Principal Research Scientist

CNA•Arlington, VA

About The Position

CNA is hiring a Principal Research Scientist, a recognized expert in a specific field or research area who demonstrates leadership. The role typically leads complex, potentially large projects and carries clear responsibilities for business development and for managing, growing, and enhancing client and sponsor relationships. The scientist works as a senior researcher at CNA headquarters or in the field. CNA brings together professionals from varied academic disciplines, technical specialties, and professional backgrounds, and provides a flexible, collaborative environment focused on scientific, data-driven approaches to helping clients manage their programs. The Principal Research Scientist independently leads high-visibility analytical work, delivers high-quality results, develops staff, and applies deep client and sponsor knowledge to shape new work. The position also leads business development, major projects, communication of complex findings, mentoring, and efforts to strengthen CNA’s reputation through client engagement, publishing, and outreach. The role works under limited supervision from division management and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
Typical minimum of 15 or more years of experience in research and analysis.
Demonstrated ability to apply leading-edge principles, theories, and concepts to solve complex problems critical to clients.
Ability to conceptualize and develop solutions, formulate problems suitable for analytical methods, and develop analytical methods and approaches.
Ability to work in an unstructured environment and identify, evaluate, and propose original, practical ways to resolve complex problems.
Demonstrated ability to supervise program and project operations, including developing procedures, planning and directing efforts, and monitoring and reporting progress.
Demonstrated ability to manage projects, contracts, funds, and resources, and to develop and manage a portfolio of projects serving multiple client organizations.
Demonstrated ability to interact with, communicate with, and advise senior-level government and parent-corporation personnel.
Widely recognized expertise across a broad range of applications and uses of analytical methods.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including experience preparing analytical reports and developing and presenting oral briefings.
Ability to obtain and maintain an active Secret security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for positions requiring access to classified information; continued employment eligibility depends on obtaining and maintaining an active clearance.

Nice To Haves

PhD.

Responsibilities

Independently conduct and lead increasingly complex, non-traditional analytical work of significance to sponsors and clients, consistently producing high-quality analysis.
Lead and support the work and professional development of staff, individually and as part of project teams.
Serve as a recognized expert in a specific research area and use that expertise to strengthen CNA’s reputation with existing clients and sponsors.
Develop and maintain detailed institutional knowledge of clients and sponsors, including their culture, organization, and issues, and use it to shape new work for existing and prospective clients.
Treat colleagues respectfully and fairly; lead collaboration; contribute to and act on supervisors’ vision; support corporate initiatives; and recognize staff contributions.
Independently pursue business development opportunities, develop new clients and sponsors, sustain sponsor relationships, build networks, write competitive proposals, and support marketing.
Influence how clients and sponsors think about issues, contribute to fundamental change, and enhance CNA’s reputation through leadership, publishing, and outreach.
Communicate complex analytical results clearly and concisely in writing and orally to clients and sponsors at all levels, including senior leaders; synthesize large bodies of work into essential findings and engage colleagues across the organization.
Work under limited supervision and lead CNA’s largest, most complex, or most significant projects, or multiple projects simultaneously; connect and integrate work across teams and divisions.
Distribute responsibilities appropriately, mentor and serve as a role model for staff, develop internal and external networks, and support senior leadership initiatives to advance CNA’s goals and vision.
Perform other duties as assigned.