Research Project Manager, Executive Operations

RAND • California, CA

1d • $75,700 - $145,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

RAND’s Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST) is seeking an Executive Operations Manager to support the Center’s leadership operations. This high-ownership role serves as a connective force across the organization and as a force multiplier to CAST Director Sella Nevo. The position supports the Director’s work across government, industry, Congress, and international governance forums, and contributes to the day-to-day operations of CAST’s San Francisco office.

This is a full-time, three-year term appointment with the possibility of renewal and options for longer-term employment. The position is based in San Francisco, California, with a hybrid arrangement combining work from home and on-site work. RAND is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution founded in 1948. CAST is an 80-plus-person center focused on transformative AI and biotechnology policy and their implications for global competition and security.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of relevant professional experience; experience may include work at research organizations, philanthropy, government, frontier labs, or fieldbuilding programs.
• At least 4 years of experience, as stated in the Experience section.
• Bachelor’s degree minimum, or a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in place of a bachelor’s degree.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills, including the ability to multitask, prioritize independently, and perform under pressure.
• Operational management capabilities and strong problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with large, diverse teams, including junior and senior members.
• Exceptional reliability and attention to detail in demanding environments.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential and personal information, internal deliberations, and details from sensitive meetings.
• A support-minded orientation and enthusiasm for amplifying CAST’s work.
• Proactive execution across a high volume of small, time-sensitive tasks, with reliability to maintain high throughput with near-zero errors.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government clearance is preferred but not required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting organizations during rapid growth.
• Experience in government, think tanks, or industry-leading organizations.
• Experience with research on AI, biology, or information security.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own the Director’s complex agenda and daily flow, coordinating with Administrative Support so the Director has appropriate context, materials, and buffers between activities.
• Manage travel flow for approximately two trips per month, with an Administrative Assistant handling bookings and expense reports.
• Conduct quarterly calendar reviews, identifying meetings that could be delegated and time that could be redirected to the Director’s highest-leverage priorities.
• Support and manage the Director’s participation in RAND-wide processes, including review cycles, quarterly reporting, and board meeting preparation.
• Build and maintain a working CRM of people the Director has met across government, industry, and the AI security ecosystem.
• Support the Director and/or senior technical leads on selected special projects.
• Handle ad hoc requests arising in the course of high-stakes work.
• Draft communications and support meeting preparation as needed.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of CAST’s San Francisco office.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level