About Talk to the City

Talk to the City is an open-source, LLM-based platform for distilling insights from large-scale public input, with previous partners including Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs, international peacebuilding and advocacy groups, and labor unions. The project has rapidly gained visibility in the deliberative technology community, with frequent requests to present our work and help potential partners understand the opportunity it presents. Our ambitious goal is to create a platform for scalable deliberation: capturing the power of citizens' assemblies in mediated space.

Product site    •    Executive summary   •    Presentation (2024)

Position overview

We're looking for a Program Director to lead this project as it grows and gains visibility, acting as product manager and external spokesperson to lead it through its next stage of development.

Talk to the City is one of multiple programs at the AI Objectives Institute. This position reports directly to the Institute's Executive Director and works closely with its Head of Engineering. This is a remote-friendly role, but ideal candidates will overlap at least 4 hours with Pacific Time working hours. Most team members in the SF bay area, and some in the UK/EU.

Responsibilities

Product strategy

• Define vision and strategy for the product's future development, based on needs of key partners, gaps in the ecosystem, and alignment with the organization’s mission

• Collaborate with design team to spec new features, conduct UX research, and understand how best to meet users' needs

• Work with engineering and design teams to prioritize features and manage development timelines

• Coordinate product releases and gather feedback from partners

• Ensure product development supports fundraising and partnership goals
  

Fundraising and external comms

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategy – including partnership revenue, grants, individual donors, and government contracts – and cultivate relationships with key supporters

• Lead media relations, public communications strategy, and social media presence to raise awareness of the project's accomplishments and potential

• Represent Talk to the City at conferences, networking events, and deliberative technology community meetings
  

Partnership strategy

• Build on current partnership strategy to plan partnerships of increasing scope and impact

• Identify and pursue partnership opportunities that highlight the project's capabilities

• Build and maintain relationships with high-impact partners in government agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions
  

Required qualifications

• 4+ years of product management experience, preferably in consumer tech or data analysis platforms

• Fundraising experience and proven track record of securing significant funding ($300K+ rounds or annual grants)

• Demonstrated success in partnership development

• Excellent written and verbal communication, strong analytical and strategic thinking

• Interest in fostering civic engagement and democratic innovation

• Occasional travel to conferences and other events
  

Preferred qualifications

• Startup experience, especially founding team or scaling stage

• Experience in civic technology, social impact, or consumer research

• Background in community engagement or public outreach

• Network within public sector, philanthropy, or relevant NGOs

• Experience with grant writing and foundation relations

• Track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects

• Experience with media relations, PR, or communications
  

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits

• Flexible work arrangements, remote-friendly culture, unlimited PTO

• Professional development opportunities

• Meaningful work with direct social impact

• Collaborative team environment with opportunities for growth
  

Application Process

Please submit an application by filling out the form linked below. We are looking for an immediate hire, so applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.