Research Director, Homeland Security Program, and Distinguished Chair, Homeland Security Studies

RAND seeks a combination Director, Homeland Security Program and Distinguished Chair, Homeland Security Studies. The Homeland Security Program, housed in the RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment (ISE) division, encompasses RAND research on homeland security issues, including national preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, cyber-security, emergency management, terrorism risk management, security cost-benefit analyses, border security, enhanced capabilities for responders, domestic threat assessments, domestic intelligence, and personnel and training. The program director will build on RAND's extensive work in homeland security and is responsible for leading and guiding the agenda of this program and expanding its business base among domestic and international agencies and firms, consistent with RAND's mission to improve policy and decision-making through objective, independent, and innovative research and analysis. Specific duties of the program director include playing an intellectual leadership role in shaping and guiding the program's research agenda and working with the ISE division leadership on research and business opportunities.

The program director will:

• Identify project leaders and other project staff
• Mentor, develop, and manage the performance of staff working within the program
• Monitor budgets
• Ensure that high-quality products are produced, delivered on time, and that their results are effectively communicated to project sponsors, the broader policy community, and other stakeholders
• Actively collaborate with counterparts in other research programs and divisions at RAND
• Conduct his or her own policy research, with a strong emphasis on one or more aspects of homeland security

The distinguished chair will enable the program director to provide intellectual leadership in homeland security issues across RAND's multiple divisions, programs, and centers. The chair will also enable the program director to contribute to a wide range of other corporate research and development efforts.

Educational requirements: PhD or Master's degree in engineering, a physical or social science, public policy, economics, or related field.

Qualifications:

• The applicant should demonstrate a substantial track record of experience and excellence in academic, government, or policy research settings related to one or more of the policy areas of the program
• Knowledge and understanding of a broad array of current and developing national and international homeland security issues is essential
• The record should demonstrate proof of research and analysis capabilities, securing extramural funding, and broad and deep knowledge of the relevant policy environment
• Candidates must have strong leadership skills and be able to market and manage a research program
• Program director must have exceptional abilities in managing staff and client relationships and in written and oral communication.

Specific technical skills required/preferred: Extensive knowledge of at least one of the target policy areas of the program and technical proficiency in one or more of the following areas: decision analysis, program evaluation, modeling, quantitative or qualitative methods, statistics, and systems evaluation.

Minimum Experience: 10 years

Type of experience required: Advanced leadership and organizational management of programs relating to key homeland security policy issues. Experience developing, marketing, conducting, and producing (documenting) research in at least one of the core areas of homeland security, including national preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, emergency management, terrorism risk management, security cost-benefit analyses, border security, enhanced capabilities for responders, domestic threat assessments, domestic intelligence, and personnel and training.

Security Clearance: Able to obtain U.S. government security clearance

Locations: Santa Monica, Pittsburgh, or Washington, DC

Positions open: One

How to Apply

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