Academic Programme Manager, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk

Note: Deadline extended

The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) invites applications for a Senior Research Associate - Academic Programme Manager. This senior position will play a central role in leading CSER's research team and shaping the future of the centre. This is a unique opportunity to play a guiding role in a world-class research centre as it enters an exciting period of growth.

Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) is an interdisciplinary research centre within the University of Cambridge dedicated to the study and mitigation of risks that could lead to human extinction or civilisational collapse.

The centre was founded by Lord Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal; Jaan Tallinn, the co-founder of Skype; and Huw Price, the Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy, to “steer a small fraction of Cambridge's great intellectual resources to the task of ensuring that our own species has a long-term future.” As Lord Rees says, “our century is special, because for the first time in 45 million centuries, one species holds the future of the planet in its hands – us.” 

The centre's research focuses on how to manage extreme risks, including biological risks, environmental risks, and risks from artificial intelligence. The centre's expertise has been sought by European, Asian and American governments, leading technology companies and the United Nations. Through publications, expert workshops, and international conferences they have fostered a global community of academics, policy-makers and industry-leaders working to reduce existential risk.

The Role

The Academic Programme Manager will play a central role in leading CSER's research team and shaping the future of the Centre. This senior research associate level role combines academic and management responsibilities, working with CSER's Directors to lead a substantial subset of CSER's research projects, develop the overall profile, and to build collaborative networks. The post-holder will be encouraged to set their own priorities within the role, and will work with a high degree of independence.

The centre aims to build a passionate and engaging culture. Their approach encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, leading to creativity, new research insights, and real social change.

Fixed-term

The funds for this post are available for 3 years from the start date in the first instance.

Salary

£39,992-£50,618

Responsibilities

• Contribute to strategic planning and leadership for CSER
• Manage CSER’s postdoctoral researchers
• Plan and coordinate activities in CSER's research programmes, and manage the use of research resources and budgets
• Conduct research within CSER's focus areas, to be published as papers in leading academic journals
• Act as an ambassador for the Centre's research, engaging with academics, policy-makers, industry collaborators and the public
• Actively seek additional funding: identify opportunities and develop proposals

About you

We seek an ambitious candidate with initiative and a broad intellectual range. Candidates will have a high level of education, with substantial experience at a postdoctoral level, or equivalent experience within a relevant setting (e.g. policy, industry, think tank or NGO).