Vice President and Director, Global and Emerging Risks Research Division

Job Type: Regular

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 decision makers’ understanding of – and approaches to – consequential challenges to civilization and global security.

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.

• 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

• 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

A master’s or other advanced degree is required, ideally in a field related to RAND’s programmatic areas.

• 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

Current possession of a U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance, is required.

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 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