Regional Program Director Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Job Type:

Overview

RAND Corporation's National Security Research Division (NSRD) is seeking candidates for the Director of the Personnel, Readiness and Health Program (PRH). This position reports to the Vice President and Director of NSRD and is a five-year term appointment, renewable with management approval. Program Director roles and responsibilities are expected to require approximately 80% of time, leaving 20% of the Director's time to conduct their own research.

Prospective PRH Program Directors need to demonstrate an ability to rebuild and sustain relationships with primary sponsors within the Department of War (DOW) and have a plan for energizing PRH's analytic agenda.

With an annual level of effort of ~$10M, PRH's national security projects span the following policy domains:

• Personnel Management. Ensure that the total force remains highly capable and affordable. Rigorous manpower assessments guide the efficient allocation and mix of personnel. Pay and compensation research-including work featured in the Quadrennial Review of Compensation-ensures that DOW can maintain a capable, agile and cost-effective total force amid a growing global demand for specialized skills.

• Readiness. U.S. and allied forces face growing conventional threats in Europe and the Pacific region, even as they continue to confront terrorism. Commanders need to ensure that individuals and units are ready to meet varied but uncertain mission demands, often requiring expanded combat capabilities as well as linguistic and cultural skills. PRH projects address all aspects of force and individual readiness, encompassing unit readiness and data reporting, force education and training, personnel readiness and safety, and force resiliency.

• Support Services and Programs. Defense manpower experts know that "service members enlist, but families reenlist." An extensive set of services-such as education, spousal employment, and quality-of-life programs-are believed to enhance satisfaction with military life and encourage families to "reenlist." Additional services provide support to active and reserve servicemembers transitioning to the civilian labor market from military service. PRH research teams investigate how to improve these services, how to fill unmet needs, and how to determine which services are most cost-effective.

• Health Services and Systems. If the costs associated with operating military health systems continue to rise, the costs will claim a steadily growing share of overall defense budgets. Among the factors at issue are beneficiary cost-sharing arrangements and the costly practices of health care providers. Much can be learned from health system reforms in the private sector. PRH analysts explore the policy options available for managing access, quality, and costs in military healthcare systems.

To conduct this research, PRH draws upon researchers from a range of disciplines including (but not limited to) economics, sociology, psychology, operations research, management science, and research programming. The Program Director, reporting to the Vice President and Director of NSRD, is responsible for developing strong relationships with its research sponsors, leading and guiding the program's research agenda, ensuring that the program's research meets RAND's high-quality standards, and expanding its business base in the U.S. and internationally.The Program Director also assists in recruiting, onboarding, and mentoring RAND staff and supporting corporate and division objectives and initiatives.

The NSRD Program Director must:

• have experience working directly with senior national security officials

• provide intellectual leadership

• have a proven track record in business development

• have national or international recognition as a policy expert in their field

• be able to evaluate and oversee complex, multi-disciplinary analysis

• ensure that briefings, written reports, and other products meet RAND standards for quality and objectivity

• provide advice to the Vice President and Director of NSRD as part of the leadership team

Qualifications

Applicants will demonstrate:

• An excellent research track record in PRH's policy domains evidenced through experience in academia, government, or elsewhere. The record should include strong research and analysis capabilities, deep knowledge of the policy environment,

• A track record of organizational management success, including the ability to build business and to maintain and manage a complex research program. The ability to manage a portfolio of 20-25 projects on time and on budget without sacrificing quality.

• Evidence of excellent strategic leadership and organizational management capabilities.

• Exceptional abilities in interpersonal relations, managing staff and client relationships, and in written and oral communications.

• A strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity

Education Requirements

Ph.D. or Master's Degree in a related field.

Experience

Experience equivalent to RAND senior level researcher (with a minimum of 8+ years required conducting policy research and 10+ years of experience desired), including experience managing complex teams in a client-oriented environment.

Security Clearance

An active Secret clearance is required. Top Secret or Top Secret-eligible is preferred.

Location

Washington, DC. This position is flex, which provides the opportunity for work from home and the office, with at least 50% of days worked on-site at the RAND office required. Relocation assistance may be available.

Salary Range: $171,800 - $268,400

Senior Researcher: $171,800 - $268,400

Hiring ranges for Economists, Management Scientists and Physician Researchers are slightly higher than the range shown.

At RAND, the research program management role is a termed assignment that is performed by an experienced researcher, but the researcher role is not a termed position. The candidate selected for this role will be offered regular employment with RAND as a researcher.RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate's work experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal equity.Successful candidates will be offered employment as a Senior researcher in a specific title, as determined by the candidate's education and experience. The salary range includes base pay plus RAND's sabbatic pay (which provides compensation above base pay when vacation is taken). This position may also be eligible for additional compensation. RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time-off, and more.

Application review

Application review will begin Wednesday, July 1st, 2026

Equal Opportunity Employer