Inside Higher Ed
Executive Director, AI Initiative, Stanford Law School
Inside Higher Ed, Palo Alto, California, United States, 94306
Executive Director, AI Initiative, Stanford Law School
Base pay range: $164,922/yr - $206,189/yr Location: Stanford Law School, Stanford, California, United States Post Date: 1 day ago | Requisition # 107245 About the Initiative
Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly transforming society, and Stanford Law School is at the forefront of assessing its legal, policy, and governance implications. The Initiative on AI Governance and Law is the central law school hub, bringing together faculty, students, and external partners to study and shape how AI is designed, deployed, and regulated across the public and private sectors. It supports collaborative research across disciplines, seeds new projects, convenes leaders in academia, industry, and government, and trains the next generation of lawyers and policymakers in AI governance. We are seeking to hire a full-time Executive Director to provide strategic and operational leadership for this endeavor. The Executive Director will report to Professor Nate Persily and work closely with the steering committee, Stanford Law management, faculty, and external partners. Job Description
As the chief staff officer for the Initiative, the Executive Director will be responsible for advancing the Initiative’s research, teaching, and public engagement goals. Key responsibilities include: Strategic Leadership & Program Development
Help establish, guide, and execute the Initiative’s vision, goals, and long-term strategy. Oversee development, design, implementation, and evaluation of research initiatives, teaching programs, fellowships, and public engagement activities. Devise and implement vision, strategy, goals, and resource development in consultation with the faculty supervisor. Identify emerging issues in AI governance and law and help shape and execute the Initiative’s programming accordingly. Research & Academic Programming
Support faculty research projects, manage shared resources (datasets, research staff, computing infrastructure), and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration. Assist with the development and administration of fellowship programs for postdoctoral scholars and research fellows. Facilitate curricular innovation by coordinating new course offerings, policy labs, and faculty support in AI-related legal domains. Partnerships & Outreach
Represent the Initiative to internal and external stakeholders, including Stanford centers, faculty, and global partners in industry, government, and NGOs. Organize conferences, workshops, and public events to convene leaders at the intersection of AI, law, and policy. Develop and manage communications, including the Initiative’s website, publications, reports, and policy briefings. Development & Fundraising
Work with Stanford Law’s External Relations team to identify and pursue funding opportunities from foundations, government agencies, industry partners, and individual donors. Prepare proposals and reports to sustain and grow the Initiative’s impact. Financial & Staff Management
Lead the Initiative’s operational and financial planning and oversee budgets to ensure sustainability. Develop a staffing strategy for the Initiative. Recruit, mentor, and manage Initiative staff, including data scientists, research fellows, program managers, and technical specialists. Qualifications
Advanced degree or combination of relevant education, training, and/or experience. Typically 5+ years of relevant experience in law, policy, technology, or related fields; JD or equivalent strongly preferred. Demonstrated expertise or significant interest in AI, data science, technology policy, or governance. Experience managing budgets, financial plans, staff, and complex programs or initiatives, including program partnerships and funding sources. Strong record of developing partnerships and securing funding. Exceptional oral, written, and analytical skills. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively in an academic setting. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Strategic vision for building a major academic initiative. Excellent leadership skills and ability to translate between technical and legal/policy domains. Strong mentoring and team-building abilities; familiarity with academic research environments and interdisciplinary collaboration. Commitment to reasonable accommodation of employees with disabilities where required by law. Work Standards
Interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with Stanford colleagues and external organizations. Commitment to responsible, ethical engagement with AI technologies. Promote culture of safety and personal responsibility. Note: The job duties listed are typical examples and may vary. All applicants must pass a background check. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. How to apply
All interested applicants must submit a resume and a cover letter via the Stanford Jobs website and search using job number 107245. The cover letter should describe your interest in the legal profession in general and this position in particular. The pay range is $164,922-$206,189 per annum. Stanford provides pay ranges as good faith estimates; final offer depends on scope of responsibilities, qualifications, and other factors. Additional information: Schedule: Full-time; Job Code: 4116; Employee Status: Regular; Grade: L; Requisition ID: 107245; Work Arrangement: Hybrid Eligible, On Site. Seniority level: Executive Employment type: Full-time Job function: Engineering and Information Technology Industries: Online Audio and Video Media
