Expression of interest: role · OC-ROLE-2026-001
Research Director, Responsible AI Deployment Lab
A new Australian foundation. An independent Australian foundation in establishment, using responsible AI to reduce social inequality and lift socio-economic mobility, productivity, healthcare quality and household wealth. It will have an independent-majority board. Its name is shared with shortlisted respondents once they agree to keep it confidential.
Lead the foundation's in-house research: testing and monitoring real AI deployments in charities, schools and community health services, and publishing independent evidence.
Context. The Deployment Lab is the foundation's flagship program. Its pilot opens in February 2027 and its research is the basis of the foundation's application to become an Approved Research Institute. The role starts as a part-time contract and becomes a permanent leadership role from mid-2027.
Why it matters. Guidance on responsible AI is plentiful; hands-on checks of specific deployments are not. This role builds the evidence that tells frontline organisations what works and what harms.
What we're looking for
- Doctoral-level applied AI or computer science research with a publication record
- Research ethics and governance experience
- Ability to work with charities, schools and clinicians, not only labs
- Understanding of disadvantage and inclusive practice
Scope
- Design the Lab's testing and monitoring methods
- Build a team of 2–7 researchers as funding grows
- Run research agreements with universities, keeping control of results with the foundation
- Support the Approved Research Institute certification
How responses are assessed
- Research record (30%)
- Applied deployment experience (25%)
- Leadership (15%)
- Understanding of disadvantage and inclusion (15%)
- Communication (15%)
Timeline
- Applications close, 5pm AEDT: 2026-12-11
- First interviews: 2027-01-12
- Final panel: 2027-01-22
- Offer: 2027-01-29
Responses are confidential and assessed by a panel against the published criteria.