Hybrid AI & Bio Research Operations Manager

RAND Corporation; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Sabbatical pay and strong benefits

Job summary

RAND Corporation's Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST) seeks an Operations Manager to support people operations and manage the CAST Operations team. This high-ownership role blends hands-on execution with people leadership and project management across RAND.

You will enable research teams to do their best work, shape the employee experience, and partner across RAND centers. The position is full-time, with hybrid work in Washington, DC or other CAST locations.

Qualifications

• Experience managing teams of at least 2–3 people.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; able to manage multiple time-sensitive processes.
• Experience navigating complex institutional structures and cross-functional partnerships.
• Exceptionally clear and diplomatic communicator with professionalism.
• Ability to maintain composure and sound judgment under competing deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage Center people support processes ensuring all new hires and exiting team members have a seamless, high-quality experience
• Manage team members on fellowships, IPAs, and other deployments
• Lead project management for internal team and RAND performance review cycles
• Provide exceptional high-level project management on cross-center initiatives
• Oversee the management of at least one satellite office
• Serve as team lead for junior operations staff, providing mentorship, prioritizationsupport, and day-to-day guidance
• Identifyand implement improvements to operational processes and systems
• Partner withthe Senior Operations Leadsonsensitive and confidential matters, exercising strong discretion and judgment
• Provideoperations support acrossfinance,procurement, events,communications,and cross-functional coordination
• Build andmaintainstrong working relationships across research teams, central RAND functions, and external partners
• Take onadditionalresponsibilities as the Center's needs evolve

Skills

Team management

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Discretion and judgment

Organizational skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

PMP Certification substitute for Bachelor's

Job description

RAND Corporation's Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST) seeks an Operations Manager to support people operations and manage the CAST Operations team. This high-ownership role blends hands-on execution with people leadership and project management across RAND.

You will enable research teams to do their best work, shape the employee experience, and partner across RAND centers. The position is full-time, with hybrid work in Washington, DC or other CAST locations.