Director, International Security and Defense Policy (ISDP) Program, National Security Research Division (NSRD)

Job Type:

Position Description

One of seven business divisions at RAND, NSRD conducts research and analysis on the most pressing national security challenges for the United States allies, other governments, and foundations. NSRD operates the National Defense Research Institute (NDRI), a U.S. federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) that works with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, combatant commands, defense agencies, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise.

As an international pacesetter in defense and broader national security research and analysis, NSRD helps U.S. and allied leaders overcome seemingly intractable security challenges and manages complex defense institutions. To do so, NSRD builds teams who bring unique perspectives, extensive experience, and diverse skill sets. Our research is objective, fact-based, and data driven. Everything we produce stands up to the highest level of scrutiny, is carefully peer-reviewed, is technically sound, and provides useful, viable solutions.

Within NSRD, the International Security and Defense Policy Program (ISDP) conducts $25M of policy research and analysis annually. ISDP’s research helps U.S. and allied leaders make tough decisions about national and international security. Its work spans the political, military, and economic aspects of global challenges, drawing on the best available qualitative data, quantitative data, and methodological tools. The program helps its sponsors understand and manage security challenges, evaluate the effectiveness of military forces and postures, and build the capacity of allies and partners. ISDP’s sponsors include a wide array of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) organizations, the State Department, U.S. allies and partners, and foundations.

The Program Director is responsible for leading and guiding the research agenda and expanding its business base in the United States and internationally, in a manner consistent with RAND’s mission to improve policy and decisionmaking through objective research and analysis.

Policy domains include:

Understanding the International Security Environment: ISDP research teams continuously analyze the evolving global security environment, using a broad range of techniques and tools to remain on the cutting edge of scholarly and policy research. Diverse ISDP teams arise from RAND’s deep bench of regional, functional, and technical experts, who work closely with global networks of leading government and nongovernment sponsors and contacts.

Developing Defense Strategies and Operational Concepts: ISDP focuses on the most-pressing challenges facing the United States and the world, including potential threats and opportunities relating to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, terrorism, civil war, space, and technological change. ISDP has helped sponsors develop strategies and operational concepts through workshops, gaming, and other cutting-edge methods. Topics include countering advanced Chinese missiles, deterring Russian and North Korean aggression, and targeting terrorist networks through coordinated applications of hard and soft power.

Building Defense Forces and Postures: ISDP has developed specialized tools to evaluate multiple force sizes, mixes, and postures to help policymakers understand key tradeoffs. ISDP has also examined how U.S. competitors are modernizing their military forces to constrain U.S. and allied military power projection.

Advancing Security Cooperation: Security cooperation is an important component of U.S. defense strategy. By applying proven analytical methods, ISDP helps identify opportunities for U.S. programs to improve the ability of allies and partners to operate alongside, or in place of, U.S. military forces. ISDP has a range of tools to assess the benefits and costs of a wide range of security cooperation activities, including allies' and partners' program development and enhancement of their defense institutions and military capabilities.

To conduct this research, ISDP draws on researchers from a range of disciplines, including political science, engineering, economics, sociology, psychology, operations research, management, law, and statistics. The ISDP director proactively adapts the areas of emphasis to stay on the cutting edge of policy issues; identifies growth opportunities outside DoD that leverage the program’s strengths; helps to recruit, retain, develop, and lead researchers; ensures the quality of research; and works externally to enhance the visibility and policy impact of the program.

This is a 5-year term position and is renewable with management approval. Position responsibilities are expected to require approximately 100% of the Directors time.

Basic Qualifications

Applicants should have an excellent track record in policy research in ISDP’s policy domains through deep and wide-ranging experience in a government, corporate or research environment. The record should demonstrate strong research and analysis capabilities, deep knowledge of the policy environment, excellent leadership and organizational management capabilities, and the ability to build business and to maintain and manage a complex research program. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to manage a portfolio of 75-100 projects on time and on budget at the highest level of quality. The director must have exceptional abilities in interpersonal relations, managing staff and client relationships, and in written and oral communications. All staff at RAND must have a strong commitment to RAND’s core values of quality and objectivity.

The Director, reporting to the Vice President and Director of NSRD must:

• have deep experience working directly with senior national security officials

• provide intellectual leadership for program research

• have a proven track record in business development

• have national or international recognition as a policy expert in their field

• be able to evaluate and oversee complex, multi-disciplinary analyses

• ensure that briefings, written reports, and other products meet RAND standards for quality and objectivity

• provide advice to the Vice President and Director of NSRD as part of the leadership team

• have demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) including creating an inclusive environment and working with a variety of people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives across all levels in a collegial, collaborative, and intellectually challenging environment

• assist in recruiting, onboarding, and mentoring RAND staff while supporting corporate and division diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives.

Education Requirements

Ph.D. or master’s degree in a related field

Experience

Experience equivalent to RAND senior level researcher (with a minimum of 8+ years required conducting policy research and 10+ years of experience in government and conducting research is desired), including experience managing complex teams in a client-oriented environment. Federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) experience is a plus.

Security Clearance

Given the nature of research conducted in this program, a current background investigation and an active Secret clearance is required. Candidate must be eligible for a Top Secret clearance.  U.S. citizenship is required to obtain such a security clearance.

Location

Washington, DC; Pittsburgh, PA; or Santa Monica, CA (preference for Washington or Pittsburgh)

Salary Range

Full Researcher: $109,600 - $181,075

Senior Researcher: $145,500 - $251,175

Hiring ranges for Economists, Management Scientists and Physician Researchers are slightly higher than the ranges shown.

At RAND, the research program management role is a termed assignment that is performed by an experienced researcher, but the researcher role is not a termed position. The candidate selected for this role will be offered regular employment with RAND as a researcher. RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate’s work experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal equity. Successful candidates will be offered employment as a Full or Senior researcher in a specific title, as determined by the candidate's education and experience. The salary range includes base pay plus RAND’s sabbatic pay (which provides compensation above base pay when vacation is taken). This position may also be eligible for additional compensation. RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time-off, and more.

Review of applications will begin on December 15, 2023.

Equal Opportunity Employer: race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet