Head of Frontier Technologies Apply
** Please note: This role requires the ability to work onsite in the San Francisco Forum office 3 days per week **
Interested applicants can submit their CV to WEFtech@russellreynolds.com.
The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) helps stakeholders harness the potential of technological advancements for the equitable and human-centered transformation of industries, economies, and societies. We provide a strategic and future-oriented platform designed to understand exponential technologies and guide their responsible adoption and global application. Our thematic priorities include understanding innovation, catalyzing industry transformation, improving governance, and building a positive future.
Why we are Recruiting
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other frontier and leading-edge technologies continue to drive the digital economy, we recognize their growing impact and influence on governments, enterprises, institutions, and individuals. While AI continues to converge with fields such as quantum computing, synthetic biology, robotics, and other disciplines, it introduces complex challenges, including issues related to data privacy, bias, responsible design, and risk mitigation.
Understanding the vast economic and societal potential of AI, along with the risks that accompany frontier technologies, the C4IR serves as a trusted platform. Our mission is to foster collaboration across businesses, governments, and civil society to address systemic challenges. The AI team aligns and collaborates with the Forums global network of independent Centres. These independent Centres build on, benefit from, and actively contribute to the Forums Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution initiatives.
The Head of Frontier Technologies is a key leadership position. In this role, you will have the opportunity to strengthen the Forums position as the premier and trusted platform for systems leadership on the most critical emerging and frontier topics. Your responsibilities include delivering significant institutional flagship initiatives, such as the AI Governance Alliance, to achieve significant impact and influence. Additionally, you will establish the Forum as the primary resource for global, multi-stakeholder, agile, and industry-informed consensus-building on AI governance and data policy. You will demonstrate thought leadership on emerging issues, frontier technology, and the broader strategic ecosystem. Moreover, your role involves collaborating with other related World Economic Forum Centres, while contributing insights and modelling the Forums principles and One Forum spirit.
Reporting Lines and Interactions
Although the role is based in San Francisco, it will report to the Head, AI, Data and Metaverse in Geneva, who is a Deputy Head of C4IR. In this role, you will manage a team of staff and intersect with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Become a trusted advisor for internal and external stakeholders through anticipation and knowledge of emerging topics in AI and other frontier technologies.
Originate, build, and oversee strategic multistakeholder initiatives and partnerships with external industry leaders (including CXOs) to shape the global dialogue on AI technology governance frameworks and address industry and societal challenges.
Build and lead global communities of senior leaders and experts from the most relevant stakeholders in the AI and frontier technologies ecosystem. Explore normative challenges and create impactful public-private partnership opportunities.
Increase partner engagement by ensuring deeper integration into global initiatives, adoption of frameworks, stronger collaboration between partners, and advancement of new insights.
Manage, coach, and develop staff. Nurture and promote a healthy, safe, and inclusive working environment for the sharing of ideas and solutions.
Ensure the successful delivery of relevant C4IR summits where network members actively contribute, in order to strengthen the C4IR agenda and community and advance initiatives.
Foster collaboration with internal stakeholders to elevate initiatives and drive impact; engage governments and other constituents in the Centres activities; and capture content and community-building synergies.
- Onboard and advise Fellows in developing recommendations on priority issue areas including regulations, societal implications, and novel institutional approaches.
Represent the Forum externally in an effective and impactful way, through speaking engagements and presentations.
Requirements and Experience
Masters degree preferred in a relevant field such as business, policy, information systems management, etc.
Minimum 10 years of professional experience in management consulting, technology business, government or international organizations in positions covering topics of AI technology and governance, innovation, or technology business strategy.
Staff management experience with culturally diverse, matrixed teams across time zones; abilities conducive to developing staff and maintaining a learning environment.
- Experience designing, developing, implementing, and monitoring complex multistakeholder projects and turning ideas into tangible action and impact.
Demonstrated thought leadership on AI and frontier technologies, knowledge of key actors in these fields and the implications of their strategies in key areas; ability to anticipate key developments and initiatives.
Excellent ability to manage relationships externally and internally.
- Collaborative, agile, and results oriented.
- Ability to write informative and insightful content, with experience creating digital content, research papers, academic articles, or similar.
Strong verbal and written language skills in English; verbal proficiency in other languages would be an asset.
Vaccination requirement
The Forum LLC requires that employees be fully vaccinated with at least one booster against COVID-19 by their first day of employment. The Forum LLC will evaluate all requests for accommodation/exemption from this policy in keeping with federal, state, and local law.
Interested applicants can submit their CV to WEFtech@russellreynolds.com.
Why work at the Forum
The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $230,000.00 - $260,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to Relocate:
- San Francisco, CA 94129: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in San Francisco, CA 94129
