical expertise, we are now expanding our focus on frontier AI diplomacy to reduce the risk that advanced AI will further destabilize great-power relations. In doing so, we hope to contribute to technological progress that lastingly improves all people’s livelihoods.

The role

SI is looking for a Chief of Staff to our CEO, Maxime Stauffer. Max does unique external engagement and is increasingly the binding constraint on how fast the organization can grow. To preserve his ability to do his best work, he needs a close partner who — with his delegated authority — can fully focus on scaling and coordinating the team.

In one sentence: the Chief of Staff becomes Max’s tactical confidant, helping him understand what is needed from him and when, and building the team on his behalf. The role coordinates governance, culture, workforce planning, recruiting, and internal communications, and intimately supports Max’s leadership and management so the team has the clarity it needs.

Concretely, you will:

• Own org governance and the operating model, and set standards for performance management, people development, and project management.
• Support line managers and hold the central view of workforce planning — what roles SI needs over the next 12–24 months, and what individual development trajectories look like.
• Coordinate recruiting: source leads, calibrate evaluations, coordinate trials, assess resource utilization and priorities, and surface tensions early.

• Maintain a clear, current picture of what’s happening internally — team developments, program updates, emergencies.
• Tell Max what’s needed from him and when: which decision, which 1:1s, which review, on what timeline.
• Share internal updates regularly and collect input from the team.
• Pressure-test Max’s communications — to the board, in all-hands, in written briefs and 1:1s — and give feedback so he can iterate quickly.
• Own the development of a remote-first culture for our hybrid team, and steward the culture initiatives Max wants to drive.
• Shadow Max to understand his patterns, capacity, and energy, and calibrate asks accordingly.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Team-building track record. You have scaled an early team — direct experience hiring, managing, developing, and parting ways with people through a meaningful growth phase, with views on what works at different org sizes.
• Experience. 5–10 years of work experience, with the most recent few in a lead or entrepreneurial position.
• Strategic credibility. You earn an executive’s trust on internal matters in a way that survives disagreement.
• Clear communication. You write and speak clearly, and adapt to audiences ranging from diplomats to ML researchers.
• Low ego, high spine. You are comfortable holding delegated authority and making team-building and coordination calls, and you push back on the Max when warranted.
• Status-blind maturity. You focus on what it takes to get something done and are willing to do unglamorous work even with senior credentials.
• Self-direction. You know your worth, drive opportunities, and don’t wait to be tasked — the role requires constant judgment calls. You pick up on team dynamics and unspoken concerns without being told.
• Team play. You coordinate proactively, document and plan effectively, state your uncertainties and assumptions transparently, and give honest feedback because you care for others’ growth.
• Judgment and discretion. Much of our work is confidential. You can navigate complex relationships, anticipate reputational and operational risks, and have good instincts about what can and can’t be shared.
• Mission alignment. You care about transformative AI going well for humanity, across borders.
• Impact-driven. You are motivated by making a difference, and willing to update your plans if new evidence suggests something else would move the needle more.

Bonus:

• Executive coaching experience or formal training.
• Context on AI governance and Track II diplomacy.
• Network in policy, research, or funder circles.
• Experience scaling a team specifically in a mission-driven org.
• French and/or Mandarin proficiency.
• Based in Geneva.

Exceptional candidates who don’t precisely fit the description will be considered and are strongly encouraged to apply.

Why SI

• Work that matters. You’d build the team behind one of the most consequential missions of our time — ensuring that transformative AI benefits humanity.
• Systemic thinking. Our team engages seriously with hard problems. You’ll be surrounded by people who care about getting things right.
• Room to lead and grow. You’ll hold Max’s delegated authority across the whole organization, with a potential long-term path to COO.
• We care. Competitive salary of CHF 118,000–175,000 (commensurate with experience), 7 weeks of annual leave, generous parental leave, professional development budget, and flexible home-office arrangements.

Location

Geneva is strongly preferred. Hybrid is in scope, but this role requires a minimum of ~1 week per month on-site for the first 6–12 months as SI moves to remote-first; fully remote with regular on-site may be acceptable for an exceptional candidate. SI employs international staff and has experience navigating permit processes but cannot guarantee visas for any jurisdiction.

Application instructions

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