Communications Lead / Communications Lead

Employment Overview

Employment: Full-time

Experience: 5+ years in communications, ideally in tech policy

The Role

The Simon Institute for Longterm Governance (SI) is seeking a Communications Lead to shape and communicate our story. We operate at the intersection of frontier AI governance and international diplomacy, bringing together experts, advising policymakers, and fostering connections among governments, companies, and the multilateral system. Much of our work occurs behind closed doors, and your responsibility will be to make SI understandable and compelling to the partners who rely on us every day.

This narrative-focused role will directly support our leadership team by connecting our institutional identity—named after Nobel laureate Herbert Simon, who pioneered studies in bounded rationality, AI, and decision-making—with our current initiatives in frontier AI diplomacy. You will also reference Simon’s role in fostering academic exchanges between Western and Chinese researchers.

Your responsibilities will include contextualizing our outputs—including trip reports, event recaps, and policy briefs—transforming them into content that enhances our reputation. You’ll contribute to maintaining our public presence through engaging newsletters, thoughtful blog posts, and a serious yet dynamic social media profile.

This position combines strategic communications leadership with practical execution, with approximately 60% of your time dedicated to writing and editing various materials—such as blog posts, newsletters, internal briefs, and annual reports—while the remaining 40% focuses on managing SI's communications infrastructure and supporting fundraising efforts. Although you will have junior support for routine tasks in the future, you should be comfortable taking the initiative for necessary tasks at this time.

What You'll Do

• Shape SI's narrative and public presence.
• Implement SI's communications strategy, ensuring consistency in our core narrative—who we are, why we exist, and what sets us apart—across all communications.
• Write and edit high-quality content, including blog posts, event recaps, trip reports, explainers, and the monthly newsletter.
• Contextualize SI's work for diverse audiences, making complex technical and diplomatic content accessible without oversimplifying.
• Identify opportunities for SI to participate in relevant media, partnerships, publications, and events.
• Manage SI's website and social media profiles (LinkedIn, X, Bluesky) and other public accounts.
• Support fundraising through writing, drafting grant applications and funding proposals in collaboration with leadership.
• Create fundraising materials such as pitch decks, one-pagers, donor updates, and annual reports.
• Help maintain donor relationships through clear and compelling communication.
• Provide editorial and analytical support, enhancing the team's written outputs, including briefs, memos, and strategy documents.
• Support events and institution-wide initiatives as needed.
• Stay informed about the AI governance landscape to ensure timely and relevant communications.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills

• Exceptional writing and editing skills: Ability to compose an engaging newsletter, concise grant applications, and thorough policy explainers.
• Substantive fluency: Capacity to engage with frontier AI governance, international relations, and policy debates with credibility.
• Narrative instinct: Ability to see how individual pieces connect into a larger story and find the compelling angles.
• Audience judgment: Understanding that information is perceived differently by diplomats, funders, AI researchers, and the general public, with the ability to adapt accordingly.
• Self-direction: Initiative to identify and complete necessary tasks without waiting for guidance.
• Confidentiality and discretion: Ability to handle sensitive information with care and good judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in policy communications, think tanks, or technology governance.
• Familiarity with the AI governance ecosystem.
• Experience in grant writing.
• Cross-cultural communication expertise, particularly regarding US, European, and Asian contexts.
• Proficiency in languages beyond fluent written and oral English (Mandarin, French, or German are especially advantageous).

Why Join SI?

• Work that Matters: Contribute to tackling one of the most significant challenges of our time—ensuring that transformative AI benefits humanity.
• Intellectual Depth: Collaborate with a dedicated team that engages seriously with complex problems.
• Growth Opportunities: This role can evolve into a director position, expanded media responsibilities, or deeper programming involvement.
• Location: Enjoy living in Geneva, a beautiful city central to international governance, offering a high quality of life with the Alps nearby.
• Compensation: Receive a competitive living wage of CHF 90,000 to 140,000, along with generous parental leave and other benefits to help you focus on achieving impactful work.

How to Apply

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.