Operations Research Scientist

Job Type:
Regular

Position Description

Are you passionate about using your research and analytical skills to address critical policy challenges? RAND is seeking talented Operations Research Scientists to join our team and contribute to impactful research in national and homeland security as well as socio-economic policy

RAND researchers contribute to and lead innovative projects that deliver objective, reliable insights for the public and policymakers at multiple levels. They embrace diverse challenges on topics ranging from global supply chains to workforce policy that require strong analytic capabilities, technical knowledge, and academic or industry experience in applied mathematics, optimization, modeling and simulation, data science, artificial intelligence, and logistics and operations.

Why RAND?

• Reputation for Excellence: Be part of a non-profit, non-partisan organization renowned for its rigorous and objective research.
• Dynamic Opportunities: Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams on diverse projects that challenge and expand your skills.
• Poised for Impact: Your research will inform thousands of policymakers, clients, and other stakeholders around the world.

Responsibilities

Operations Research Scientists will use their technical skills in operations research and its subfields to:

• Develop research approaches to solve complex policy problems.
• Execute this research using a broad range of analytically rigorous, quantitative and/or qualitative research tools, methods, and skills.
• Interpret research results to support decision-making surrounding complex policy problems.
• Communicate research results to public policy makers at all levels through written products and oral presentations.

Qualifications

All research positions at RAND require excellent analytic skills; the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both orally and in writing; the ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; and a strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity.

Successful applicants will be able to present strong evidence of research experience, demonstrated through authorship of academic publications, conference presentations, or prior professional reports.

Successful applicants with more than 10 years of professional experience will have demonstrated leadership experience through the following activities: mentoring and developing junior staff members, leading and directing multi-disciplinary teams, setting project standards and monitoring progress, engaging with stakeholders, and communicating research results to policy-making audiences.

A record of scientific research experience in one of the following areas is especially desired:

• Optimization with focus on autonomous systems, deep learning, reinforcement learning, or expert systems
• Decision analysis
• Game theory and mechanism design
• Stochastic modeling and applied probability (e.g. queueing, stochastic processes, SDEs)
• Simulation design and algorithms
• Supply chain theory

Education Requirements

A Ph.D. in industrial engineering, management science, operations research, applied mathematics, or related field with specialization or demonstrated proficiency in Operations Research is strongly preferred. A master's degree with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience, or a bachelor's degree with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience, is required.

This relevant professional experience should demonstrate the applicant's ability to design, execute and disseminate results of research using analytically rigorous methods.

Security Clearance

The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance is strongly preferred. Please note that U.S. citizenship is required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Location

Santa Monica, CA; Washington, DC; Pittsburgh, PA

Writing Sample Required

Successful applications will include documentation in the application package of academic and professional activities that meet stated qualifications. A writing sample of 3 pages or more is required for this position. Applicants are encouraged to use recent pieces that have been published in academic or other journals but may use master's theses or papers written for coursework, prior employment, or internships. Applicants invited to interview will be required to present a seminar describing recent research.

Salary Range: $100,000 - $262,500

Associate Researcher: $100,000 - $154,200

Full Researcher: $115,400 - $190,000

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

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

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. Successful candidates will be offered employment as an Associate, Full, or Senior researcher in a specific title, as determined by the candidate's education and experience. The salary range includes base pay plus RAND's sabbatic 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.

Timeline

This notice will be open until December 15th, 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with the majority being reviewed in late December.

Equal Opportunity Employer: race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet