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Russia Researcher – Institute for the Study of War

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is seeking a Russia Researcher.

About ISW:

As the world continues to witness the devastating impact of armed conflict, the need for objective, real-time, unbiased analysis has never been greater. When decision-makers need information—from policymakers to humanitarian aid organizations to military leaders on the ground—time and time again, they turn to the Institute for the Study of War.

ISW has a unique, dual mission: to provide real-time intelligence to help leaders make informed decisions in conflict zones around the world and educate the next generation of national security leaders. This work is carried out through the General Jack Keane Center for National Security and the General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders.

Position Summary:

ISW promotes an understanding of war and conflict by providing data and critical analysis to key American political and military leaders. In addition, ISW seeks to educate civilians about war and conflict, thus bridging the gaps between military and civilian decision-makers. ISW aims to improve how the United States formulates and executes its national security policy. ISW is vigilant at monitoring crises around the world and has a track record of accurately predicting potential and actual conflicts. ISW provides a proven platform for emerging researchers and analysts to launch their careers in an innovative and highly relevant project. 

ISW seeks a full-time Researcher to conduct open-source research within ISW’s Russia Portfolio to provide timely and exceptional open-source analysis of the war in Ukraine, the geostrategic dynamics of Russian domestic and foreign policy, and the effects of those dynamics on U.S. national security interests. ISW seeks a talented and self-motivated Researcher with expertise in the war in Ukraine and the drivers of Russian domestic and foreign policy. The Researcher will contribute research and writing to the daily Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment product line, ISW's premier analytical project studying Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Researcher will develop to later publish his or her insights to help identify the risks and opportunities in different policy approaches to the Russia challenge for U.S. policymakers and practitioners. The candidate must be passionate about conducting detail-oriented research on emergent events and demonstrate the ability to manage and mentor a team of research interns supporting the project. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• • Provide expert analysis on dynamic issues within the Russia portfolio, including but not limited to the war in Ukraine, by synthesizing open-source information on political and security developments. 
  • Produce daily Russian Offensive Campaign Assessments. 
  • Capture and analyze granular information on these developments, including implications of regional dynamics. 
  • Work closely with ISW's Geospatial, China, and Middle East teams studying to generate insights into regional and cross-border trends. 
  • Aim to keep policymakers informed about ground situations, inflection points, developments affecting US interests, and potential policy options. 
  • Gain proficiency in data-driven analytic software platforms to support investigations into complex research questions. 
  • Publish findings through timely written and graphical reports and oral briefings. 
  • Provide synthetic research support to long-term projects and forecasts to team members and programs as required. 
  • Coach, mentor, and manage research interns and collaborate with team members. 
  • Help edit and oversee daily and short-form written intelligence products to ensure adherence to institutional analytical and writing standards. 
  • Validate compliance with proper data handling and storage guidelines. 
  • Support weekend and holiday Ukraine war coverage as required by the team. 
  • Work flexible and, at times, unpredictable hours to meet publication deadlines. 

Required education and experience:

• • A bachelor’s degree in a field of study related to the ISW's core mission and research agenda, a master’s degree is preferred; 
  • Professional working proficiency in Russian (minimum 2 years of study). Knowledge of Ukrainian or any languages spoken in the former Soviet Union is a plus; 
  • Demonstrated ability to structure confident analytical arguments with the resilience to collaborate on organizational standards is required; 
  • Strong understanding of Russian political dynamics and military operations, either in an operational context or through research or coursework. A sophisticated understanding of military institutions and military history is a plus; 
  • Exceptional writing skills, proven independent research skills, good initiative, and the ability to collaborate on research projects. Experience writing for a policy audience is a plus; 
  • Eager for professional development in briefing and presentation skills including experience conveying information to senior-level decision-makers and developing public speaking and briefing skills; 
  • Excellent qualitative and analytic skills, and the ability to represent material graphically in team-oriented settings. Some familiarity with quantitative methods, comfort with integrating technology into research, and knowledge of using ArcGIS a plus; 
  • Strong open-source research skills and familiarity with Russian information space; 
  • The dedication and drive to produce policy-relevant research in a timely manner; 
  • Passionate curiosity for ISW’s research agenda and mission. 

Other duties

 Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. To apply, please submit a letter of interest, a CV, and an academic/professional writing sample here.