Associate Director, Homeland Security Research Division - Santa Monica, United States - RAND

Description

Job Type:

Overview of HSRD

The RAND Homeland Security Research Division is responsible for all homeland security related research for federal, state, and local clients as well as grantors and donors. Within the Homeland Security Research Division, the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC) is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), operated by the RAND Corporation under contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). HSOAC conducts studies and analysis for federal sponsors. HSOAC provides DHS with subject-matter expertise, analytic rigor, and timely analysis to support operations, policy development, and decision-making for DHS and its partners across the Homeland Security Enterprise as they address complex challenges in preventing terrorism, managing U.S. borders, enforcing and administering immigration laws, safeguarding cyberspace, and strengthening national preparedness and resilience.

Position Description

The Associate Director assists the HSRD Director in managing all aspects of the Division, represents HSRD in internal and external RAND functions, and meets with key Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clients as needed.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Represent HSRD internally and externally, in the absence of the Director.
• Assist the Director in liaising with the DHS S&T FFRDC Program Management Office for matters related to HSOAC policies, outreach across DHS, and interactions with DHS S&T occurring through the Program Management Office to ensure the appropriate program directors are engaged as necessary.
• Take primary responsibility for coordinating external visits to HSRD.
• Assist the Director in leading the development and implementation of strategic planning efforts.
• Provide support and assistance to program directors, as necessary.
• Serve on Global Research Talent committees relevant to HSRD.
• Develop overall expertise and understanding of HSRD research, sufficient to represent the collective HSRD research across DHS and refer external inquiries to the appropriate program directors.
• As delegated by the Director, serve as primary division reviewer for all research and publications produced in the Division.
• Provide review for research and publications authored by the Director.
• Work with Director, Operations and QA Director to update, maintain, and enact division polices such as the division management plan, business continuity plan, and quality assurance plans, as necessary.
• Provide backup to Director, Operations and consultation on division policy, as necessary.
• Review and approve staff development requests.
• Work with general counsel to identify and address potential conflicts of interest.
• Assist with the coordination of outreach meetings.
• Assist with the coordination of HSRD DEI efforts.
• Assist with the coordination of HSRD brownbag and speaker series
• Oversee the DHS and USCG Fellows program. This includes:
  • assisting DHS with the fellow recruitment and selection process;
  • establishing program policy;
  • overseeing and approving orientation program;
  • assigning appropriate sponsor/mentors to each Fellow;
  • ensuring that Fellows are engaged appropriately in research;
  • coordinating and hosting monthly Conversations meetings;
  • approving seminar briefing topics, reviewing briefing and promoting attendance among RAND staff;
  • reviewing Fellow evaluations for Director's signature; and,
  • providing input and counsel to individual Fellows.

This is a 5-year, renewable term position, with management approval, providing 50% coverage, with additional coverage for leading studies and special assignments within HSRD.

Desired Qualifications

• Willingness to focus efforts, commitments, and time to DHS clients and HSRD.
• Proven discretion and experience with challenging interpersonal situations that might include HSRD sponsors or internal RAND staff.
• Willingness and/or demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively across internal RAND divisions / departments.
• Willingness to serve as primary interface on RAND internal process working groups.
• Willingness and ability to actively engage with senior DHS leadership in a way that builds their confidence in RAND as a trusted partner.
• Willingness to be responsive to the DHS's needs, including managing research that is time sensitive. This includes the need to travel regularly, particularly if not in the Washington, DC area.
• Knowledge and ability to pro-actively build new client relationships and maintain constant, close interaction with HSRD sponsors.
• The ability to manage RAND-sponsored research, including cross- Division topics.
• The ability to link HSRD research with other relevant divisions / departments.
• Evidence of excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, including a commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion and a willingness and ability to further HSRD DEI efforts.
• Experience working with DHS is preferred.

Education Requirements

Master's or PhD in a related field.

Experience

Experience equivalent to RAND senior level researcher is desired (approximately 8+ years of experience conducting policy research at RAND or another institution).

Security Clearance

Active secret or top-secret clearance and the ability to obtain DHS Fitness.

Location

Washington, DC; Pittsburgh, PA; or Santa Monica, CA. This position is flex, 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

Senior Researcher: $152,700 - $262,500

Hiring ranges for Economists, Management Scientists and Physician Researchers are slightly higher than the range 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, June 3rd, 2024.

Equal Opportunity Employer: race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet