We're Hiring! Research Advocate

Ever wondered what the meaning is in the songs of whales, in the chirping of the birds in your garden, or in the ultrasonic communications of bats? You’re not alone…

Earth Species Project (ESP) is a non-profit dedicated to using AI to solve these questions. We believe the exponential progress we’re seeing in AI offers new ways of looking at the world and expanding the ability of human beings to learn from other species. Our hope is that this will make a significant contribution to altering human perspective on how we relate to the rest of nature.

ESP partners with biologists and machine learning researchers at leading universities and institutions around the world, and we are honored to be supported by many forward-looking philanthropists and groups, including Reid Hoffman, Waverley Street Foundation, the Paul G Allen Family Foundation and the National Geographic Society.

As we continue to grow, we’re seeking a talented Research Advocate to foster external understanding of ESP’s technology, our research projects, organizational strategy and partnerships. This  role is also responsible for managing a cohort of early end-users. This role is pivotal in ensuring our models and tools are not only understood but adopted and celebrated by the research community and the broader public. This role will involve translating complex technical concepts and data into easily digestible written and visual content – and, in doing so, helping to build credibility and convey a clear and strong sense of our voice and brand identity. 

The ideal candidate will exhibit impeccable communication and organizational skills, have a passion for science and technical storytelling, a deep understanding of our technology and research approach, and be comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced and dynamic startup environment.

Level: Mid-Level to Senior 

Location: Remote, with travel required ~once/quarter year for team retreats, conferences, and in-person strategy & planning meetings within departments

Reports To: Director of Communications

Key Responsibilities:

Bridge Research and Organizational Strategy

• Work with research and communication teams to develop strategy and execution plan to increase adoption of ESP models and tools with end-users (ethologists, conservation biologists)
• Embed with the AI team to translate complex research outputs into accessible formats, including high-quality written and visual assets. Examples include: blog posts, GitHub documentation, grant reports and other research updates, compelling data visualizations, demos and presentations, abstracts, posters, donor materials, website content, social media posts, FAQs, and more. 
• Collaborate closely with the communications team to align research insights with broader outreach strategies.
• Collaborate across departments to improve the speed and clarity of internal communication regarding recent technical milestones.

Community Engagement and Technical Advocacy

• Serve as the technical liaison between ESP’s research team and its end users, particularly ethologists studying animal communication.
• Identify and engage beta testers for ESP’s models, managing the testing process and integrating feedback to improve usability and functionality
• Discover and highlight new and valuable use cases for ESP’s tools and models.
• Build and manage ESP’s community of technical contributors and collaborators. 
• Track and report on user adoption of our models and provide recommendations on new ways to encourage and support adoption.

Content Creation and Visual Communication

• Develop approachable and compelling content that showcases ESP’s research, including technical blog posts, user guides, and whitepapers.
• Create simple, beautiful technical illustrations to accompany research papers, presentations, and public-facing materials.
• Design and implement (or work with front-end developers to design and develop) intuitive, responsive front-end interfaces that make complex AI outputs accessible to non-technical users.
• Develop and maintain web-based applications that showcase ESP’s research, ensuring usability and accessibility for a diverse audience.
• Work closely with the research and engineering teams to align front-end development with project goals and scientific needs.

External Engagement

• Represent ESP at conferences, webinars, and workshops, sharing insights into our work and advocating for its adoption within the broader research community.
• Work closely with the impact team to support in the development of relationships with key partners, collaborators, and stakeholders to strengthen ESP’s network and impact.

You Will Bring

• Strong technical expertise in machine learning, data science, NLP or a related field, with the ability to understand and explain foundational AI and bioacoustics concepts.
• A demonstrated ability to think outside the box and design creative solutions that make complex technologies accessible and engaging.
• Strong track record of effective scientific communication across multiple written and visual formats (demonstrated via portfolio) for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with tools for documentation and technical content creation (e.g., GitHub Pages, Markdown, Figma, or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to manage and engage technical communities, including beta testers or contributors.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, prioritization and project planning skills, and the ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Impeccable attention to detail and an eye for written style and visual design.
• Demonstrated ability to write, review, and edit for grammar, style, voice, technical accuracy, and coherency.
• Proficiency with software tools (including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), as well as with publishing content via standard social media platforms, including LinkedIn, X, and BlueSky. 
• Experience developing highly polished deliverables with visual design elements, such as illustrations for slide decks, posters, and social media posts, either independently or supported by a designer.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (PhD/Master's) in a computer science field or communications.
• Strong proficiency in front-end development technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js.
• Experience creating interactive visualizations or dashboards to represent complex datasets.
• Familiarity with UI/UX design principles and best practices.
• Experience in ethology, bioacoustics, sociobiology or a related scientific domain
• An interest in and passion for the natural world 
• Proficient with visual design tools like Adobe, Keynote, Canva, Figma 
• Familiarity with the open-source community and related tools

We are a fully remote team, and you can be located anywhere in the world, but will ideally be willing to work East Coast U.S. working hours or GMT, with expectations to occasionally participate in virtual meetings outside your typical working hours.  Additionally, you must have the willingness to travel internationally (<20%) for events and in-person team gatherings.

Benefits

• $100,000-$120,000 USD depending on the level of seniority
• Medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance - ESP covers 100% of the premium
• 401k plan with match (if based in the United States)
• 2,000 USD home office stipend
• Unlimited paid time off, with a recommended minimum of three weeks per year
• Flexible working hours
• Regular team retreats around the world

ESP is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, and criminal history, consistent with legal requirements. We encourage folks of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

If you require any accommodations, please email us at jobs@earthspecies.org, and we’ll work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

Please submit your application by clicking the link below. Interviews will begin in late January 2025, and we will be in touch with selected candidates at that time.

Apply here