Director of Research & Editorial Innovation

fdd; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care coverage

Job summary

FDD is seeking a full-time Director of Research in the Washington, DC area to lead the Research Department, supervise analysts, and publish widely in a chosen area of expertise. The role blends leadership with rigorous scholarship and coordination with the communications team.

The director will advance AI-enabled research, manage high-volume workflows, and ensure publications meet the highest standards of quality and impact on policy and national security.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. preferred or equivalent research training.
• 8–15 years of professional research experience; 2+ years in policy-facing roles in the federal government are a plus.
• Broad expertise in foreign affairs and national security.
• Advanced editing and professional writing skills.
• Ability to manage high-volume editorial workflows with multiple authors.
• Familiarity with AI tools for research and analytical rigor.
• Strong public speaking and media interview abilities.
• Leadership, empathy, and collaborative workplace values.

Responsibilities

• Lead the FDD editorial team and ensure quality across publications.
• Manage editorial workflow for short- and long-form works.
• Supervise and develop FDD's research analysts and writers.
• Facilitate adoption of AI tools for original research with rigor.
• Coordinate with the communications team to publicize research via media.
• Conduct and publish research in a chosen area of expertise.
• Produce research with tangible impact on U.S. foreign policy and national security.
• Balance concurrent appointment as Research Fellow or Senior Fellow.
• Develop deep expertise aligned with FDD's mission; no single required specialization.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Academic research

Policy analysis

Public speaking

Editing skills

AI in research

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. preferred or equivalent training

Comparable research background

Tools

Agentic AI tools

Job description

FDD is seeking a full-time Director of Research in the Washington, DC area to lead the Research Department, supervise analysts, and publish widely in a chosen area of expertise. The role blends leadership with rigorous scholarship and coordination with the communications team.

The director will advance AI-enabled research, manage high-volume workflows, and ensure publications meet the highest standards of quality and impact on policy and national security.