About Current AI

Current Al is a first-of-its-kind global public-private partnership that brings together governments, foundations, and the private sector to build public interest AI at scale. Launched at the AI Action Summit in Paris in 2025, the organisation has already raised hundreds of millions through partnerships with the French government, AI Collaborative, and other leading governments, philanthropic, and industry partners.

 If AI is the transformative revolution we perceive it to be, it needs to serve the public interest today and tomorrow. At Current AI, our goal is to help build a collaborative, collective, and global vision for AI, not one governed by a specific country or a company.

Today there are builders and researchers around the world developing public interest AI building blocks(datasets, models, compute, audits and applications), but efforts are not always co-ordinated or additive. To have a genuine shot at being an alternative, we must harness the full breadth of work happening across open source and public interest AI. That means helping transform individual, decentralised initiatives into a coherent Public Interest AI movement, and helping unblock builders via funding or tool development or connecting efforts together.

Role Overview

As the second most senior leader, reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will be the architect of Current AI’s operating model and the steward of its growth and resources.

This is a foundational executive role responsible for translating Current AI’s mission and strategy into a lean, resilient, and high-performing global organisation. The COO designs operating systems that are rigorous by default but lightweight by design - enabling fast decision-making, efficient execution, and responsible deployment of significant public and philanthropic funding in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

As a close thought partner to the CEO, an operating leader and the organisation’s internal anchor, the COO ensures that Current AI is operationally excellent, compliant, and well-governed, while avoiding unnecessary process or friction. The role exists to help the organisation move quickly with confidence, not to slow it down.

The COO will be responsible for operations and growth. They will build and lead a multidisciplinary leadership team of ~10 senior functions spanning operations, finance, legal, people, partnerships, and external relations -setting clear decision rights, accountability, and interfaces so teams can act autonomously, coordinate effectively, and adapt as the organisation evolves.

What you’ll do

The COO will oversee all non-programmatic, operational aspects of a global organisation, including supporting Current AI’s transition toward international organisation status in France, and building the world-class infrastructure and high-performing global teams to support global impact.

Be the CEO’s strategic and operating partner‍

• Serve as the CEO’s closest partner on organisational strategy, operating design, prioritisation, and execution.
• Translate strategy, fundraising objectives, and Board direction into clear operating plans, resourcing decisions, and delivery timelines.
• Act as the organisation’s internal anchor, enabling fast, confident decision-making and execution at scale.

Build and lead a high-performing operating organisation

• Accountable for operational budget and resource allocation.
• Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary team covering Donor Relations, Government Relations, Partnerships, Finance, Legal, Talent/HR, Operations, and Compliance.
• Set clear decision rights, interfaces, and accountability across functions to enable autonomy without fragmentation.
• Foster a strong, collaborative culture grounded in transparency, accountability, ethical stewardship, and low ego.

Enable and accelerate fundraising and external credibility, lead partnerships

• Own the operational backbone of fundraising, ensuring Current AI is institutionally ready to raise and deploy capital at speed.
• Partner closely with the CEO, Head of Donor Relations, and Head of Government Relations to:
  
  • Prepare funder-ready operating plans, budgets, governance structures, and reporting.
  • Support complex, multi-stakeholder fundraising efforts across governments, foundations, and institutional partners.
• Ensure strong follow-through, compliance, and reporting that builds long-term funder trust.

Design for operational excellence —with speed

• Design and implement a scalable operating model that is rigorous by default and lightweight by design.
• Put in place systems, processes, and policies that balance compliance and control with the agility required of a fast-moving, startup-phase organisation.
• Lead annual and multi-year planning cycles, including budget development, approval, and tracking against strategic goals and KPIs.
• Continuously adapt the operating model as the organisation grows and the AI ecosystem evolves.

Steward financial and institutional resources

• Oversee the effective management of $400M+ in public and philanthropic funding (direct and aligned), ensuring financial sustainability, integrity, and compliance with donor and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure strong financial visibility, controls, and decision support for the CEO and Board.
• Oversee procurement, vendor management, and contract negotiations to ensure value for money, transparency, and ethical sourcing.

