Vice President and Director, Global and Emerging Risks Research

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 team-building capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, multi-disciplinary 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 : $300,000 - $383,250

Base Salary: $300,000 - $365,000

Full Salary: $315,000 - $383,250

Equal Opportunity Employer