Program Director for State Sponsored Threats (SST)

C4ADS; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 97,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with 4% matching

Unlimited vacation

Job summary

C4ADS is seeking a Program Director, State-Sponsored Threats, to lead a core analytical program focused on exposing networks enabling state-sponsored threats and illicit activity. You will guide strategic direction, mentor analysts, and manage donor relations to ensure rigorous, impactful analysis across projects.

You will report to the Senior Director for Analysis, drive program funding, and collaborate across teams to align priorities and resources with organizational mission.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong people, project, and budget management skills.
• Experience overseeing complex research portfolios with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction and day-to-day management of the State-Sponsored Threats program.
• Manage and develop a team of analysts across multiple projects.
• Translate strategy into research objectives, workplans, and deliverables.
• Oversee rigorous, well-sourced analytical production and quality control.
• Provide guidance, QA on research products and partner deliverables.
• Coach team members with clear expectations and feedback.
• Manage resources, timelines, and dependencies in a complex portfolio.
• Strengthen program operations and donor relations.
• Ensure ongoing funding through pursuing opportunities and proposals.
• Represent the program in senior briefings and external forums.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Program management

Donor relations

Open source analysis

Analytical rigor

Briefings

Stakeholder management

Team mentorship

Fundraising

Tools

Palantir Foundry

Job description

SST Program Director’s Key Responsibilities:

Program Director, State-Sponsored Threats

At C4ADS, we are proving what is possible when open data, technology, and rigorous analysis are brought together to illuminate the illicit networks that threaten global peace and security. Our teams investigate complex transnational challenges, uncover connections that are often difficult to see, and translate evidence into actionable insights for partners across the public, private, and civil society sectors.

As the Program Director, State-Sponsored Threats, you will lead one of C4ADS’ core analytical programs focused on understanding and exposing the networks, actors, and systems that enable state-sponsored threats and related illicit activity.

You will report to the Senior Director for Analysis and be responsible for the strategic direction, analytical quality, people leadership, and overall performance of the program. You will lead and mentor a team of analysts, oversee a diverse portfolio of research and partner driven projects, manage donor relations and drive program funding, and help ensure that the program continues to produce rigorous, innovative, and impactful analysis.

This role is well suited for an experienced analytical leader who can move comfortably between strategy and execution. You will set priorities, develop people, manage complex portfolios, strengthen analytical approaches, and work across C4ADS to ensure the program’s research contributes meaningfully to our mission and the needs of our partners.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the strategic direction and day to day management of the State-Sponsored Threats program
• Manage, develop, and support a team of analysts working across multiple research portfolios and analytical projects
• Establish program priorities and translate organizational strategy into clear research objectives, workplans, and deliverables
• Oversee analytical production across the program, ensuring that research is rigorous, well sourced, timely, and consistent with C4ADS’ analytical standards
• Provide substantive guidance and quality assurance on research products, publications, briefings, and partner deliverables
• Coach and develop team members through clear expectations, ongoing feedback, mentorship, and professional development
• Manage resources, timelines, competing priorities, and dependencies across a complex portfolio of projects
• Identify opportunities to strengthen program operations, including project management, reporting, workflow design, knowledge management, and performance measurement
• Manage and strengthen relationships with program donors
• Maintain and advance analytical standards, methodologies, and quality control practices across the program
• Identify and integrate new data sources, technologies, tools, and analytical techniques that expand the program’s ability to investigate complex networks
• Help ensure C4ADS remains at the forefront of open source and data driven analysis by continuously improving analytical infrastructure and research methods
• Translate complex research into clear, compelling findings for technical and nontechnical audiences
• Represent the program through senior level briefings, partner engagements, and other external forums
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with funders, research partners, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders
• Ensure ongoing funding for the program and its priorities through identifying funding opportunities and drafting funding proposals in coordination with the Business Development team
• Identify opportunities for collaboration across C4ADS programs and capabilities, recognizing where shared data, expertise, or methodologies can strengthen our collective impact
• Work closely with the Senior Director for Analysis, analytical leadership, Business Development, Operations, and other teams to align program priorities, resources, partnerships, and organizational needs
• Contribute to the broader strategic direction of C4ADS by identifying emerging threats, analytical opportunities, and areas where the organization can have meaningful impact

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for an experienced and thoughtful leader who is equally comfortable managing projects, donors and staff, shaping analytical strategy, and navigating complex research environments. You should bring strong judgment, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to producing work that is analytically rigorous and useful to the audiences we serve.

Successful candidates will bring:

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing high performing teams
• Strong people management, project management, budget management, and organizational skills
• Experience overseeing complex research portfolios with multiple stakeholders, priorities, and deadlines
• Strong judgment and the ability to make thoughtful decisions in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments
• Experience conducting or overseeing open source or publicly available information research and analysis
• A robust background investigating and addressing state sponsored threats from countries that may include Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea
• A strong understanding of analytical methodologies, source evaluation, research design, and evidentiary standards
• Experience working with data platforms, including Palantir Foundry
• Experience reviewing, editing, and strengthening complex analytical products
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex findings accessible and relevant to different audiences
• Experience developing and delivering senior level briefings
• Experience working with a range of data sources, research methodologies, or analytical tools
• A demonstrated ability to establish and maintain high standards for analytical rigor, sourcing, and quality
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with internal and external partners, as well as donors
• Experience fundraising, particularly in designing and drafting funding proposals
• Experience managing hiring processes
• A collaborative mindset and an interest in working across disciplines, programs, and functional teams
• Curiosity, creativity, initiative, and a willingness to challenge existing approaches in pursuit of better analysis
• A commitment to C4ADS’ mission and an interest in using evidence driven analysis to address complex global security challenges
• Legal and logistical ability to work onsite in C4ADS’ Washington, DC office a minimum of 2 days a week
• Relevant language capabilities a plus but not a requirement

How We’ll Reward You

C4ADS provides a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, financial wellbeing, and continued growth of our team, including:

• The annual salary for this position is $115,000.
• Fully covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% employer match and immediate vesting
• Unlimited vacation and flexible work arrangements that emphasize results, not hours
• Personalized professional development opportunities that empower you to design your own learning and growth path
• $4,500 annual education stipend to build new skills, pursue certifications, or study new languages
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child
• Employer paid life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), short term disability, and long term disability insurance.
• Access to pre tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses
• SmartBenefits commuter program with pre tax contributions to your SmarTrip account
• A collaborative, mission driven team that supports one another and is intentional about building and maintaining a strong organizational culture