Associate General Counsel, AI, Biosecurity, & Emerging Technologies

RAND • Washington, DC

2d • $205,700 - $328,900 • Hybrid

About The Position

RAND’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) seeks an attorney to serve as legal lead for work at the intersection of AI, biosecurity, and national security. The role is the primary legal partner for RAND’s Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST), advising technical teams on novel, fast-moving challenges. It is a hands-on position requiring an operator’s mindset, comfort with legal ambiguity, end-to-end ownership of problems, and the ability to build legal infrastructure. The position reports directly to RAND’s Vice President & General Counsel and offers significant autonomy to shape RAND’s approach to emerging legal questions.

The attorney will partner with technical teams to support programs and develop operational guidelines; draft and negotiate agreements with government, research, and industry partners; advise on technology transactions, emerging technologies, information security, national security law, and export controls; and help establish risk-mitigation processes and governance frameworks. The role also supports engagement with U.S. and allied governments, including matters involving sensitive and classified information. Additional work may include export-control and trade-compliance training, intellectual-property matters, and other areas aligned with the candidate’s skills and interests.

The role is based at RAND’s Arlington, Virginia, or Santa Monica, California, office and requires regular on-site presence at least approximately half-time. Limited case-by-case remote work beyond the standard hybrid arrangement may be considered. Occasional travel to other RAND offices, primarily in the United States, may be required. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance and DHS Fitness; U.S. citizenship is required.

Requirements

• At least nine years of experience as a practicing attorney, with substantive experience advising on technology matters, emerging technology issues, or national security-adjacent legal questions in a government, in-house, or law firm setting.
• J.D. and a license to practice law in good standing.
• If not licensed in the state of employment, must qualify under Supreme Court of Virginia Rule 1A:5 or the requirements for Registered In-House Counsel for California, as applicable.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance and DHS Fitness; U.S. citizenship is required.
• Detail-oriented, able to work well under pressure, and affinity for RAND’s mission.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and ownership, effective partnership with technical teams, and ability to adapt quickly to new questions.
• Ability to provide sound judgment confidently in ambiguous situations.
• Collaborative and collegial, with skill in building consensus among diverse professional groups.
• Willingness to take on novel legal issues that may be outside prior experience.
• Ability to identify priorities and adjust as needed to meet unanticipated needs.
• Ability to travel occasionally to other RAND offices, primarily in the United States.
• Ability to work on-site at least approximately half-time at the Arlington, Virginia, or Santa Monica, California, office.

Nice To Haves

• In-house attorney experience at a technology company, research institution, or intelligence or national security organization.
• Experience working for or with a nonprofit organization.
• Familiarity with biosecurity, frontier AI, or related emerging technology domains.
• Substantive experience with export control regulations (EAR, ITAR) or trade compliance programs.
• Substantive cybersecurity experience.
• Substantive experience with federal government contracting, FAR/DFARS compliance, or government procurement matters.
• Substantive experience in other responsibilities described in the posting.
• Licensure in California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., or New York.

Responsibilities

• Partner with technical teams to structure and support active programs, develop operational guidelines, and address novel legal questions involving national security, technology, and emerging capabilities.
• Draft and negotiate agreements with government and research partners and industry, including research agreements, data-sharing and data-handling arrangements, licensing agreements, NDAs, and technology contracts.
• Counsel on technology transactions and emerging technology matters, including artificial intelligence, digital assets, data acquisition and use, and related privacy considerations.
• Support engagement with U.S. Government and allied government partners, including work involving sensitive and classified information.
• Advise on information security matters and support implementation of security protocols.
• Navigate national security law, export controls, and cross-jurisdictional questions, including personnel and operational considerations.
• Help teams identify and mitigate legal risk, design internal approval processes and governance frameworks, and work with stakeholders to implement solutions.
• Direct outside counsel as required.
• Complete special projects as assigned by the General Counsel.
• Potentially advise and train on export control and trade compliance matters, including ITAR, EAR, and related regulatory frameworks applicable to RAND’s domestic and international activities, including AUKUS.
• Potentially advise on intellectual-property matters, including IP strategy, protection of RAND’s IP assets, patents, and negotiation of IP-related provisions in research and commercial agreements.
• Potentially support other areas of RAND’s work aligned with the attorney’s skills and interests.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Paid time off.
• Sabbatic pay, providing additional compensation above base pay when vacation is taken.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree