Product Development and Management (PDM) Associate Director

Job Type:

Product Development and Management (PDM) Associate Director

Reporting to the Director of the Research Programming Group, the Product Development and Management (PDM) Associate Director is responsible for overseeing the development and sustainment of research software product assets created at RAND. They will oversee teams of software engineers, application architects, data scientists, and other research staff working to design, develop, deliver, and sustain high-quality custom analytic applications that enable both more effective and efficient research across a broad array of methods and policy areas, with the aim of helping to keep RAND at the cutting edge of research capabilities. This includes leveraging new computing technology as it evolves to improve application performance and the automation of new analytic methods as they are developed. Specifically, the team will help prioritize application ideas and prototypes that are developed by the research community in their independent research or in the course of client work into production applications. The team will then work to sustain these and existing products, to include product upgrades, security, and performance. In particular, in the near-term the team will help develop tools and capabilities to exploit LLMs to support research.

This position offers ~50-75% coverage for technical management activities in the Research Programming Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee teams of software engineers, application architects, data scientists, and other research staff to achieve organizational objectives.
• Develop and execute processes to garner research application ideas from across the RAND research community.
• Develop and implement software product engineering strategies, roadmaps, and plans to align with RAND overall and research division goals and priorities.
• Oversee the development of research applications through the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), ensuring timely and within-budget delivery.
• Keep the RAND research community well informed of available products and roadmaps
• Promote adoption of the PDM product portfolio across the research community while soliciting input to inform addition of new features and capabilities.
• Periodically upgrade PDM applications based upon value analysis of feature requests.
• Sustain the security and performance of PDM's product portfolio.
• Provide direct technical support to research projects

Qualifications

• Senior technologist/leader with experience in and strong understanding of:
  • Software product development including principles, technologies, and methodologies, with a track record of successfully leading technical teams, software portfolio management, and delivery of software products.
  • Managing software maintenance, security updates, and product enhancements for custom software products and associated emerging technology capabilities.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to motivate and to manage teams of technical professionals; a reputation for excellence in their work; and a demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders as well as build positive relationships with all levels of RAND staff.
• Strong understanding of RAND-like evidence-based, rigorous public policy research.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic software product and technology plans to achieve organizational objectives.
• Experience demonstrating strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve complex technical issues.

Experience

• Minimum 11+ years of experience as a technology practitioner, including 6+ years as a technology leader

Education

• BA/BS degreein Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related field required.
• MA/MS degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related fieldpreferred.

Security Clearance

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance at the Secret level. Possession of Top Secret level clearance preferred.

Location

• Santa Monica, CA; Arlington, VA; Pittsburgh, PA; Boston, MA
• Occasional travel to other RAND offices will be expected
• 50% office presence required

Term

This position is a 5-year term, which can be extended up to 2 years.

Positions Open

One

Salary Range: $151,000 - $230,100

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.

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