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Job description
Head of Research, AI & Technology
Location: Remote (US or Europe preferred)
Travel: Periodic team meetups, annual company-wide gatherings, and opportunities to attend leading global AI and scientific conferences
Schedule: Flexible, work local business hours
About the Organization
We are a mission-driven research organization applying cutting-edge artificial intelligence to one of the most ambitious scientific challenges of our time: understanding and decoding non-human communication.
Our multidisciplinary team brings together experts in AI, machine learning, biology, acoustics, engineering, and scientific research to develop foundational technologies that can accelerate discovery and unlock entirely new insights into animal communication. With a strong funding foundation, a long-term vision, and a collaborative global team, we are building a world-class research organization dedicated to advancing both science and AI innovation.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Head of Research, AI & Technology to lead our scientific strategy and research organization. Reporting directly to the CEO, this executive leader will define the research roadmap, guide AI innovation, build strategic partnerships, and oversee a growing interdisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, postdoctoral fellows, and contractors.
This is a unique opportunity for a recognized AI research leader who is excited about applying advanced machine learning techniques to groundbreaking scientific challenges while helping shape the future direction of a highly visible organization.
What You'll Do
Scientific & Research Leadership
Establish and execute the organization's long-term AI and scientific research strategy
Drive research focused on foundational AI models and novel approaches to decoding complex communication systems
Evaluate emerging technologies, methodologies, and opportunities to accelerate scientific discovery
Guide the translation of cutting-edge research into practical tools, systems, and applications
Identify new research directions with meaningful scientific impact
Organizational Leadership
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of AI researchers, engineers, postdoctoral fellows, and contractors
Mentor research leaders and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture
Partner closely with executive leadership and advisors on strategic initiatives
Build processes that enable scalable research execution and innovation
Partnerships & External Engagement
Develop and expand collaborations with universities, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners
Represent the organization at conferences, panels, workshops, and scientific events
Engage confidently with donors, stakeholders, and external audiences
Strengthen the organization's visibility and reputation within the global AI and scientific communities
Talent & Research Programs
Lead and expand postdoctoral and internship programs
Help cultivate the next generation of researchers working at the intersection of AI and science
Recruit and retain world-class research talent
Team Structure
Reporting directly to the CEO, the Head of Research, AI & Technology will oversee approximately 18 team members, including:
AI and foundational modeling researchers
Applied research and decoding teams
Software and engineering teams
Postdoctoral researchers
Contractors and interns
The role partners closely with executive leadership, advisors, and board-level stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
Education
PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Science, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or a related field
15+ years spanning AI research, large-scale AI implementation, or both, with demonstrated technical depth and organizational leadership.
Proven experience leading a research or AI organization: setting direction, managing senior researchers, structuring teams, and maintaining scientific quality.
Substantial industry AI experience in a research lab or deploying large-scale AI systems sufficient to assess research quality independently and hold credibility with top-tier ML researchers.
A professional network in AI research and industry strong enough to support active recruitment for senior research roles.
Ideally, experience across both academic and commercial research environments, with fluency in the differences in incentive structures, timelines, and talent profiles.
Ideally, experience leading a research program in which AI has been deeply applied to a field of natural science.
Experience in a mission-driven, nonprofit, or field-science environment is valued.
Technical Skills
AI and ML depth sufficient to evaluate research quality and hold the Head of AI
Research accountable without necessarily being the most technically current person on the team.
Familiarity with foundation model development, large-scale training infrastructure, and the practical challenges of deploying ML at scale.
Fluency in audio, speech, computer vision, or bioacoustic ML is a meaningful advantage.
Experience with quantitative scientific data and the methodological standards of biological or natural science research.
Leadership Experience
Experience leading research organizations, scientific teams, or AI laboratories
Demonstrated people leadership and mentorship capabilities
Ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive organizational strategy
Track record of building high-performing, collaborative teams
Executive Presence
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills
Experience engaging with external partners, funders, scientific collaborators, or executive leadership
Ability to represent complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
Preferred Qualifications
Postdoctoral research experience
Industry experience deploying AI systems at scale
Experience in startup, high-growth, or research-focused environments
Background at leading AI research organizations, major technology companies, or world-class academic institutions
Experience securing, managing, or contributing to research partnerships and grant-funded initiatives
Exposure to \"AI for Good\" or mission-driven technology organizations
Nice to Have
Biology, animal behavior, ecology, or life sciences experience
Acoustics, signal processing, speech technologies, or audio AI expertise
Music AI, audio foundation models, or related research backgrounds
Cross-disciplinary research leadership experience
What Success Looks Like
In this role, you will:
Establish a clear research vision and execution strategy
Advance state-of-the-art AI capabilities within a groundbreaking scientific domain
Build and scale a world-class research organization
Develop strategic partnerships that accelerate innovation
Inspire and mentor researchers working at the intersection of AI and science
Help shape the future of one of the most ambitious applications of AI for scientific discovery
Ideal Candidate Profile
We are especially interested in leaders who combine:
Strong academic credentials (PhD required)
Postdoctoral and/or significant research experience
Industry experience deploying advanced AI systems
Experience leading research organizations and mentoring top talent
Humility, curiosity, and a collaborative leadership style
Passion for scientific discovery and mission-driven work
Culture & Values
We value people who are:
Collaborative and low ego
Coachable and open to feedback
Strong leaders and mentors
Mission-driven and intellectually curious
Comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders
Excited to contribute to meaningful scientific advances
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.