Senior AI Strategist

American Institutes for Research

Senior AI Strategist leading key strategic AI initiatives and partnerships at American Institutes for Research. Engaging with leaders in various sectors to enhance AIR’s AI strategy and visibility.

Posted 5/26/2026full-timeRemote • California, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $150,000 - $185,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the development and execution of key strategic initiatives, including sector-specific evidence generation networks, expert engagement programs, and eminence-building efforts.
Contribute to the ongoing refinement of AIR’s AI strategy, operating model, and value proposition, working closely with the Managing Director of AI and Growth Office leadership.
Monitor and interpret AI-related developments across policy, technology, and practice, synthesizing insights into strategic recommendations for AIR’s leadership and external partners.
Author or co-author high-quality external thought leadership, including white papers, research briefs, blog posts, and conference presentations that advances AIR’s visibility and credibility on AI topics.
Represent AIR at high-visibility conferences, convenings, and stakeholder engagements related to AI and human development.
Build and sustain strategic partnerships with senior leaders in government, philanthropy, academia, and the private sector aligned with AIR’s AI priorities, including advancing relationships from initial engagement towards sustained collaboration.
Lead outreach and cultivation for high-value relationships, including sector experts, advisory board members, and cross-sector collaborators.
Develop and deliver materials for senior-level external meetings, including concept notes, briefings, and strategic proposals that clearly articulate AIR’s value proposition and pathway to collaboration.
Utilize conferences and convenings to make strategic connections, document insights, and advance mission-aligned partnership opportunities.
Contribute to the development of tailored engagement strategies across multiple sectors and domains.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with a minimum of 9 years; or Ph.D. with a minimum of 5 years of experience in social sciences, public policy, education, technology, or a related field.
Deep substantive knowledge of AI and its implications for at least one of the following domains: education, workforce, health, or technology policy.
Experience successfully developing and executing cross-sector partnerships spanning public policy, philanthropy, private sector, and/or social science research communities, including moving relationships from exploratory conversations to formalized collaboration.
Prior experience in a mission-driven, nonprofit, philanthropic, or academic setting, with demonstrated ability to cultivate the right action for aligning social change to opportunity.
Experience leading projects or teams, including managing scope, timelines, and junior staff.
Established networks in at least one relevant field and a demonstrated ability to credibility represent an organization, build trust, and cultivate relationships on its behalf.
Experience contributing to or leading business development efforts, including early-stage opportunity shaping, positioning, and proposal development in partnership with senior leaders.

Benefits

Comp & perks

AIR’s Total Rewards Program

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Hard Skills & Tools

AI strategyevidence generationthought leadershipresearch briefswhite papersstrategic proposalscross-sector partnershipsbusiness developmentproject managementsocial change alignment

Soft Skills

leadershiprelationship buildingstrategic thinkingcommunicationcollaborationnetworkingoutreachcultivationtrust buildinginsight synthesis