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Base pay range: $164,922/yr - $206,189/yr Location: Stanford Law School, Stanford, California, United States Post Date: 1 day ago | Requisition # 107245 About the Initiative
Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly transforming society, and Stanford Law School is at the forefront of assessing its legal, policy, and governance implications. The Initiative on AI Governance and Law is the central law school hub, bringing together faculty, students, and external partners to study and shape how AI is designed, deployed, and regulated across the public and private sectors. It supports collaborative research across disciplines, seeds new projects, convenes leaders in academia, industry, and government, and trains the next generation of lawyers and policymakers in AI governance. We are seeking to hire a full-time Executive Director to provide strategic and operational leadership for this endeavor. The Executive Director will report to Professor Nate Persily and work closely with the steering committee, Stanford Law management, faculty, and external partners. Job Description
As the chief staff officer for the Initiative, the Executive Director will be responsible for advancing the Initiative’s research, teaching, and public engagement goals. Key responsibilities include: Strategic Leadership & Program Development
Help establish, guide, and execute the Initiative’s vision, goals, and long-term strategy. Oversee development, design, implementation, and evaluation of research initiatives, teaching programs, fellowships, and public engagement activities. Devise and implement vision, strategy, goals, and resource development in consultation with the faculty supervisor. Identify emerging issues in AI governance and law and help shape and execute the Initiative’s programming accordingly. Research & Academic Programming
Support faculty research projects, manage shared resources (datasets, research staff, computing infrastructure), and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration. Assist with the development and administration of fellowship programs for postdoctoral scholars and research fellows. Facilitate curricular innovation by coordinating new course offerings, policy labs, and faculty support in AI-related legal domains. Partnerships & Outreach
Represent the Initiative to internal and external stakeholders, including Stanford centers, faculty, and global partners in industry, government, and NGOs. Organize conferences, workshops, and public events to convene leaders at the intersection of AI, law, and policy. Develop and manage communications, including the Initiative’s website, publications, reports, and policy briefings. Development & Fundraising
Work with Stanford Law’s External Relations team to identify and pursue funding opportunities from foundations, government agencies, industry partners, and individual donors. Prepare proposals and reports to sustain and grow the Initiative’s impact. Financial & Staff Management
Lead the Initiative’s operational and financial planning and oversee budgets to ensure sustainability. Develop a staffing strategy for the Initiative. Recruit, mentor, and manage Initiative staff, including data scientists, research fellows, program managers, and technical specialists. Qualifications
Advanced degree or combination of relevant education, training, and/or experience. Typically 5+ years of relevant experience in law, policy, technology, or related fields; JD or equivalent strongly preferred. Demonstrated expertise or significant interest in AI, data science, technology policy, or governance. Experience managing budgets, financial plans, staff, and complex programs or initiatives, including program partnerships and funding sources. Strong record of developing partnerships and securing funding. Exceptional oral, written, and analytical skills. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively in an academic setting. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Strategic vision for building a major academic initiative. Excellent leadership skills and ability to translate between technical and legal/policy domains. Strong mentoring and team-building abilities; familiarity with academic research environments and interdisciplinary collaboration. Commitment to reasonable accommodation of employees with disabilities where required by law. Work Standards
Interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with Stanford colleagues and external organizations. Commitment to responsible, ethical engagement with AI technologies. Promote culture of safety and personal responsibility. Note: The job duties listed are typical examples and may vary. All applicants must pass a background check. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. How to apply
All interested applicants must submit a resume and a cover letter via the Stanford Jobs website and search using job number 107245. The cover letter should describe your interest in the legal profession in general and this position in particular. The pay range is $164,922-$206,189 per annum. Stanford provides pay ranges as good faith estimates; final offer depends on scope of responsibilities, qualifications, and other factors. Additional information: Schedule: Full-time; Job Code: 4116; Employee Status: Regular; Grade: L; Requisition ID: 107245; Work Arrangement: Hybrid Eligible, On Site. Seniority level: Executive Employment type: Full-time Job function: Engineering and Information Technology Industries: Online Audio and Video Media
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