RAND Corporation
Vice President and Director, Global and Emerging Risks Research Division
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, United States
Job Type: Regular
Overview RAND Global and Emerging Risks brings together the world's leading experts, scholars, strategists, and practitioners to understand, prepare, and address rapid advance of artificial intelligence, growing biological threats, a transforming climate, and intensified strategic competition. Its mission is to inform decisionmakers' understanding of - and approaches to - consequential challenges to civilization and global security.
Position Description The Vice President serves as the executive leader for the division and a key contributor to RAND's global strategy. The VP sets and executes the division's strategic vision; ensures research excellence and impact; leads people, partnerships, and financial performance; and represents RAND to senior leaders worldwide. The role oversees research centers focused on catastrophic risks from emerging technologies, global competition, and climate; method centers advancing forecasting and decision‐making under deep uncertainty; and RAND's international policy chairs. The VP also directs the RAND Global and Emerging Risks advisory board.
Position will be managed on a 5‑year term with the possibility to extend up to two additional years. Position reports to the Senior Vice President for Research & Analysis and includes matching AA support.
Responsibilities
Provide executive leadership for all activities of the Global and Emerging Risks division, including strategy, research quality, people, partnerships, and financial performance
Oversee the division's research centers: Center on AI, Security, and Technology; Center on the Geopolitics of Artificial General Intelligence; China Research Center; and Center for Climate and Energy Futures
Oversee RAND international chairs: Tang Chair in China Policy Studies; Taiwan Policy Initiative; Russia and Eurasia Policy Chair; Korea Policy Chair; Israel Policy Chair; and Strategy and Diplomacy Chair.
Oversee the division's method centers: RAND Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition; and RAND Forecasting Initiative
Develop and execute the division's strategic plan, including research priorities, revenue strategy, hiring plans, and talent development
Ensure research excellence, methodological rigor, and alignment with RAND's broader strategic objectives
Collaborate with RAND's U.S. research division leaders to strengthen business development, expand global policy impact, and coordinate government engagement
Represent RAND to senior government officials, heads of state, and international dignitaries as a principal spokesperson on global and emerging risks
Lead donor engagement for the division, including cultivation, stewardship, events, and leadership of the Global and Emerging Risks advisory board
Build and sustain strategic partnerships with government, industry, academia, and philanthropic organizations
Promote adoption of cutting‑edge technologies and methodologies to improve research quality and impact
Qualifications
Exceptional executive management skills, including leadership, interpersonal communication, and teambuilding capabilities
Demonstrated ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams and to coach and mentor senior leaders and researchers
Recognized expertise in at least one of the division's core domains (AI, synthetic biology, China, or climate/energy) and ability to lead across the full portfolio
Strong network of contacts across government, academia, and industry
Proven track record of philanthropic fund raising
Excellent analytic skills, with the ability to oversee research quality, understand diverse methodologies, and articulate RAND's analytical capabilities
Demonstrated experience engaging senior U.S. and international officials
Ability to travel approximately 20% of the time
Education Requirements A master's or other advanced degree is required, ideally in a field related to RAND's programmatic areas.
Experience
Proven senior‑level management experience in a non‑profit research institute or university setting, a for‑profit entity that has significant government client relationships, or government, along with analytical experience
A minimum of 10 years of related experience
Experience developing strategic and business plans is desirable with extensive research and research leadership experience strongly preferred
Experience working with a Board of Directors or Trustees is desirable
Security Clearance Current possession of a U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance, is required.
Location This is a flexible (hybrid) position based at one of RAND's U.S. offices—Washington, DC; Santa Monica, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; or Boston, MA. An average of 50% onsite presence is required.
Application review Application review will begin February 2, 2026.
Salary Range Salary Range: $300,000 - $383,250
Base Salary: $300,000 - $365,000
Full Salary: $315,000 - $383,250
Equal Opportunity Employer
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Overview RAND Global and Emerging Risks brings together the world's leading experts, scholars, strategists, and practitioners to understand, prepare, and address rapid advance of artificial intelligence, growing biological threats, a transforming climate, and intensified strategic competition. Its mission is to inform decisionmakers' understanding of - and approaches to - consequential challenges to civilization and global security.
Position Description The Vice President serves as the executive leader for the division and a key contributor to RAND's global strategy. The VP sets and executes the division's strategic vision; ensures research excellence and impact; leads people, partnerships, and financial performance; and represents RAND to senior leaders worldwide. The role oversees research centers focused on catastrophic risks from emerging technologies, global competition, and climate; method centers advancing forecasting and decision‐making under deep uncertainty; and RAND's international policy chairs. The VP also directs the RAND Global and Emerging Risks advisory board.
Position will be managed on a 5‑year term with the possibility to extend up to two additional years. Position reports to the Senior Vice President for Research & Analysis and includes matching AA support.
Responsibilities
Provide executive leadership for all activities of the Global and Emerging Risks division, including strategy, research quality, people, partnerships, and financial performance
Oversee the division's research centers: Center on AI, Security, and Technology; Center on the Geopolitics of Artificial General Intelligence; China Research Center; and Center for Climate and Energy Futures
Oversee RAND international chairs: Tang Chair in China Policy Studies; Taiwan Policy Initiative; Russia and Eurasia Policy Chair; Korea Policy Chair; Israel Policy Chair; and Strategy and Diplomacy Chair.
Oversee the division's method centers: RAND Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition; and RAND Forecasting Initiative
Develop and execute the division's strategic plan, including research priorities, revenue strategy, hiring plans, and talent development
Ensure research excellence, methodological rigor, and alignment with RAND's broader strategic objectives
Collaborate with RAND's U.S. research division leaders to strengthen business development, expand global policy impact, and coordinate government engagement
Represent RAND to senior government officials, heads of state, and international dignitaries as a principal spokesperson on global and emerging risks
Lead donor engagement for the division, including cultivation, stewardship, events, and leadership of the Global and Emerging Risks advisory board
Build and sustain strategic partnerships with government, industry, academia, and philanthropic organizations
Promote adoption of cutting‑edge technologies and methodologies to improve research quality and impact
Qualifications
Exceptional executive management skills, including leadership, interpersonal communication, and teambuilding capabilities
Demonstrated ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams and to coach and mentor senior leaders and researchers
Recognized expertise in at least one of the division's core domains (AI, synthetic biology, China, or climate/energy) and ability to lead across the full portfolio
Strong network of contacts across government, academia, and industry
Proven track record of philanthropic fund raising
Excellent analytic skills, with the ability to oversee research quality, understand diverse methodologies, and articulate RAND's analytical capabilities
Demonstrated experience engaging senior U.S. and international officials
Ability to travel approximately 20% of the time
Education Requirements A master's or other advanced degree is required, ideally in a field related to RAND's programmatic areas.
Experience
Proven senior‑level management experience in a non‑profit research institute or university setting, a for‑profit entity that has significant government client relationships, or government, along with analytical experience
A minimum of 10 years of related experience
Experience developing strategic and business plans is desirable with extensive research and research leadership experience strongly preferred
Experience working with a Board of Directors or Trustees is desirable
Security Clearance Current possession of a U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance, is required.
Location This is a flexible (hybrid) position based at one of RAND's U.S. offices—Washington, DC; Santa Monica, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; or Boston, MA. An average of 50% onsite presence is required.
Application review Application review will begin February 2, 2026.
Salary Range Salary Range: $300,000 - $383,250
Base Salary: $300,000 - $365,000
Full Salary: $315,000 - $383,250
Equal Opportunity Employer
#J-18808-Ljbffr