Associate Director of Operations, CAST

RAND • Washington, DC

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

RAND’s Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST) is seeking an Associate Director of Operations to lead the center’s core operations, including strategic planning, recruiting, and key stakeholder management. CAST is the merger of the TASP Center on AI policy and the Meselson Center on AI security and biosecurity. In less than three years since those centers started, we’ve grown to about 75 full-time staff and published key research in each of those three areas, including on Securing AI Model Weights, Verifying International Agreements, Unlocking AI Energy Production, and Policy Options to Prevent the Creation of Mirror Life.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in operations and organizational leadership, including in high-stakes, fast-paced environments.
• Experience managing teams of at least 10 people.
• Experience advising on goals for organizations of at least 30-100 and making key strategic decisions around focus areas, personnel, and execution processes.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational structures.
• Exceptional communication skills and ability to engage effectively with a wide range of diverse stakeholders.
• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, public policy, political science, or similar discipline.

Nice To Haves

• Experience as a COO, Director of Operations, and/or Co-Founder of rapidly growing organizations.
• Background in government, think tanks, or industry-leading organizations.
• Experience with research organizations in AI policy, biosecurity, or cybersecurity.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government clearance is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Partner with CAST senior leadership to drive strategy, execution, and growth.
• Oversee CAST’s operations, including recruiting, finance, procurement, communications, events, and operational improvements.
• Direct the work of 10 operations and administrative staff.
• Develop effective collaborations with internal RAND teams, across Talent, HR, Finance, and Communications.
• Represent the Program and its interests in engagements with a variety of internal and external stakeholders

Benefits

• health insurance coverage
• life and disability insurance
• savings plan
• paid time-off
• sabbatic pay (which provides additional compensation above base pay when vacation is taken)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees