Senior Research Associate and Manager

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

The John

F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one of 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting‑edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match.

When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference.

The Belfer Center seeks a Senior Research Associate to support Graham Allison, the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at the Harvard Kennedy School and Director of the Belfer Center’s Avoiding Great Power War Project, in conducting in‑depth research on international security issues and supervising the collaborative activities of a small research team.

The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs is the hub of Harvard Kennedy School's research, teaching, and training in international security and diplomacy, environmental and resource issues, and science and technology policy. In 2021, the Belfer Center was named a “Center of Excellence” by the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, in recognition of the Center’s six consecutive years as the world’s #1 university‑affiliated think tank.

The Center has a dual mission: (1) to provide leadership in advancing policy‑relevant knowledge about the most important challenges of international security and other critical issues where science, technology, environmental policy, and international affairs intersect; and (2) to prepare future generations of leaders for these arenas.

We believe that creating a diverse and inclusive organization is central to our ability to achieve our mission. It is our goal to promote historically underrepresented groups within our organization and within the fields of science and international affairs.

The Senior Research Associate will play a leading role in:

• Supervising Professor Allison’s team of approximately 4 researchers, including setting research and publication priorities with Professor Allison and delivering on targets; coordinating team’s workflow; and maintaining high standards across all research and publications.
• Conducting research on specific international security topics and producing in‑depth analytic research memos, eventually building deep expertise in their area(s) of responsibility.
• Contributing to internal and external publications such as research reports, op‑eds, academic articles, and book chapters.
• Leading team’s processes, including hiring staff, managing team’s financial reporting and grant writing, and supporting the Belfer Center’s activities, as needed.
• Overseeing the planning and research for high‑level events, including private working groups and large public events.
• Other related job duties, as required.

• Master’s degree in public administration, public policy, political science, international relations, or a closely related field is required.
• 3+ years related work experience performing research (quantitative or qualitative) required.
• Supervisory experience.

• Prior experience in an academic or think‑tank and/or working for a senior principal (public or private sector) setting is a plus.
• Candidates should be mature self‑starters with sound judgment; have the capacity to work with a wide range of individuals and manage both up and down; and have the ability to manage a variety of tasks/research projects simultaneously.
• Significant knowledge of, and interest in, current international security issues; exceptional writing skills; basic quantitative…