Advisor, Biosecurity

Employment. Part-time or Full-time (28h / week or more).

 

About Successif

 

Successif works to reduce global catastrophic risks from AI, including the biosecurity risks AI magnifies. We support both professionals, whether entering or already established in the field, and the organizations working on these challenges, offering personalized coaching, specialized training, and consulting services.

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Our advising program connects professionals considering a career transition with dedicated career advisors who bring expertise in mid-career transitions as well as in AI and biosecurity. Advisors offer strategic guidance and practical support for job searches and help build a supportive community of peers making similar transitions.

 

As a mission-driven organization, Successif is committed to building a diverse field of professionals working on AI risk reduction. The team provides specialized support for women and other underrepresented groups, ensuring all voices contribute to this critical work. We are a team of about twelve people working remotely from four continents.

 

Our culture is built on a foundation of empathy and joy to create a psychologically safe and passionate environment for our team and the people we serve. Our goal is to have a positive and sustainable impact. We achieve this through empowerment, providing individuals with the tools and support to become agents of their own growth. Guiding our work is a commitment to openness - welcoming new ideas and feedback - and fairness, ensuring we value diverse perspectives and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

 

About the Role

 

As a Successif advisor, you will accompany impact-oriented mid-career and senior professionals in their transition towards impactful roles in biosecurity and build the organizational partnerships that help place them.

 

The advising work includes regular meetings and a range of other support tailored to each individual: identifying unique selling points and transferable skills, brainstorming sustainable career paths for maximum impact, expanding their networks, reviewing resumes and cover letters, and helping them draft research proposals and secure funding.

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As the biosecurity specialist on our team, you will also build a network of biosecurity organizations, stay close to the field's hiring needs, and connect qualified candidates directly with partners.

 

In this role, you will report to our CPIO, Naomi Nederlof.

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Responsibilities

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As a career advisor at Successif, you will provide career advising and mentorship to mid-career and senior professionals seeking to transition towards high-impact biosecurity work and build the organizational partnerships that help place them.

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Your responsibilities will include:

• Individual Advising: Conducting advising sessions and regular follow-ups, and designing tailored support for each advisee's transition

• Partnership Building: Building a network of biosecurity organizations, staying close to the field's hiring needs, and connecting candidates with partner organizations

• Field Representation: Representing Successif at conferences and biosecurity events

• Workshops: Co-creating and facilitating workshops for advisees

• Team Collaboration: Joining weekly team meetings on advising progress and future directions

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Qualifications

 

Our ideal candidate will have most of the following:

 

• Communication & Emotional Awareness: Strong communication skills and the sensitivity to support advisees through common obstacles like imposter syndrome, guilt, or fear of the unknown

• Mission Alignment: Strong interest in global catastrophic risks, particularly biological risks

• Network Building: Ability to build a network of relevant biosecurity organizations

• Analytical Skills: Ability to help advisees weigh options, choose the most impactful path, and turn plans into actionable recommendations

• Background: Fast learners from any field are encouraged to apply; experience in biosecurity or a related area (public health, biotech, pandemic preparedness) is a plus

• People Orientation: Empathy for and interest in people from diverse backgrounds

• Independence: Comfort working independently and remotely, with the creativity to shape new projects

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The following qualifications are not required, but will represent an advantage for the candidate:

• Strong biosecurity network, or experience with biosecurity organizations, funders, or policymakers

• Advising, consulting, or public speaking experience

• Having gone through a career transition yourself
   

Preferred Start Date

 

We are willing to be flexible for the right candidate, but would prefer a start date in November 2026. 

 

Job Location

 

This position is remote and can be based in most countries.

 

Most advisees are in the US or Europe, so working hours must allow enough time slots from Pacific Time to Central European Time, with at least a 2-hour overlap with CET working hours preferred.

 

The role involves travel at least four times a year, for team retreats, conferences, and biosecurity events. Willingness to travel more often, particularly to biosecurity hubs and events, is an advantage. 

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

We adjust salaries based on the candidate’s location. The following examples are for a full-time (35h/week) annual salary:

• $112,000 in a high-cost location (e.g., London or the Bay Area)

• $98,000 USD in Paris

• $90,000 USD in Berlin

In rare cases where salary considerations would prevent a candidate from accepting an offer, there may also be some flexibility in compensation.

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In addition to the salary, benefits associated with the role include health, dental, and vision insurance, flexible work hours, an annual wellbeing budget (covering gym access and some mental health support), minimum 8 weeks of parental leave at 100% pay* a personal development budget, home office set-up support, coverage for coworking space costs, and 36 days of paid vacation (including public holidays) or what is compliant with the employment law of your country if it is more than that.

 

*Exact eligibility depends on national-level employment law, but we will do our best to honor this regardless of circumstances.

 

Deadline and Eligibility

 

You can apply here. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but must be received by 30 August.

 

We want the best people and we don’t want biases holding us back. We strongly encourage people of every color, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability to apply. Because we value a diverse workplace, we prioritize an inclusive climate absent of discrimination and harassment during the application process and after you join the team.

 

Application timeline​