Director, Navy and Marine Forces Program

RAND•Washington, DC

1d•$171,800 - $268,400•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director for RAND’s Navy and Marine Forces Program (NMF), within the National Security Research Division (NSRD), oversees research execution in keeping with RAND’s mission to improve policy and decision-making through objective research and analysis. NMF supports the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, allied maritime and amphibious forces—including Australia and Canada—and other clients on acquisition, sustainment, personnel, force development, and strategy through systems and cost analysis, modeling and simulation, qualitative research, and other methods. The Director leads the program’s research agenda, ensures research meets RAND quality standards, and builds strong relationships with research sponsors. The role is responsible for business development and program growth, including expanding the sponsor base in the United States and internationally and adapting program emphasis to emerging policy issues. The Director is expected to develop a deep understanding of sponsor needs, strengthen the program’s visibility and policy impact, and provide intellectual leadership. At least 50% of the position is devoted to running the program, with that share scaling as the program grows; the Director engages in research with the remaining time. The program-director assignment is a renewable five-year term, while the selected candidate is offered regular RAND employment as a researcher. The Director also advises the Vice President and Director of NSRD as part of the leadership team and participates in recruiting, mentoring, and staff development. The role is based at a RAND office in Washington, DC; Pittsburgh, PA; or Santa Monica, CA, with a preference for Washington or Pittsburgh. Employees are expected to work onsite an average of 50% of the time, and travel for sponsor engagements is required. A TS/SCI-eligible clearance is required, including the ability to access classified materials and computing networks regularly, multiple times per week.

Requirements

At least 10 years of research experience.
Master’s degree in a relevant field.
Excellent track record in research and analysis in NMF policy domains, gained through experience in an FFRDC, government, academia, or elsewhere.
Robust business-development experience and a record of growing research funding in NMF policy domains and with sponsors.
Deep knowledge of the policy environment.
Excellent strategic leadership and organizational-management capabilities.
Ability to maintain and manage a complex research program and a portfolio of projects on time and on budget while maintaining quality.
Exceptional interpersonal, staff-management, client-relationship, written-communication, and oral-communication abilities.
Experience working directly with senior national security officials, preferably in NMF policy domains.
Proven track record in business development.
National or international recognition as a policy expert in the candidate’s field.
Successful leadership of FFRDC or similar projects, including complex multidisciplinary analysis.
Experience interacting with civilian and military leaders in a project-leader or management role.
TS/SCI-eligible clearance and ability to access classified materials and classified computing networks regularly, multiple times per week.
Ability to work onsite an average of 50% of the time and travel for sponsor engagements.

Nice To Haves

PhD.
Experience with and growing knowledge of artificial intelligence beyond routine use of AI chatbots, ideally including coding agents, Python, and RAND’s AI application programming interfaces (APIs).
Preference for candidates based in Washington, DC, or Pittsburgh, PA.

Responsibilities

Oversee NMF research execution in accordance with RAND’s mission and quality standards.
Lead and guide the program’s research agenda and provide intellectual leadership for research.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with research sponsors and understand their needs and requirements.
Lead business development and program growth, including expanding the sponsor base in the United States and internationally.
Adapt program emphasis proactively to emerging policy issues in the program’s domains.
Enhance the program’s visibility and policy impact.
Manage a complex research program and project portfolio on time and on budget without sacrificing quality.
Translate research findings into compelling insights for policymakers and ensure briefings, reports, and other products meet RAND standards for quality and objectivity.
Advise the Vice President and Director of NSRD as part of the leadership team.
Participate in recruiting, mentoring, and staff development.
Engage in research alongside program management responsibilities.
Travel for sponsor engagements.