Assistant General Counsel,AI,Emerging Technologies,& Strategic Agreements

RAND Corporation; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 177,500 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Paid time-off

Sabbatical pay

Job summary

The RAND Corporation is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to join their Office of the General Counsel. This role involves advising on technology transactions, particularly those relating to AI and emerging technologies, and requires a minimum of six years of experience in the legal field.

Responsibilities include drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, advising on intellectual property matters, and managing legal risks. The successful candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment and have a strong commitment to RAND's mission.

The position supports a hybrid working model, based in Washington, D.C.

Qualifications

• 6+ years as practicing attorney in technology transactions and intellectual property.
• Detail-oriented and excellent under pressure.
• Collaborative and skilled at building consensus.

Responsibilities

• Advise on technology transactions and legal issues regarding AI.
• Draft and negotiate various commercial agreements.
• Identify risks and implement solutions.

Skills

Technology transactions

Intellectual property

Commercial agreements

Legal problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

J.D. and licensed to practice law

Licensure in California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C., or New York

Job description

Job Type: Regular

Assistant General Counsel, AI, Emerging Technologies & Strategic Agreements

The RAND Corporation's Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking a highly motivated, professional attorney to join our Legal Strategy & Advancement Team as the Assistant General Counsel focusing on AI, Emerging Technologies & Strategic Agreements.

Opportunity Summary

Reports directly to the Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. Core responsibilities include:

• Technology transactions involving AI and other emerging technologies;
• Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, IP agreements, and licensing arrangements;
• Helping develop new ways of leveraging RAND's IP;
• Addressing novel challenges as they arise.

We are seeking an attorney with:

• Practical experience using AI tools to provide timely, accurate legal advice, with a continuous improvement mindset and enthusiasm for exploring new AI capabilities;
• A focus on helping clients identify risks and opportunities, and on finding innovative solutions to problems;
• Comfort with wearing multiple hats and building legal infrastructure from the ground up;
• Passion for the legal subjects on which the attorney advises.

About RAND OGC

We are a high-performing team of talented legal professionals that support the entire enterprise – everything we do is for the purpose of enabling RAND to deliver on its mission. While each team member has specialist skills, we are also intellectually curious generalists who engage across the full range of issues and opportunities experienced by RAND.

RAND OGC has three levels of attorney positions: Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, and Associate General Counsel, reflecting progressively increasing levels of established skill, experience, and responsibility.

The Role

• Advising on technology transactions and emerging technology matters, including artificial intelligence, digital assets, data use, and related legal issues affecting RAND's research and operations;
• Drafting, negotiating, and managing a wide range of commercial agreements, including licensing agreements, NDAs, vendor agreements, technology agreements, and similar transactions;
• Advising on intellectual property matters, including IP strategy, protection of RAND's IP assets, patents, and negotiation of IP-related provisions in research and commercial agreements;
• Advocacy with research sponsors on behalf of RAND in conjunction with research division leadership, including periodic in-person visits to sponsor locations;
• Collaborating with the Director of Contracts and other RAND operations personnel to establish and update high-quality, agile processes for the review and negotiation of contracts and agreements;
• Proactively identifying risks and working with stakeholders to design and implement solutions;
• Tasking and directing outside counsel as required;
• Advising staff on compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
• Special projects assigned by the General Counsel.

Other responsibilities may include:

• Advising RAND's Development function with respect to the terms of charitable gifts and grants;
• Advising and training on export control and trade compliance matters, including ITAR, EAR, and related regulatory frameworks applicable to RAND's domestic and international activities, including AUKUS;
• Advising on federal government contracting matters, including FAR/DFARS compliance and related procurement issues.

Qualifications

Required:

• At least six (6) years of experience as a practicing attorney with a substantive combination of experience in technology transactions, intellectual property, commercial agreements, or related transactional areas;
• Detail-oriented, works well under pressure, and has an affinity for RAND's Mission;
• Proven problem-solver who takes ownership of assigned areas of responsibility;
• Demonstrated ability to confidently provide sound judgment even in ambiguous situations;
• Collaborative, collegial, and skilled at building consensus with diverse professional groups;
• Demonstrated desire to take on increasing levels of responsibility and confidence to engage in novel legal issues that may be outside prior experience;
• Ability to identify priorities and adjust as necessary to meet unanticipated needs;
• Ability to travel occasionally to other RAND offices (primarily in the U.S.).

Preferred / "Plus" Factors:

• Experience working in-house for a technology company, research institution, or organization engaged in emerging technology work;
• Experience working for (or with) a non-profit organization;
• Substantive experience pertaining to any of the following:
  • Federal government contracting, FAR/DFARS compliance, or government procurement matters;
  • Export control regulations (EAR, ITAR) or trade compliance programs;
  • Cybersecurity;
  • Any of the "other responsibilities" described above.

Education & Licensing

J.D. and licensed to practice law (in good standing). If not licensed to practice law in the state of employment, must qualify under the Supreme Court of Virginia's Rule 1A:5 or the requirements for Registered In-House Counsel for the State of California (as applicable). Licensure in California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C., or New York is a plus.

Security Clearance

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance and DHS Fitness. Accordingly, U.S. citizenship is required.

Location

This role is based in either RAND's Arlington, VA (Washington DC area) office or Santa Monica, CA (Los Angeles area) headquarters and is eligible for RAND's hybrid work environment. Candidates should expect to work from a RAND office about three days per week on average.

Salary Range: $177,500 - $235,000

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. The salary range includes base pay plus RAND's sabbatical pay (which provides additional compensation above base pay when vacation is taken). In addition, RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time‑off and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer