Director, Political Economy of AI and New Technologies

The Global Fund for a New Economy (GFNE) seeks a Director, Political Economy of AI and New Technologies to develop and execute a multi-layered, global strategy. This role will work in service of the dual priorities of GFNE: 1. Securing funding to expand the ecosystem; and 2. Establishing a robust infrastructure for the sector. In order to do this, this position will bring a series of sub-strategies to life, spanning a range of geographies, methods, and domains. We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate significant leadership and expertise in issues relevant to political economy, AI, and new technologies, bring strong network and relationship-building skills, and provide the energy and drive necessary to inspire and bring life to this ambitious agenda. About the Global Fund for a New Economy (GFNE) Founded in 2024, the Global Fund for a New Economy (GFNE) is dedicated to building an economic system that benefits all people, protects our planet, and strengthens democracy. GFNE partners with leaders, changemakers, and innovative organizations to provide the strategic funding, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to drive this transformation. As a remote-first organization, GFNE is committed to building a global team rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We value a wide range of perspectives and strive to foster a collaborative, inclusive workplace culture that aligns with our mission. Our work spans partnerships with think tanks, community organizations, academic institutions, labor unions, and advocacy groups, building a global movement for a sustainable and democratic economy. With founding support from the Hewlett Foundation, Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, and the Omidyar Network, GFNE is prioritizing efforts in ten countries: Brazil, India, the United States, South Africa, Kenya, Germany, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Mexico, and Indonesia. Our current focus areas include exploring the economic opportunities and challenges of the green transition and addressing the impact of AI and emerging technologies. Specifically, GFNE will invest in field building, mobilize resources for the ecosystem, and support partner organizations through catalytic grants and strategic and operational support. We invite those who share our commitment to a sustainable, inclusive, and equitable economy to join us in this transformative work. About the role This position will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive, multi-layered global strategy focused on public interest and political economy issues surrounding AI and emerging technologies. The strategy will encompass key objectives, including socializing a political economy analysis of AI and new technologies, regulating the concentrated power of the technology sector, protecting democracy, advancing a public interest agenda for AI, addressing the impacts of these technologies on economic inequality, job quality, and working conditions, and strengthening labor's position as a vital counterbalance on behalf of the public interest. Additionally, it will tackle the environmental and energy consumption challenges posed by data centers and other infrastructures that support AI and digital technologies. This role directly contributes to the dual priorities of GFNE: 1. Securing funding to expand the ecosystem; and 2. Establishing a robust infrastructure for the sector. The Director, Political Economy of AI and New Technologies will work with the Co-Presidents of GFNE and other senior colleagues to raise funds and to devise and execute a series of strategies to advance the agenda in concert with other functional teams within GFNE and the Chief Economist, to whom this role reports. The role inherently will involve a lot of collaboration internally and externally. We are building out a new field in many respects or combining and reimagining extant fields in new forms. Given the nascent nature of both GFNE and this work, we will be posting this position as a one-year opportunity with the possibility of extension or revision to the role relative to the evolving structure and needs of the organization and work program.

Founded in 2024, the Global Fund for a New Economy (GFNE) is dedicated to building an economic system that benefits all people, protects our planet, and strengthens democracy. GFNE partners with leaders, changemakers, and innovative organizations to provide the strategic funding, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to drive this transformation.