Russia Researcher

Institute for the Study of War • Washington, DC

191d

About The Position

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is seeking a Russia Researcher to conduct research within ISW’s Russia Portfolio. The Researcher will provide timely and exceptional open-source analysis of the geo-strategic dynamics of Russian domestic and foreign policy and how those dynamics will affect U.S. national security interests. The position involves publishing insights to help identify risks and opportunities in different policy approaches to the Russia challenge for U.S. policymakers and practitioners. The candidate must be passionate about conducting detail-oriented research on emergent events and demonstrate the ability to manage and mentor a team of research interns supporting the project.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in a field of study related to the ISW's core mission and research agenda; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Professional working proficiency in Russian (minimum 2 years of study). Knowledge of Ukrainian, Mandarin, Turkish, or any languages spoken in the former Soviet Union is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to structure confident analytical arguments with the resilience to collaborate on organizational standards.
• Strong understanding of Russian political dynamics and military operations, either in an operational context or through research or coursework.
• Exceptional writing skills, proven independent research skills, good initiative, and the ability to collaborate on research projects.
• Eager for professional development in briefing and presentation skills including experience conveying information to senior-level decision-makers.
• Excellent qualitative and analytic skills, and the ability to represent material graphically in team-oriented settings.
• The dedication and drive to produce policy-relevant research in a timely manner.
• Passionate curiosity for ISW’s research agenda and mission.

Nice To Haves

• Experience writing for a policy audience.
• Some familiarity with quantitative methods.
• Comfort with integrating technology into research.
• Knowledge of using ArcGIS.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert analysis on dynamic conflicts within the Russia portfolio by synthesizing open-source information on political and security developments.
• Capture and analyze granular information on these developments, including implications of regional dynamics.
• Work closely with teams studying China, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Al-Qaeda, Turkey, and ISIS to generate insights into regional and cross-border trends.
• Keep policymakers informed about ground situations, inflection points, developments affecting US interests, and potential policy options.
• Gain proficiency in data-driven analytic software platforms to support investigations into complex research questions.
• Publish findings through timely written and graphical reports and oral briefings.
• Provide synthetic research support to long-term projects and forecasts to team members and programs as required.
• Coach, mentor, and manage research interns and collaborate with team members.
• Help edit and oversee daily and short-form written intelligence products to ensure adherence to institutional writing standards.
• Validate compliance with proper data-handling and storage guidelines.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees