Principal Liaison for Tristan Harris (Open Now)
About Center for Humane Technology (CHT)
CHT's mission is to realign technology with humanity's best interests. We are dedicated to leading a comprehensive shift toward technology that strengthens our well-being, strengthens society and democracies, and builds a shared information environment. Our primary focus is on AI product development and deployment, and driving a more humane future with AI. Through our work we build shared understanding, drive coordinated solutions, and empower leaders to act.
Learn more at humanetech.com
About The Principal Liaison Role
We are seeking a Principal Liaison to directly support Tristan Harris, Co-Founder of CHT, and public intellectual. Tristan’s work spans research, writing, public speaking, managing high-value relationships, special projects, and fundraising.
The Principal Liaison will support Tristan in the prioritization, management, and execution of all his activities across these multiple domains of CHT work to ensure he is being as strategic and effective as possible, as well as coordinating activities between Tristan and the rest of the CHT organization, especially the Executive Director and the Chief Operating Officer.
Additionally, the principal liaison will act as a thought and execution partner: attending meetings and events alongside Tristan, summarizing interactions, managing follow-ups, and ensuring that his unique connections and exposure are strategically channeled and aligned to maximize impact with the broader organization.
An ideal candidate will already be familiar with CHT’s mission, and have experience working as a Project Manager, junior Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant or related position – someone with a strong ability to create structure in dynamic, uncertain environments, who feels comfortable as a liaison across many high-touch relationships and maintaining confidentiality with sensitive information.
Additionally, since this role will require accompanying Tristan on international travel to world stages, speaking engagements, conferences and event support with spikes of intensive work, an ideal candidate has both the flexibility to react to uncertain schedules, and the ability to structure and negotiate work patterns to maintain clean work-life balance. You can think about the intensive work sprints like a political campaign or tour of duty.
As with other executive support roles at CHT, this role directly reports to the Chief Operating Officer to ensure coordination and cohesive execution across the executive team, with a dotted-line reporting structure to Tristan Harris.
Watch this video to learn more about the role.
Responsibilities
Time Management and Organization:
Balance the demands on Tristan’s attention from both internal and external sources (CHT’s strategic priorities and long-term goals, team and external partner needs, and inbound requests) and optimize his time allocation accordingly.
Manage Tristan’s internal work time, create the agenda, be present for co-working as needed.
Collaborate with the Director of Scheduling to track, review, and prioritize all upcoming meetings, documents to review, speaking/consultation requests, and closing loops with stakeholders.
Maximize Tristan’s capabilities including tracking, preparation for meetings and of materials, follow-ups, helping with comms, identifying and proposing solutions to bottlenecks, etc.
Maintain sync between Tristan and CHT’s leadership team including Daniel (the ED), Julie (the COO).
Strategic Project Management:
In collaboration with the Director of Scheduling, track Tristan’s high-level CHT priorities and ensure his calendar reflects those priorities.
Inform and collaborate with Tristan’s Director of Scheduling.
Create action plans and track milestones for his high-level goals.
Conduct retroactive assessments of his output and use of time; propose structures to improve.
Review, categorize, vet, and respond to inbound offers and requests for engagement.
Develop, align, and pitch proposals to CHT leadership for new projects on a quarterly basis.
Manage existing project scope changes, and other organizational support needed in collaboration with CHT leadership.
Work with CHT leadership to ensure visibility and alignment of initiative development between Tristan and the organization.
Relationship Management and External Comms:
Track follow-up actions and considerations from meetings.
Attend meetings and multi-day events where relevant, track discussions and follow-ups.
Organize and manage time, projects, and task delegation and execution of follow-ups.
Lead relationship management, tracking touch-points, follow-ups etc, ensuring strategic connections are established with project and departmental leads across the organization.
Draft responses to emails, and identify key issues needing org alignment.
Intellectual Content Assistance and Media Prep:
Assist Tristan in drafting and editing of key intellectual content.
Collaborate with CHT comms team and leadership to ensure coherence in messaging.
Rehearse delivery of key talks, stage shows, and create key milestones for rehearsal maturity leading up to large talks and media events.
Help media prep / talk-track crib sheets prior to interviews & panels.
Team engagement and collaboration:
Closely coordinate with CHT executive team members to facilitate communication, status updates, and task delegation on their behalf.
Identify and deliver updates and reports to team members.
Identify and resolve conflicting demands for Tristan’s time and attention internally, resolving any conflicts or miscommunications.
THIS ROLE IS IDEAL FOR YOU IF YOU…
Embrace working in mission-driven organizations, on vitally important challenges that serve the public interest.
Are inspired by playing supportive roles where you are a highly trusted confidante.
Are proactive, thoughtful, and highly competent with high emotional, logical, political, and interpersonal intelligence.
LOVE bringing order to chaos and operationalizing ways of working. You excel at tracking tons of details and are excited about organizing messy data in ways that will be useful to Tristan.
Are often told you’re a fantastic, creative problem solver who skillfully navigates roadblocks and empowers others
Show intellectual humility, nuanced thinking, and cultural sensitivity engaging diverse perspectives and viewpoints. Can comfortably say, “I don’t know” and then go find out.
Have a knack for clear, compelling communication — whether drafting emails or pulling together polished presentations — and ideally bring some experience in media, public speaking, or strategic communications.
Often play the role of trusted confidante and can handle sensitive information.
A WEEK IN THE LIFE
Employment Details
Terms: Full-time. Because of the dynamic and intensive nature of this role, we are hiring for an initial 9-month “tour of duty”, with the opportunity to extend on mutual agreement. As with every position at CHT, employment is offered on an at-will basis; either party may conclude the relationship at any time.
Compensation: $120-140,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Location: Northern California Bay Area with partial remote work possibility. Requires travel to conferences, approximately 3-4 weeks per quarter.
You must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Please note that we are unable to sponsor any prospective employees for visas.
Skills & Experience
4+ years of professional work experience, preferably in a fast-paced work environment
2+ years of experience as Chief of Staff, Project Manager, Executive Assistant, XO for a military officer, or related position, preferably in mission-driven organizations
Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of managing multiple tasks and priorities effectively
Ability to hold multiple perspectives on complex and polarizing issues, avoid political capture, and stay above the fray
Demonstrated expertise in cultivating a strong, collaborative, values-driven culture
Proficient in developing high-impact presentations (e.g. Keynote, Google Slides), and preparing briefing materials for media appearances, panels, or keynote events.
Demonstrated ability to bring the best out of unique visionary leaders, including time structuring and engaging in clarifying dialogue in order to assess complex situations and tradeoffs
Adaptable, collaborative, and emotionally intelligent; adjusting effectively to complexity and changing conditions
Great ability to listen and discuss ideas to get to their best stage
Passion for CHT's mission and demonstrated experience on values-aligned work
Demonstrated commitment to creating a more humane world
CHT encourages individuals of all learning styles, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for this position. Additionally, research has shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for roles unless they believe they meet all of the qualifications. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described as we are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to supporting this work.
The Center for Humane Technology is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace in which everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. CHT recruits, employs, compensates, and promotes without regard to race, religion, age, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, color, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, creed, physical or mental disability, or any other factor declared unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local law.
