Lead for Counter-AI, Center for the Geopolitics of AGI

RAND•Washington, DC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

RAND’s Center for the Geopolitics of AGI, part of the Global and Emerging Risks Division, seeks a technical and strategic leader for its Counter-AI portfolio. The center helps decisionmakers understand and navigate the national security and geopolitical implications of artificial general intelligence through multidisciplinary research, gaming, and convenings. The Lead will connect emerging technical capabilities with strategic analysis and help develop research initiatives and government partnerships. This senior role combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence with experience directing complex research programs and translating technical developments into actionable insights for national security decisionmakers. The appointment is for three years, with the possibility of renewal and options for longer-term employment. The position is based in Washington, DC, with a hybrid work arrangement combining work from home and on-site options.

Requirements

At least 10 years of significant leadership experience in government research organizations, industry research and development, or major interdisciplinary research programs.
Deep technical expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning, with experience applying that expertise to national security challenges.
Demonstrated success developing and executing research strategies, leading multidisciplinary teams, and overseeing complex research portfolios and budgets.
Proven experience designing, securing support for, executing, evaluating, and transitioning research programs from initial concept to operational use or other demonstrable impact.
Ability to assess emerging AI capabilities and limitations and translate technical findings into implications for strategic analysis, policy, and capability development.
Experience advising senior government or industry leaders on complex technical issues relevant to national security.
Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships across government, industry, and academia, including developing research partnerships and supporting business development.
Experience mentoring program managers, principal investigators, or technical leaders in research design, execution, evaluation, and communication.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced research environment with evolving priorities, define new initiatives under uncertainty, and collaborate across organizational and disciplinary boundaries.
Excellent analytic skills; clear and effective oral and written communication; ability to work effectively on a multidisciplinary team; and commitment to RAND’s values of quality and objectivity.
Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a closely related technical field.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Top Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a chief scientist, research office director or deputy director, or comparable senior technical leader in a government research agency or defense and intelligence research organization.
Research or technical leadership experience in one or more relevant areas, including media authentication and forensics, computer vision, explainable AI, AI-enabled decision-making, information operations, cybersecurity, or secure and resilient systems.
Experience developing government-sponsored research portfolios, including proposal development, government contracting, sponsor engagement, and transition of research capabilities to operational users.
Experience establishing interagency or international research collaborations that advance shared national security objectives.
Record of contributions to the technical research community through publications, conference leadership, peer review, workshops, or other professional activities.
Experience representing an organization at major technical and policy forums and communicating complex research topics through public speaking and media engagement.

Responsibilities

Lead and contribute to research on the geopolitical and national security implications of AGI, translating technical concepts and capabilities into scenarios for strategic analysis and translating strategic analysis into requirements for technical capabilities.
Draft or oversee policy briefs, research reports, options papers, memos, and other written products and briefings for technical and senior policy audiences, including short-turnaround products responding to fast-moving events.
Serve as the interface between technical communities, policy and decisionmakers, and RAND strategic analysis teams for counter-AI projects.
Partner with the Director and Associate Director on business development and represent RAND in meetings with sponsors.
Participate as an intellectual partner and research collaborator with RAND researchers and consultants.
Participate in Geopol meetings with RAND leadership and external partners, review and inform other projects, assist with strategic planning, and recruit talent from across RAND and externally as appropriate.
Maintain general technical awareness of developments in AI and lead internal and external discussions on their implications for U.S. national security and geopolitics.
Contribute technical expertise to Geopol game design and game runs.