Director, China Research Center, and Distinguished Tang Chair in China Research
About The Position
RAND Global and Emerging Risks (GER) brings together the world’s leading experts, scholars, strategists, and practitioners to help decisionmakers understand, anticipate, and prepare to navigate the national security and geopolitical implications of consequential challenges to civilization and global security, including the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, the biotechnology revolution, a transforming climate, and intensified strategic competition. Founded in 2024, the China Research Center seeks to equip U.S. and allied policymakers with rigorous, forward-looking analysis on how China projects economic and technological power, with growing focus on the consequences and implications of the drivers, strategies, actions, and capabilities shaping China’s approach to artificial intelligence.
Requirements
- Excellent analytic skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both orally and in writing
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team on projects that are designed for policy impact
- Strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity
- Excellent track record in researching and publishing policy-relevant issues on China and providing insights and recommendations to decisionmakers through experience in government, academia, think tank, or the private sector
- Strong research and analysis capabilities
- Deep knowledge of the China policy environment
- Excellent leadership and organizational management capabilities
- Successful management of a complex research portfolio
- Ability to develop a network for fundraising and research opportunities
- Exceptional abilities in interpersonal relations, managing staff and client relationships, and in written and oral communications
- At least 8 years of research experience
- Experience working and/or engaging regularly with senior government, military, and/or industry
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising and program building
- An active security clearance or the ability to be granted a secret or higher security clearance
- Must be able to access classified material on a regular (multiple times per week) recurring basis
Nice To Haves
- A background in, or prior research on, issues at the intersection of China, technology, and geopolitics
- PhD preferred
- Background in the social sciences, quantitative methods and operational analysis preferred
- 10+ years of research experience desired
- Mandarin fluency strongly preferred
Responsibilities
- Lead and guide all aspects of the center’s work in a manner consistent with RAND’s mission to improve policy and decision-making through objective research and analysis
- Develop and execute the center’s strategic plan
- Define and oversee the center’s research agenda and recruit resident research team and external collaborators
- Develop and sustain relationships with decisionmakers in government and industry, in the United States and allied/partner governments
- Pursue and develop new research and funding opportunities with foundations and donors
- Ensure the quality of the center’s research products
- Collaborate with GER’s Centers and Chairs, and other national security divisions, on China and AI-related research
Benefits
- Health insurance coverage
- Life and disability insurance
- Savings plan
- Paid time-off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