Governance, risk, and compliance

• Work closely with the GeneralCounsel and Compliance Officer to establish and maintain a robust framework for governance, legal compliance (including GDPR, employment law, and global regulations), and risk management across all operations.
• Ensure audit readiness and best-in-class reporting that maintains the confidence of funders, governments, and partners.
• Oversee all procurement, vendor management, and contract negotiations to ensure maximum value, transparency, and ethical sourcing.
• Support the transition to a formal Board of Directors, including governance design, processes, and reporting.

What we are looking for  

Must-haves

• 15+ years of leadership experience, having held titles such as COO, Deputy Director, Managing Director, CEO or equivalent, ideally gained in both high-growth technology/startups and complex non-profit or international organisations.
• Experience in leading teams of 30+ people (including external partners/ contractors) across different countries with multi-jurisdictional compliance.
• Has built and scaled a sizeable organisation of ~€30 million+ in revenue/ funding, not just managed inherited structures.
• Proven experience developing and implementing organisational infrastructure (e.g., financial systems, legal frameworks, HR policies)
• Track record of fiduciary responsibility, governance, and compliance best practices, preferably within an international context dealing with both public and philanthropic funding.
• Comfort operating in politically and culturally complex, multi-stakeholder environments, ideally with experience working with governments and philanthropies.
• Exceptional communication and cross-cultural leadership skills; demonstrated ability to interact with CEOs, Boards, funders, and senior government officials.
• Fluent in both French and English.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in international organisations, foundations, or public-private partnerships
• Direct experience working in or closely with the AI, technology, or public interest sectors.

Character traits

We are looking for a leader who can serve as the connective tissue of Current AI. You should be someone who:

• Puts the mission before personal credit: Impact-led to the core, you are committed to delivery, finding professional fulfilment in achieving goals, no matter your own recognition. ‍
• Thrives in the details but speaks in simplicity: You have a natural ability to dive into complex operational mechanics and synthesize clear, actionable paths.‍
• Puts partnership before competition: Highly collaborative and low ego, you fortify those around you, creating operational disciplines that allow others to lead from their strengths.‍
• Builds amidst ambiguity: You enjoy building from scratch and are comfortable making high-stakes decisions with imperfect information.‍
• Protects the critical path: You have the judgment to know when to push back or say ‘no’, ensuring the organisation stays aligned and focused.
• Moves fluidly between strategy and execution: You are just as comfortable architecting a three-year roadmap as you are rolling up your sleeves to fix a broken internal process. ‍
• Does the "unglamorous" work: You believe AI must serve the public interest and do all you can the behind-the-scenes to make that a reality. You don’t care if a task is ‘big’ or ‘small’.

The offer

We’re committed to ensuring that team members are supported, well-compensated, and able to thrive. Compensation will be competitive and benchmarked against global mission-driven organisations of similar scale inFrance.

Expected Salary Range: €225k-€275k depending on experience and location

How to apply

Please attach a covering note answering the following question in no more than 750 words in total:

‍What makes you well‑suited to be Chief Operating Officer of Current AI, and why are you motivated to pursue this role?

In your response, you may wish to reflect on:

• Your experience building, scaling, or operating organisations or programmes in complex, mission‑driven or multi‑stakeholder environment
• Your approach to operational leadership, including governance, finance, people systems, and execution under public or funder scrutiny.
• How you view the role of a COO in partnership with a founder/CEO, board, and senior leadership team
• Why Current AI’s mission resonates with you personally, and what draws you to this role at this moment in your care

Equal opportunity commitment

Current AI is committed to ensuring equal access to employment and preventing all forms of discrimination. All applications will be reviewed fairly, without regard to origin, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religious beliefs, views held, or any other criteria unrelated to professional qualifications. Selection will be based solely on skills, experience, and suitability for the role.

Current AI does not accept unsolicited applications from recruitment agencies with whom we do not have a signed agreement. Current AI will not be liable for any fees or commissions in the event that a candidate submitted in this manner is subsequently hired.

Please note that this search is being led by Egon Zehnder, who will be reviewing all applications on behalf of Current AI.