People Operations Associate

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The Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), under the School of Foreign Service, is seeking applications for a People Operations Associate to help expand CSET’s recruitment capacity. Reporting to CSET’s People Operations Manager, the People Operations Associate will strengthen CSET’s candidate sourcing and outreach strategy and execution, take ownership of core recruiting operations, and serve as a thought partner on recruitment process improvement. The People Operations Associate will work ~25 hours each week with a compensated hourly rate of $35 per hour. This is a temporary position with an expected tenure of one year. 

CSET is a research organization focused on studying the security impacts of emerging technologies, supporting academic work in security and technology studies, and delivering nonpartisan analysis to technologists and policymakers. CSET focuses on the frontiers of artificial intelligence, advanced computing, cyber, and biotechnology, as well as security applications, governance, and workforce for emerging technologies.

CSET is located in Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus near Union Station. Members of our team are challenged with meaningful work, offered ongoing opportunities for professional development and learning, and contribute to a collegial and engaging environment where they can thrive. We are deeply committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Responsibilities/Work Interactions

The People Operations Associate will report to the People Operations Manager and will be responsible for:

Recruiting Operations:

  • Managing the CSET Careers general inbox, including triage, candidate correspondence, and response tracking
  • Assisting the People Operations Manager with initial down-selection of candidates for active open roles
  • Serving as an additional point of contact for candidates throughout the interview process
  • Managing logistics for onsite interviews, including scheduling, interviewer coordination, candidate travel, and day-of support

Sourcing and Candidate Pipeline Management:

  • Proactively sourcing candidates for open roles via LinkedIn Recruiter, relevant job boards, University career centers, and other directed outreach
  • Managing and updating candidate information across Workday, Interfolio, and internal hiring spreadsheets
  • Building and maintaining a tagged candidate database from past applicant data to enable rapid re-engagement as new roles open.

Recruiting Analytics & Tools:

  • Assisting with tracking and reporting recruitment metrics, including time-to-fill, conversion rates, and overall pipeline health
  • Benchmarking sourcing and talent acquisition tools and recommending additions to CSET’s recruitment stack
  • Assisting in data collection, analysis, and reporting as needed

Recruiting Process Improvement:

  • Auditing the recruiting lifecycle to identify friction points and eliminate manual steps, including helping  incorporate AI tools and automation into workflows where appropriate
  • Helping update and maintain core recruitment assets such as SOPs, FAQs, and CSET’s Careers page
  • Handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Monitoring trends and developments in AI, ML, biotechnology, and national security policy
  • Upholding CSET’s mission, values, and culture
  • Additional duties as assigned

Requirements and Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, International Relations, Security Studies, or a related field;
  • 1 year of professional work experience; experience in HR, people operations, finance, or policy preferred;
  • Comfort working with data in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel, including filtering, pivot tables, and formulas;
  • Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and sound judgment;
  • Ability to carry on assigned tasks with limited need for supervision;
  • Proficiency with office productivity tools like Google Docs/Sheets, Microsoft Office, etc.
  • Ability to work successfully in a collaborative matrixed/multi-disciplinary environment
  • Motivated, enthusiastic, intellectually curious and self-driven 
  • Alignment with CSET’s mission, values and culture
  • Ability to work in the United States without employer sponsorship

Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated interest or involvement in AI safety, technology policy, or national security;
  • Experience using or integrating AI tools into professional workflows;
  • Familiarity with applicant tracking or recruiting platforms such as Workday, Interfolio, or LinkedIn Recruiter;
  • Prior experience supporting a recruiting or talent acquisition function.

This position is based in the United States and offers no relocation assistance. This position is not eligible for a specialty-occupation sponsorship and, accordingly, this position requires that all applicants be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship from Georgetown University.

This position is designated as hybrid, which means candidates will be expected to work from CSET’s D.C. office 2 days per week.

Application Instructions:
Please note that we only consider complete applications, which include:

  • Resume/CV
  • Cover Letter that addresses the following:
    • Why are you interested in CSET and the People Operations Associate position, specifically?