Senior Researcher – AI, Animals

Rethink Priorities

Researcher or Senior Researcher investigating complex questions at the intersection of AI and animals. Conducting independent research within Rethink Priorities' Animal Welfare Department.

Posted 7/1/2026full-timeRemote • 🌎 Anywhere in the WorldSenior💰 $80,000 - $135,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Python

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Scoping vague but important questions around AI x Animals — choosing the right depth, angle, and methodology for each, from literature reviews to modelling, data analysis, or expert interviews.
Conducting independent research on complex questions, addressing uncertainty and competing perspectives explicitly.
Engaging external stakeholders to understand their needs and shape deliverables to their specifications.
Producing decision-useful outputs from inception to delivery, in the best-fit format (report, model, dashboard), translated into practical recommendations for decision-makers.
Managing projects end to end — keeping them on track, reporting progress, and proactively identifying mitigations when barriers arise.
The balance of these responsibilities, and the autonomy you'll have, depends on the level you're hired at. At the Senior Researcher level, you will own these responsibilities at higher autonomy and help co-create the overall research strategy for the program. You will also build and steward more external relationships with funders, advocates, and field experts.

Requirements

What you’ll need

An abiding commitment to RP's mission for animals — you keep impact at the centre of project decisions and prioritise it over interestingness.
Strong applied-research judgement. You can take a vague, important question, scope it sensibly, choose sound methodology, and reach a defensible answer under time pressure.
Strong analytical and quantitative reasoning. Ability and willingness to use, build, and interpret models and quantitative concepts. (Deep statistical or programming expertise is *not* required — see "nice to have.")
Clear written communication. You explain a chain of reasoning and convey complex ideas to decision-makers, not just to peers, and organise writing for its intended audience.
Reasoning transparency. You give caveated, decision-useful answers under uncertainty — documenting key steps, stating uncertainties, and sourcing major claims — rather than waiting for certainty.
A steadfast commitment to truthseeking, intellectual openness to diverse viewpoints, and research ethics.
Resourcefulness and problem-solving. You find tractable ways into open-ended problems.
Self- and project management in a remote, distributed, asynchronous team — setting and meeting realistic goals and keeping work organised.
Collaboration and stakeholder engagement. You work effectively toward shared goals and interact professionally with colleagues and external partners.
Greater autonomy and ownership — you initiate, plan, and run projects with little oversight, and refine your approach so recurring problems don't recur.
Strategic and critical thinking at program scale — anticipating risks and opportunities and prioritizing between projects.
Proactive outreach — independently building and maintaining external relationships and representing RP credibly in professional settings.
Review and feedback — giving honest, constructive, timely feedback on others' work across clarity, rigor, and impact.
Skill with strategic decision-making tools (e.g. stakeholder mapping, scenario analysis).
Familiarity with AI/ML concepts or model evaluation.
A fluent, AI-native working style — you already use current AI tools effectively in your own research workflow.
Domain expertise in a relevant priority area (e.g. AI strategy, safety, or governance; farmed animal welfare; alternative proteins; or wild animal welfare).
Experience working or volunteering in the AI safety or animal advocacy space.
Familiarity with the ideas and methods used in high-impact, evidence-led philanthropy.
Proficiency with R or Python.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing, high-impact organization — our research is used by key decision-makers who influence the distribution of hundreds of millions of charitable dollars.
Remote-first environment, including flexible work hours and schedule.
Comprehensive global benefits program, including statutory benefits as required by local law, and supplemental benefits specific to each country (varies by location)
Generous paid time off (PTO) and unpaid leave, including:
Unlimited vacation with a minimum number of required statutory days off
"Mandated" 3 weeks total mid- and end-year organization-wide breaks
Unlimited (within reason) personal and sick paid and unpaid leave
Parental leave — at least 4 - 9 months of a combination of paid and unpaid leave, available prior to and/or during the first 2 years after a child's birth or adoption
Other paid and unpaid leave (e.g., bereavement)
Technology stipend of $2,000 USD equivalent every 3 years for work and office equipment.
AI tools budget of $40 USD equivalent monthly.
Professional development budget amount subject to leadership approval that renews yearly.
Learning opportunities, including workshops/training sessions and 10% of work time dedicated to professional and personal development.
Paid work trips, including one annual all-staff Mega Team Retreat and relevant conferences.
Virtual co-working spaces, including a private Rethink Priorities Focusmate group
RP Peer Support Program for New Employees.
Other benefits at the discretion of RP Leadership.
A caring team that values respectful work relations and a healthy work-life balance.
Opportunities to grow/advance your career and engage in professional development.
Low administrative bureaucracy.
We don’t provide snacks, but we could mail you a box of Oreos if you want!

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Hard Skills & Tools

Data AnalysisModelingQuantitative ReasoningResearch MethodologyProficiency with RProficiency with Python

Soft Skills

Clear Written CommunicationResourcefulnessProblem-SolvingCollaborationStrategic Thinking