PAI Program Initiative Fellowship: Methods for Inclusion


The Partnership on AI (PAI) is seeking a Fellow to create and pilot a series of processes and methodologies that enable PAI to systematically include diverse perspectives into all of PAI’s research and policy work, especially those that are otherwise under represented in both PAI’s Partner community and the AI ecosystem. The Fellow will work with PAI staff across the partnerships, research, and policy teams and will report to the Program Lead for ABOUT ML. The Fellowship will begin Summer 2020 and last for 9-12 months. 


Background

While AI technology holds potential promise to generate great value, who benefits and who is further marginalized by AI is arguably one of the most critical questions of our time. An essential aspect of ensuring that AI technology does not differentially harm certain communities is building more sustainable and robust channels of exchange between the people building and deploying the technology and the people most impacted by it. With this fellowship, PAI hopes to contribute to the body of knowledge of how to better ensure that the communities and individuals that are most adversely affected by AI can be meaningfully and nonextractively engaged in the design, deployment, and governance of those AI systems so that not only is more value is created for all parties, but that value is also shared back to the communities. Through using PAI’s programs as a testing ground, PAI aims to turn the findings from this fellowship into a resource that all PAI Partners can turn to in order to better build bridges to communities that are otherwise not consulted in their technology development and deployment processes.


This is an invitation to collaboratively drive emergent work at the intersection of technology and society. Successful candidates will thrive in entrepreneurial environments, create structure and definition as needed, and navigate ambiguity with patience and optimism.


The PAI Fellow will have the ability to further scope and shape the project to achieve the following deliverables and activities as well as additional goals that may emerge as the project proceeds.

Key responsibilities and deliverables include:

  • Help to shape PAI’s community engagement strategy by mapping stakeholders impacted by current PAI projects against currently engaged stakeholders to create a prioritized view of the perspectives least likely to be consulted but most likely to be impacted by PAI work and PAI Partner work, analyzing gaps to help inform an overall strategy, and forging new community  relationships as part of executing this strategic expansion of partner engagement

  • Build out the Partnership on AI’s capacity for implementing the University of Washington’s Tech Policy Lab’s Diverse Voices methodology

    • Lead in logistics for recruiting, facilitating, and analyzing results from Diverse Voices panels for ABOUT ML in early 2021

    • Create training materials for PAI to conduct Diverse Voices process for other projects

  • Design and pilot additional methodologies to solicit expertise, input, and feedback from prioritized and underrepresented perspectives. These methodologies should aim to lower the barrier to entry for these communities. They can be inspired by value-sensitive design and could include creating an experiential expert bureau, surveys, and convenings. Activities will include:

    • Landscape analysis of existing known methods for including underrepresented perspectives, drawing from value-sensitive design, participatory action, and other relevant disciplines

    • Work with other departments and PAI Partners to design pilots to test within PAI’s existing programming, including protocols, timelines, and measurement and evaluation

    • Lead implementation and evaluation of pilots within PAI programs

    • Write up findings and learnings as resources to be shared within PAI and PAI’s Partner community


Preferred qualifications:

  • Expertise using qualitative and quantitative social science research methods and user-centered design methods (ideally also value-sensitive design)

  • Prior experience with the Diverse Voices methodology and/or running focus groups

  • Practical experience in program design and evaluation

  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with wide variety of stakeholders

  • Ability to shape research insights into protocols for practical implementation

  • Excellent written and spoken communication skills

  • High cultural competency and comfort engaging with a wide range of communities, especially those which are historically or currently marginalized and disempowered

  • Fluency in multiple languages a plus


PAI is a fast-paced organization that often requires quick turnarounds, so initiative and efficiency is critical for success in this position. Because of the varied and dynamic nature of PAI’s multistakeholder research projects, the ideal candidate should have experience working on projects with diverse and stakeholders. 

 

PAI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  We celebrate diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment in all aspects of employment, including recruiting, hiring, promoting, training, education assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, and all privileges and conditions of employment.  Employment decisions at PAI are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.


PAI will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance or similar laws.

The Partnership on AI may become subject to certain governmental record keeping and reporting requirements for the administration of civil rights laws and regulations. We also track diversity in our workforce for the purpose of improving over time. In order to comply with these goals, the Partnership on AI invites employees to voluntarily self-identify their gender and race/ethnicity. Submission of this information is voluntary and refusal to provide it will not jeopardize or adversely affect employment or any consideration you may receive for employment or advancement.  The information obtained will be kept confidential.  


Application Materials:

1.    Resume and/or CV

2.    Cover Letter that includes one way you would recommend PAI consider soliciting feedback from vulnerable communities and incorporating it into our work. 

3.    3 References [name, title, email, phone]

Applications for this job posting will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

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