Director, Research Quality - Research & Analysis Operations

Job Type:

The Director of Research Quality serves as the strategic and operational leader for research quality at RAND, promoting a culture of quality and devising and implementing operational processes and practices that reinforce and support the quality of RAND’s research efforts across the entire research lifespan.  The director will report to the Managing Director, Research and Analysis Operations and work closely with the Senior Vice President of R&A, business division leaders, GRT leaders and other leaders across the institution on efforts to improve the quality of our research processes and products, from proposals through dissemination.

Duties and responsibilities of this position will include:

• Work with Senior RAND leaders to maintain and update RAND policies and procedures that support quality across the project lifespan

• Work with other managers to implement and improve key systems and processes that underpin assuring research quality including:

  • Liase with Proposal Development Services to improve proposal support to project leaders and division management

  • Work with divisions and GRT to develop and utilize reports and processes to help improve the operations of the internal labor market

  • Work in tandem with process improvement efforts to reduce quality assurance and publications timelines

  • Support the implementation of Workfront to improve tracking of publications in the QA process

• Oversee Division QA Managers and coordinators to ensure consistency of implementation of RAND’s QA standards

  • Update RAND quality assurance standards when needed, but not less than every 4 years

  • Devise and implement a standardized single RAND quality assurance process across divisions

  • Adjudicate disputes or differences arising in the QA process

  • Oversee the QA process of specific corporate projects and products

• Develop and implement training for R&A managers and staff related to research quality

  • Assure integration of best practices for inclusive research practices

  • Assure managers and staff are familiar with RAND’s QA standards and related policies

This position is a 5-year term, with an option to extend upon mutual agreement and management approval. The position is resourced at 75% time plus AA support. The other quarter of the incumbent’s time will go towards conducting and/or leading RAND research projects.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading RAND research projects, creating high-quality research products and providing clear and helpful reviews

• Deep understanding of the quality assurance process across the lifespan of projects and experience applying RAND’s standards in the conduct and evaluation of research and analysis

• Understanding of RAND’s organizational structure and the responsibilities of different entities

• Strong interest in quality improvement and prior experience with process improvement efforts

• Strong leadership and collaboration skills, with a commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive research environment

• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders

• Experience working across RAND divisions strongly preferred

Education Requirements

Master’s degree required

Experience

• Senior Researchers with 10 years of experience leading and managing projects

• Demonstrated publication record and experience providing peer reviews of publications

• Experience in a quality assurance role at RAND preferred (e.g. Research Quality Assurance Manager, Associate Division Director, Program Director, Associate Program Director)

• Demonstrated experience leading RAND research projects, creating high-quality research products and providing clear and helpful reviews

Security Clearance

Eligibility for a Top Secret clearance

Location

This position is a flex role which allows for time worked from the office (Washington, DC; Santa Monica, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; or Boston, MA) and from home, with an average of 50% onsite-office presence expected.

Salary Range:

Senior Researcher: $152,700 - $262,500

Hiring ranges for Economists, Management Scientists and Physician Researchers are slightly higher than the range shown.

At RAND, the research program management role is a termed assignment that is performed by an experie