Research Leader - Wargaming - Defence, Security and Justice

RAND is a not-for-profit research institute with over 30 years of experience in conducting policy research for governments, international organisations, research councils, charitable foundations, and other organisations. We believe that good research helps shape sound answers to pressing societal challenges, ultimately making communities safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous in the future. RAND Europe has offices in Cambridge, Brussels and Rotterdam and employs approximately 170 staff.

We wish to recruit an experienced Research Leader in Wargaming within our Defence, Security and Justice (DSJ) research group. The focus of this role is to lead our growing portfolio of strategic and operational wargaming for both defence and security clients, including the design and delivery of both analytical and educational games.

The DSJ research group conducts a wide-ranging portfolio of research for a diverse client base in the UK, Europe and beyond. Our clients include UK government departments (e.g. Ministry of Defence, Home Office, FCDO, DSIT), other national governments (e.g. Dutch), EU institutions (e.g. European Commission, European Parliament), and international defence and security organisations (e.g. national defence departments, NATO), and various third sector and humanitarian organisations.

Our work covers a broad range of public policy issues across:

• Defence (defence strategy, policy, capability, and acquisition; defence economics; the defence workforce and Armed Forces community; influence and information operations)
• Security (terrorism; counter-violent extremism; human security; border security; energy security; resilience and cyber)
• Criminal Justice (rehabilitation and preventing crime; organised crime; law enforcement cooperation; drugs and illicit markets)

The successful applicant will lead/support business development and project delivery for our portfolio of wargaming work. We are particularly looking for an individual with experience of winning, designing and delivering wargaming projects for national governments and militaries in the UK and Europe and/or for international defence organisations (e.g. NATO).

We are looking for an individual with a keen interest and understanding of wargaming; different approaches to the design and execution of educational and analytical games (including seminar games, matrix games, table-top exercises and other types of gaming methodology); the defence ecosystem for wargaming; and the challenges, opportunities, and implications of wargaming methods in a defence and security context. The role holder will have experience of designing and using a variety of strategic and operational wargaming approaches. Ideally, you will have experience of integrating wargaming with other research and analysis methods as part of a multi-method approach. You will also be experienced at leading and managing the delivery of projects working with a team of researchers, and have strong policy analysis skills.

Key Responsibilities

Research Leadership

• Taking forward RAND Europe’s successful research track record in wargaming, and leading/supporting the delivery of a varied portfolio of research projects and expanding into new areas of work.
• Contributing to the group’s thought leadership on wargaming and its uses to address defence and security policy issues.
• Mentoring wargamers and other research staff and facilitating the development of others’ project management, leadership and methodological skills.
• Helping ensure that RAND Europe’s research has a positive impact within policy communities and the wider world.
• Engaging with the RAND US Center for Gaming to leverage the expertise available across RAND’s global footprint, as well as providing European input to the development of new wargaming methods and tools.

Business development

• Contributing to and supporting the delivery of DSJ group revenue and sales targets by helping secure funding for research and consultancy tasks and supporting others in doing so.
• Co-ordinating, managing and supporting a portfolio of business development initiatives including supporting bid and proposal activity – in particular relating to our wargaming portfolio.
• Building networks and contacts with funders and collaborators.

Group and other responsibilities

• Working with team members and the DSJ Senior Leadership Team and Research Group Director to deliver the group’s strategic objectives.
• Working in a collegiate manner and contributing to the development and profile of the wider organisation.
• Helping to raise RAND Europe’s profile and communicate research findings to maximise impact.

Minimum Requirements

• Demonstrable experience in leading/managing the design and delivery of wargames with proven expertise in the successful delivery of these wargames in a defence and security context. Ideally candidates will have experience of delivering wargames at the strategic and operational level.
• Demonstrable experience in using a variety of wargaming methods, including methods for analytical and educational wargames, as well as proven ability to articulate the value of wargaming in a defence and security context.
• Experience of integrating wargames with other research and analysis methods as part of multi-method approaches to problem solving and/or research.
• Experience of winning and delivering wargaming and/or research projects for UK, European or international defence organisations and funders.
• Evidence of working as part of a team, motivating others, mentoring and actively developing colleagues for skills and career progression.
• Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills (evidenced by examples) and the proven ability to communicate effectively with clients and to varied internal and external audiences. You should have demonstrable experience of writing, editing and disseminating the findings of wargames to policy audiences.
• Strong project leadership/management experience, including experience of people management, stakeholder management and budgeting.
• Proven ability to distil complex information and engage with detail whilst considering bigger picture issues and to message research and analysis findings clearly, succinctly and in consideration of target audiences.
• Eligible for, and willing to obtain, relevant national and/or NATO security clearance where required as part of the role.

Personal qualities

• Commercially astute, analytical thinker with the ability to see issues strategically and at a practical level from a variety of perspectives.
• Networking skills to build relationships, facilitate joint decision making and cultivate relationships with potential funders and collaborators.
• Hands-on, team player with a strong commitment to rigorous and high-quality research, public service and the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks, and work to tight deadlines.
• Enthusiastic about learning new skills, expanding your knowledge, and contributing to people development initiatives, such as training.
• Self-starter and pro-active, and comfortable working with ambiguity as well as process.
• Open-minded, with the humility to recognise success in others and accept challenge from highly capable junior members of the team.

This role can be based in any of RAND Europe’s offices in the UK, Belgium or The Netherlands. Working alongside RAND Europe colleagues, in a hybrid working model with the option to work from home (minimum two days per month in one of our offices). There will also be some requirement to travel and spend brief periods away visiting other RAND offices, clients and partners, which will include travelling across Europe and potentially further afield.

Please see our careers page for relevant benefits associated to each location.