Head of Research, AI, and Technology

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

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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. xhyhwjd
• 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