Risk Assessment Associate (Youth AI Safety Institute)

Risk Assessment Associate (Youth AI Safety Institute)

Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate for policies to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org. 

The Opportunity

Launched in May 2026, the Youth AI Safety Institute is Common Sense Media's newest addition to its programmatic pillar. The Institute establishes safety standards, builds open-source evaluations that AI developers can run against their models, independently tests AI products, and publishes the results to provide transparency and accountability. It is an independent research and testing ground dedicated to ensuring that the AI used by children is safe and developmentally appropriate. 

The Risk Assessment Associate will support comprehensive evaluations of AI tools and platforms used by children, teens, and educators, working directly under the supervision of a Risk Assessment Analyst. This is a hands-on, execution-focused role centered on research support, systematic testing, data analysis, and report drafting within an established framework and methodology.

Working closely with Institute staff, this position will assist in implementing systematic evaluation processes, conducting technical testing procedures, and contributing to public-facing analysis that shapes industry standards for AI youth safety. In service of understanding risks to children, the Associate will be required to conduct evaluations of a range of sensitive content, including but not limited to mature themes, harmful language, inappropriate sexual content, violence, self-harm, and other potentially disturbing material. As such, the Risk Assessment Associate must possess the professionalism, emotional resilience, and analytical detachment necessary to evaluate disturbing material while maintaining clear boundaries and focusing on child safety outcomes.

Location: San Francisco, California
Reports to: Risk Assessment Analyst
Employment type: Full-time, non-exempt
Salary: $30.00–$38.00 per hour

What You'll Do

Research Execution & Data Analysis

• Conduct systematic prompt testing of AI tools and platforms under the supervision of a Risk Assessment Analyst.
• Conduct literature reviews and background research on AI platforms, including analysis of technical documentation, academic papers, and industry reports.
• Compile and organize large data sets to identify patterns and analyze platform strengths and risks.
• Assist with technical testing procedures.

Content Evaluation

• In collaboration with a Risk Assessment Analyst, evaluate AI-generated content across categories such as age-appropriateness and safety concerns, and document findings, including for sensitive content areas with challenging material related to youth safety.
• Support the development of content evaluation frameworks and testing plans.

Assessment Support & Documentation

• Under analyst guidance, draft sections of risk assessment reports and briefs.
• Clearly document testing procedures, findings, and analysis methods.
• Prepare data summaries and preliminary analysis for inclusion in public-facing reports.
• Support quality assurance processes for assessment accuracy and reproducibility.

Research & Analysis Support

• Synthesize research findings from multiple sources to inform assessment approaches.
• Track emerging AI technologies and their potential impacts on youth safety and education.
• Contribute to research briefs summarizing key background information and known risks.
• Support competitive analysis and market research on AI tools in educational settings.

Project Coordination

• Assist with project timeline management and deliverable tracking across multiple concurrent assessments.
• Contribute to team meetings and strategic planning discussions.
• Present research findings to internal teams and external stakeholders as appropriate.
• Contribute to thought leadership content, including blog posts and policy briefs.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (computer science, psychology, education, public policy, or related).
• Experience: 2 years of professional experience in research, technology, or a related field, with a demonstrated interest in AI safety, child protection, or technology policy.
• Analytical skills: Strong critical thinking and data analysis capabilities.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Technical aptitude: Proficiency with AI tools and platforms, and willingness to learn technical testing procedures.
• Content resilience: Ability to handle sensitive, potentially upsetting content in a professional research context.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with content moderation, trust and safety, or online safety research.
• Background in psychology, education, computer science, or a related field.
• Previous research experience in academic or professional settings.
• Interest in child development and youth protection issues.

What We Offer:

• The chance to work with talented, passionate professionals. 
• A great health and welfare benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, a matching 401(k), and other key benefits.
• An organization that offers work/life balance.
• The opportunity to really make a difference in the lives of kids and families!

Common Sense Media provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected classification or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Common Sense Media will also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. However, job offers are made on the condition that the applicant subsequently passes a criminal background check. If the background check indicates a prior criminal conviction, we will conduct an individualized assessment to determine whether the conviction should result in denial of employment. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.