Cause Area Lead - Global Catastrophic Risks

ABOUT US

At Founders Pledge, we empower entrepreneurs to do immense good. Since 2015, our members have pledged over $10 billion to high-impact social causes. We help leading tech founders and philanthropists turn their intent into real-world impact through world-class research, tailored advice, and direct fund management. Our research team is small, expert, and deeply mission-driven.

ABOUT THE GCR TEAM

The mission of the Global Catastrophic Risks (GCR) team at Founders Pledge is to prevent extreme risks threatening human civilization, including risks from advanced artificial intelligence, engineered pandemics, and large-scale nuclear war. We view relations between the world’s great powers as a major risk factor for all of these threats. For example, unconstrained U.S.-China competition on advanced technologies could lead to dangerous racing dynamics and the deployment of unsafe AI systems. Our team has launched new organizations working on GCRs, funded major policy advocacy efforts, supported U.S.-China multi-track diplomacy on artificial intelligence, and more. Our funding runs through a mixture of philanthropic advising, partnerships with UHNW donors, and the GCR Fund. We believe this work has already substantially influenced international policy designed to reduce extreme risks.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're hiring a Cause Area Lead to lead our work on Global Catastrophic Risks (GCRs) — threats that could cause significant harm to civilization today and to humanity’s long-term potential. In this role, you’ll drive forward our GCR strategy, manage a small team, and co-manage the GCR Fund alongside Christian Ruhl. This is a hybrid research-leadership role, ideal for someone who wants to shape one of the most important philanthropic agendas in the world.

You’ll split your time between:

• Producing and reviewing rigorous research on existential risk and GCR grant opportunities.
• Leading a team of researchers and communicators. Setting strategy and disbursing millions of dollars annually via our GCR Fund and Patient Philanthropy Fund.

This is a highly entrepreneurial role with direct influence over tens of millions in grantmaking decisions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Leadership

• Set the research and grantmaking agenda for our Global Catastrophic Risks Portfolio.
• Develop our high-impact funding opportunity (HIFO) pipeline and enforce evaluation standards.
• Represent the cause area internally and externally, including to donors, policymakers, and media.

Fund Management (with Christian Ruhl)

• Identify and evaluate GCR grant opportunities.
• Co-manage disbursement decisions for the GCR Fund; potentiallly manage the Patient Philanthropy Fund.
• Define and update fund strategies and disbursement criteria.
• Collaborate with our Funds Programme team to meet fundraising and impact-reporting targets.

People Management

• Manage a small GCR-focused team, including an Applied Researcher and a Research Assistant.
• Provide line management, mentoring, and performance feedback.
• Set clear goals and high standards of intellectual and operational quality.

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Support Philanthropic Advisors with cause area expertise.
• Engage with external stakeholders (e.g., grantees, research partners, funders).
• Coordinate with the Managing Director, Research, to align with broader org goals.

ABOUT YOU

You’re a sharp, impact-oriented thinker who can combine rigorous analysis with strategic leadership. You have a track record of excellent independent research, preferably in areas related to global catastrophic risks (AI governance, biosecurity, nuclear risk, geopolitics), and you’re excited to guide a team and move large sums of money to the highest-impact opportunities.

You likely have:

• Deep interest or experience in existential risk, longtermism, AI policy, biosecurity, and international security.
• Exceptional analytical and quantitative reasoning skills. Clear, persuasive writing and communication abilities.
• Strong prioritization and judgment under uncertainty. Experience managing projects or people, or strong indicators of management potential.
• Comfort working in a high-growth, high-autonomy environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience in grantmaking, philanthropy, think tanks, or policy.
• Familiarity with the effective altruism community or related research networks.
• Experience speaking publicly or engaging with the media (e.g., writing op-eds).

WHY WORK WITH US

• Be part of a mission-driven, high-trust team.
• Move millions of dollars annually to the highest-leverage philanthropic opportunities.
• Work from anywhere in Europe or North America.
• Competitive salary and generous benefits.

We bring the global team together once per year for a global offsite. This is a week of collaborative learning, ideas generation and socialising. In addition to this, each team has the opportunity to meet together at least once per year.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at Founders Pledge. We seek people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds, who share our drive to understand and solve complex social challenges.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Finding solutions to the world’s most pressing problems requires different perspectives and unique ways of thinking and we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone can do their best work.

Please note: When you apply to this role, you’ll be asked to complete an equal opportunities form. As this role is being advertised in multiple countries, you’ll be asked to complete a UK equal opportunities form, as this is where our HQ is based.