Vice President, Communications And External Affairs

Job Type:
Regular
Position Description
RAND is seeking a strategic communications professional with an innovative and agile mindset to be its Vice President, Communications and External Affairs (CEA). Reporting to the CEO, the VP, CEA leads outreach efforts to deliver information to key audiences in ways that are easy to consume to provide them with timely and objective information for policymaking. More broadly, CEA will seek to enhance RAND's impact and profile by engaging RAND's various audiences and policy stakeholders about the organization's research, expert insights, and people. The VP, CEA and their team will also work closely with the CEO and other senior leaders to craft internal communications that keep RAND staff well informed, help build engagement, and effectively address employee concerns and questions. With responsibility for partnering with research staff to create engaging Communications and products across social, digital, and print media; public relations; congressional engagement; publishing; and internal communications, this leader will be an integral part of RAND's executive team and a close partner to research divisions, operations departments, and staff across the organization.
Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading and motivating large teams spanning a range of Communications and outreach functions
• The ability to serve as a thought leader for how RAND Communications and External relations should evolve to maximize research impact while upholding RAND's principles
• Proven ability to be able to quickly and effectively respond to challenges related to media and other public relations issues
• Experience driving operational excellence, ideally with deliberate process measurement and continuous improvement efforts
• Familiarity with public policy research and analysis including the ability to understand a wide range of topics and methods
• A track record of distilling complex information into engaging and clear communications tailored to different audiences and platforms
• A commitment to building and maintaining an inclusive and collaborative culture and to continuous learning and development
• Experience supporting C-suite executives including providing strategic counsel and developing executive communications
• Adept at staying in tune with the pulse of a workforce to help senior management shape effective communications that keep staff well informed and engaged
• Superb written and verbal communications skills including the ability to write for a variety of internal and External audiences and represent RAND in a variety of settings including with elected and appointed officials, donors, trustees, clients, and other stakeholders
• Willingness to refrain from personal participation in policy advocacy and political campaigns

Education Requirements

• An advanced degree in English, communications, public policy, or another related field with a strong communications component is preferred
• Bachelor's degree required

Experience

• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in communications or public relations roles, including at least 7 years in management is required
• A significant portion of the communications or public relations experience must have been in a public policy research organization, a research university, or in government

Security Clearance
Must be able to obtain and maintain a United States government security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
Location

• Santa Monica, CA; Arlington, VA; or Pittsburgh, PA; with Santa Monica preferred
• This position is hybrid (a combination of working onsite and at home, if desired and as feasible)
• Occasional travel within the U.S. is required

Salary Range
$268,000 - $373,000
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. 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. This position may be eligible for additional compensation.
Equal Opportunity Employer: race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet