Director, International Security and Defense Policy (ISDP) Program, National Security Research Division (NSRD)

Job Type:

Overview

One of seven business divisions at RAND, RAND’s National Security Research Division (NSRD) develops actionable recommendations driven by analysis to help policymakers address the most pressing security threats facing the United States. Our analytic priorities align with DoD’s evolving priorities, in particular, revitalizing deterrence of great-power aggression, strengthening the US military’s lethality and capabilities, and helping to ensure the readiness of the Joint Force to execute the U.S. National Defense Strategy. Undergirding our research priorities is a deep commitment to fostering the next generation of national security strategists and policy leaders. NSRD operates the National Defense Research Institute (NDRI), a U.S. federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) that works with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, combatant commands, defense agencies, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise.

As a global pacesetter in defense and broader national security research and analysis, NSRD helps U.S. government decisionmakers overcome seemingly intractable security challenges and manage complex defense institutions. To do so, NSRD builds teams who bring unique perspectives, extensive experience, and a wide range of skill sets. Our research is objective, fact-based, and data driven. Everything we produce stands up to the highest level of scrutiny, is carefully peer-reviewed, is technically sound, and provides useful, viable solutions.

Position Description

Within NSRD, the International Security and Defense Policy Program (ISDP) conducts analysis that helps U.S. and allied leaders make tough decisions about national security. The ISDP director is responsible for leading and guiding the analytic agenda and fully engaging key sponsors across its US government business base and internationally, in a manner consistent with RAND’s mission to improve policy and decision-making through objective analytic support.

ISDP draws on researchers from a range of disciplines, including political science, engineering, economics, sociology, psychology, operations research, management, law, and statistics. ISDP teams draw on the best available qualitative data, quantitative data, and methodological tools to deliver actionable recommendations to policymakers. The ISDP director’s primary responsibility is to work with RAND team members to engage a wide range of potential DoD sponsors on their highest-priority analytic requirements and to convert those important conversations into agreed projects that deliver actionable recommendations within relevant policymaking timeframes. Other important responsibilities include proactively adapting the areas of emphasis to stay on the cutting edge of policy issues; identifying growth opportunities outside DoD that leverage the program’s strengths; helping to recruit, retain, develop, and lead RAND team members; ensuring the quality of analysis; and working externally to enhance the visibility and policy impact of the program.

This is a 5-year term position with the possibility of a 2-year renewal with management approval. Position responsibilities are expected to require 100% of the Director’s time.

Qualifications

Applicants should have an excellent track record in defense policymaking and policy analysis in ISDP’s priority focus areas through deep and wide-ranging experience in a government, corporate or research environment. The record should demonstrate strong research and analysis capabilities, deep knowledge of the evolving defense policy environment and Pentagon organizations and processes, excellent leadership and organizational management capabilities, and the ability to build business and to maintain and manage a complex research program. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to oversee a portfolio of 50-75 projects on time and on budget at the highest level of quality. The director must have exceptional abilities in interpersonal relations, managing staff and sponsor relationships, and in written and oral communications. All staff at RAND must have a strong commitment to RAND’s core values of quality and objectivity.

The Director, reporting to the Vice President and Director of NSRD must:

• have a proven track record in business development

• have deep experience working directly with senior national security officials

• provide intellectual leadership for program research

• have national or international recognition as a policy expert in their field

• be able to evaluate and oversee complex, multi-disciplinary analyses

• ensure that briefings, written reports, and other products meet RAND standards for quality and objectivity

• provide strategic advice to the Vice President and Director of NSRD as part of the leadership team

• have demonstrated commitment to working with a variety of people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives across all levels in a collegial, collaborative, and intellectually challenging environment

• assist in recruiting, onboarding, and mentoring RAND staff.

Education Requirements

A Master’s degree in a relevant field is required; a Ph.D. is preferred. 

Experience

Experience equivalent to RAND senior-level researcher, with a minimum of 10+ years required developing policy in the U.S. government or conducting policy analysis in a corporate or research environment, including experience in managing complex teams in a client-oriented environment.

Security Clearance

Given the nature of research conducted in this program, a current background investigation and an active Secret clearance is required. Candidate must be eligible for a Top Secret clearance.  U.S. citizenship is required to obtain such a security clearance.

Location

Washington, DC; Pittsburgh, PA; or Santa Monica, CA (preference for Washington or Pittsburgh)

This position is a flex role, which provides the opportunity for work from home and the office, with at least 50% of days worked on-site at one of the RAND offices required.

Salary Range: $152,700 - $262,500

Hiring ranges for Economists, Management Scientists and Physician Researchers are slightly higher than the ranges shown.

At RAND, the research program management role is a termed assignment that is performed by an experienced researcher, but the researcher role is not a termed position. The candidate selected for this role will be offered regular employment with RAND as a researcher. RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate’s work experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal equity. Successful candidates will be offered employment as a Senior researcher in a specific title, as determined by the candidate's education and experience. The salary range includes base pay plus RAND’s sabbatic pay (which provides compensation above base pay when vacation is taken). This position may also be eligible for additional compensation. RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time-off, and more.

Application Review

Review of applications will begin on Monday, August 4th, 2025

About ISDP

ISDP’s work spans the political, military, and economic aspects of the highest-priority security and defense challenges, with key focus areas including:

Understanding the International Security Environment

ISDP teams directly support policymakers by assessing the evolving global security environment, using a broad range of techniques and tools and drawing on RAND’s unmatched interdisciplinary depth of former policymakers and military officers, economists, regional specialists, operations researchers, technologists, data scientists, and other experts.

Developing Defense Strategies and Operational Concepts

ISDP supports DoD force developers and programmers through specialized tools and frameworks that deepen DoD’s understanding of vulnerabilities to adversary capabilities, from strategic and missile forces to gray-zone activities. ISDP also applies economic assessments to create cost imposition strategies based on strategic opportunities, including accelerated adoption of emerging technologies.

Building Defense Forces and Postures

ISDP has developed specialized tools to help policymakers understand key trade-offs among alternative force sizes, mixes, postures, and concepts of employment. ISDP also examines how U.S. competitors and adversaries are modernizing their military forces to constrain U.S. and allied military power projection.

Advancing Allied Burden-sharing

In support of DoD’s security cooperation (SC) community, RAND maintains a deep bench of global and regional SC experts with deep experience on topics including strengthening allied burden-sharing, foreign military sales reform, and SC workforce issues. ISDP has an array of tools to assess the benefits and costs of a wide range of allied burden-sharing and security cooperation activities, including allies’ and partners’ program development and enhancement of their defense institutions and military capabilities to take a leadership role in regional deterrence against U.S. adversaries.

Equal Opportunity Employer