Director of Development

About FirstPrinciples:
FirstPrinciples is a non-profit organization building an autonomous AI Physicist designed to advance humanity's understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. Our goal for the AI Physicist is to achieve a breakthrough that unifies quantum mechanics & general relativity and to explain the deepest unresolved phenomena in our universe by 2035. To do this, we're pioneering a new approach to scientific discovery by creating an intelligent system that can explore theoretical frameworks, reason across disciplines, and generate novel insights. We're a non-profit that operates like a tech start-up by moving quickly and continuously iterating to accelerate scientific progress. By combining AI, symbolic reasoning, and autonomous research capabilities, we're developing a platform that goes beyond analyzing existing knowledge to actively contribute to physics research.

Job Description:
We're seeking an exceptional development & fundraising leader with the vision, network, and deal-making prowess to secure the resources needed to revolutionize scientific discovery. As our Director of Development, you'll craft and execute a bold funding strategy that attracts visionary philanthropists, forward-thinking foundations, and ambitious government partners. This role is perfect for someone who can translate groundbreaking scientific potential into compelling funding opportunities and has a track record of closing transformational deals.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Fundraising Leadership:

• Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy targeting multi-million dollar commitments from diverse funding sources.
• Build a portfolio approach balancing major gifts, foundation grants, government funding, and innovative financing mechanisms.
• Create compelling narratives that position FirstPrinciples as the highest-impact funding recipient in the future of science.
• Design metrics and accountability frameworks that demonstrate tangible progress toward scientific breakthroughs.

Major Donor Cultivation & Stewardship:

• Identify, cultivate and build deep long-term relationships with high-net-worth individuals, science foundations, research institutions, philanthropists, government funding agencies and institutional donors.
• Lead and organize exclusive donor engagement initiatives, exclusive funder events, and private donor roundtables.
• Develop impact reports showing how donor contributions directly accelerate specific scientific discoveries.

Institutional Funding Excellence:

• Identify and secure large-scale, multi-year grants from major science foundations (e.g., Simons Foundation, Kavli Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation, etc.).
• Navigate complex government funding mechanisms (NSF, DARPA, NSERC, ERC, Horizon Europe) to access research grants.
• Structure and negotiate complex agreements that align donor incentives with FirstPrinciples’ mission to accelerate scientific discovery.
• Expand FirstPrinciples' access to government research funding, impact-driven venture funding, and global science funding programs.

Deal Architecture & Negotiation: 

• Structure and negotiate funding agreements and deal structures with sophisticated funders.
• Manage due diligence processes with new funders and foundation partners.
• Create funding syndicates that bring together multiple funders around shared scientific missions.

Scaling Growth & Team Development:

• Over time, build and lead a world-class fundraising team, including grant writers, donor relations managers, and institutional fundraising specialists.
• Work closely with FirstPrinciples’ leadership team to align funding strategies with overall growth objectives.
• Design scalable fundraising processes, CRM systems, and funder engagement strategies.
• Foster a culture of urgency, excellence, and scientific passion within the development team

Qualifications:

• Proven success in enterprise-level sales, account management, business development, or strategic fundraising, ideally with experience in high-growth startups, deep-tech, or scientific/AI-related industries.
• Track record of closing large, complex deals (multi-million, multi-year commitments) with urgency and persistence.
• Strong existing network of funders, science philanthropists, and AI/physics research investors.
• Experience in fundraising for scientific institutions, AI research labs, or breakthrough technology initiatives.
• Familiarity with research institutions, scientific discoveries, and the AI funding landscape.
• Demonstrated passion for physics and for making scientific knowledge accessible and impactful.

Application Process:

• Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, a cover letter detailing their qualifications and vision for the role, and references. Please include "Director of Development" in the cover letter.

Join us at FirstPrinciples and be a part of a transformative journey where science drives progress and unlocks the potential of humanity.