AI Policy Research Resident, Associate / Specialist

RAND Corporation; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 111,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Sabbatical pay & benefits

Paid time-off

Job summary

CAST, a RAND Center, is hiring in Washington, DC for policy-focused researchers at Associate or Specialist levels. The role emphasizes translating AI and policy research into actionable insights for national security and governance audiences, with a hybrid work arrangement across multiple U.S.

cities. The position requires a strong foundation in AI policy, excellent writing, and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with AI capability trajectories and potential transformative effects.
• Understanding of diverse policy and governance approaches to promote beneficial AI and leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communication for decisionmakers and technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Own research deliverables including design, analysis, literature reviews, and stakeholder interviews.
• Contribute to rapid-response analysis on short timelines.
• Draft policy briefs, memos, and report content for technical and senior audiences.
• Present briefs and reports to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Monitor U.S. and international AI policy, governance developments relevant to national and global security.
• Help shape CAST’s research agenda and support client engagement.

Skills

AI landscape context

AI policy understanding

Analytical writing skills

Policy pragmatism

Mission-driven and adaptable

Communication with policy audiences

US government context familiarity

Technical governance awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

PhD in a relevant field

Master’s degree with experience

Bachelor’s with 5+ years experience

Tools

Policy analysis methods

Research design

Job description

About CAST

CAST is a 75+ person center at the forefront of transformative AI and biotechnology policy and their implications for global competition and security. Our teams work on verification frameworks for international agreements on AI, creating AI data centers that are secure, unlocking energy for AI production, developing models for public-private partnerships between frontier labs and government, and conducting AIxBio evaluations and mitigations, among other initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Own key research deliverables – including research design and methods, technical policy analysis, framework development, literature reviews, and stakeholder interviews – collaborating across multidisciplinary teams within CAST and RAND.


• Contribute to rapid-response analysis on short timelines.


• Draft policy briefs, research memos, report content, and other written products for technical and senior policy audiences.


• Present policy briefs and reports to technical and non-technical audiences.


• Monitor and assess U.S. and international AI policy, legal, and governance developments relevant to national and global security.


• Help shape CAST’s research agenda by identifying emerging policy questions, contributing to project scoping and design, and supporting client engagement.

Qualifications

• All research positions at RAND require excellent analytic skills; the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; the ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; and a strong commitment to RAND’s core values of quality and objectivity.


• Required: AI landscape context: demonstrated familiarity with AI capability trajectories, potentially transformative effects and catastrophic risks of these technologies


• Required: AI policy understanding: demonstrated understanding of a wide range of policy and governance approaches to promote beneficial AI, mitigate associated risks, and promote US and allied leadership


• Required: Strong analytical and writing skills: ability to structure analysis clearly, synthesize evidence from diverse sources, and produce concise, well-argued written products for decisionmakers


• Required: Policy pragmatism: ability to navigate tensions between competing priorities – safety, innovation, competitiveness, feasibility – and contribute to implementable options that account for real-world constraints


• Required: Mission-driven and adaptable: thrives in fast-moving and ambiguous environments, able to deliver quality work on short timelines and with limited supervision


• Preferred: Policy-relevant research or writing: published research, analysis, or commentary on AI or emerging technology policy


• Preferred: U.S. government context: familiarity with U.S. government policymaking processes or experience engaging policy audiences on technology or national security issues


• Preferred: AI technical acumen: familiarity with how AI systems are built, deployed, and secured – including training methodologies, evaluation practices, and technical governance approaches


• Preferred: Quantitative or legal analytical skills that complement the team's existing capabilities

Education and Experience Requirements

RAND is hiring for this role at the Associate and Specialist level of experience. A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required. Relevant fields include: Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy, Engineering Physics, Information Security, Information Technology, International Relations, Law, Machine Learning, Mathematics, National Security Policy, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Public Policy or Administration, Security Studies, Technology and Policy, or similar. Minimum requirements for an Associate are: A PhD in a relevant field. OR A Master’s degree in the fields listed above with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience. OR A Bachelor’s degree in the fields listed above with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience. Minimum requirements for a Specialist are: A PhD in the fields listed above with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience. OR A Master’s degree in the fields listed above with at least 6 years of relevant professional experience. OR A Bachelor’s degree in the fields listed above with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience. Higher levels of education (e.g. PhD, JD, Master’s) or experience are preferred.

Location

We are actively hiring for this position in Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; Santa Monica, CA; and Pittsburgh, PA. Washington, DC is our preferred location for this role.

Hybrid Work Arrangement

We offer a hybrid work arrangement combining work from home and on-site options, and will also consider fully remote work within the U.S.

Term and Working Hours

Term This position is a 3-year term appointment with a possibility of renewal, alongside options for longer term employment. We are seeking full-time candidates.

Salary Range

Salary Range: $110,900 - $183,300

AI Policy Resident, Associate = $110,900 - $152,500

AI Policy Resident, Specialist = $126,400 - $183,300

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 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 additional compensation above base pay when vacation is taken).

Benefits

• In addition, RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time-off and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

RAND is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.

RAND’s research and analysis address issues that impact people everywhere, including security, health, education, sustainability, growth, and development.

RAND has approximately 1,750 people working in offices in the United States, Europe, and Australia, with annual revenues of $470 million.

RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest.

Our research is sponsored by government agencies, international organizations, and foundations.

We rely on philanthropic support to pursue visionary ideas; address critical problems that are under-researched; and devise innovative approaches for solving acute, complex, or provocative policy challenges.

RAND values objectivity and integrity in both its research processes and internal interactions.

We emphasize a collegial environment that respects the contributions and dignity of all staff.

RAND's reputation is built on quality and objectivity.

RAND provides an exciting intellectual environment and opportunities for career growth with challenging assignments.

As collaboration in interdisciplinary teams is an essential operating principle at RAND, we hire highly qualified talent and empower our people to do their best work by fostering a culture in which different views, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued and respected, and staff have a sense of belonging with their colleagues, fair access to opportunities, and feel comfortable bringing their best selves to work each day.

As part of our commitment to Equal Opportunity Employment, we welcome all applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences to apply for this exciting opportunity.

RAND is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.