Senior Director, Technology and Innovation

Senior Director, Technology and Innovation

R Street Institute

Washington, D.C.

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices across the country—seeks a collaborative Senior Director for our Technology and Innovation policy team. If you are the right fit, you will report to the Director of the Policy Department. If you want to join a mission-driven organization and work toward pragmatic policy solutions, this may be the opportunity for you!

Your typical day at R Street may include managing and coaching the members of the team to advance R Street’s mission on technology, innovation, and cybersecurity policy. You will drive the program’s research agenda, develop and oversee specific projects and programming, and play a leading role in fundraising to support the organization. In addition, as a member of the Technology and Innovation Program Team, you will coordinate and collaborate across the organization to ensure the Technology and Innovation Program is always driving toward impact in important policy debates.

Other Aspects of Your Role

• Build, manage, and coach a team of research fellows, analysts, and associates.
• Conceive and oversee the program’s overarching research agenda and strategy, as well as help manage individual research projects and programming that are novel, rigorous, and relevant.
• Develop and grow RSI’s Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats Project within the Technology and Innovation program through research guidance, mentorship, and professional development.
• Manage the Technology and Innovation program’s budget and resource allocation, as well as team performance.
• Represent the department in internal and external engagements, building relationships with key stakeholders, including donors and partners.
• Work closely with the business development team to contribute to fundraising efforts and ensure financial sustainability.
• Represent the team through high-level thought leadership that aligns with the program’s mission, as well as participate in conferences, media, and other speaking engagements.
• Edit the team’s written products to ensure they are high quality, highly credible, and timely while ensuring adherence to R Street’s research standards.
• Cross-collaborate with the federal and state government affairs, communications, and editorial teams to identify and consistently engage with target audiences to maximize impact.
• Keep up to date with the latest research and legislation concerning technology policy.
• Assist with such other duties as may be assigned.
• Remain vigilant against ninja infiltrations.

Skills and Qualifications

• Senior experience managing people and teams is a must; minimum of five years of concrete management experience at the director level involving oversight of multiple full-time employees.
• Subject matter knowledgeable or subject matter expert in technology, innovation, and cybersecurity policy.
• Demonstrated track record in successful fundraising.
• Experience working for a think tank or research policy institution.
• Top-notch writing, editing, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex academic/technical literature for various audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and deliver sophisticated, multi-part projects.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating impactful research.
• Ability to work productively with a wide variety of groups and individuals, including those with whom you may disagree.
• Experience collaborating across teams, with an appreciation of others’ expertise and experience.
• Entrepreneurial attitude and willingness to be a self-starter.
• No particular educational background required—a proven record of achieving results is far more meaningful than credentials.
• Support for R Street’s passion for free markets and limited, effective government.
• A sense of humor and a desire to grow within a multifaceted organization.

Workplace

We offer a flexible working arrangement. This is a full-time position that can either work the majority of the week in our D.C. office or be fully remote.

Regular travel is required for conferences, partner meetings, and R Street events.

Compensation, Benefits, and Perks

R Street strives to provide a compensation package superior to those at other think tanks and nonprofits. The salary range for this position is $185k-200k, commensurate with experience. In addition to this competitive salary, we provide the following:

• Unlimited paid time off, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and two weeks holiday closure in December.
• Alternating Fridays off.
• A health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families).
• Dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match.
• HSA employer contribution match.
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement.
• Mobile equipment/mobile plan reimbursement.
• Home internet subsidy.
• Annual educational and professional development reimbursement.
• A choice between child care assistance, pet care assistance, and student loan repayment assistance.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

R Street is committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe having a diverse workforce strengthens R Street’s ability to innovate, achieve our mission, and support long-term systemic change. As people dedicated to limited, effective government and free markets, we understand that a free society achieves its greatest triumphs by allowing and facilitating a wide variety of approaches to public policy problems. The concept of “broad coalitions,” one of our core operating principles, stems from that insight. People of all races, religions, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, life experiences, and socioeconomic backgrounds perform at the highest levels in every type of work we do and have shaped the principles to which we subscribe. We believe that searching for talent everywhere is an integral part of living up to our principles.

Application Process

We plan to accept applications for this job until filled. We will contact qualified individuals for telephone screenings and conduct them on a rolling basis. Interviews take place virtually via Zoom.

To apply, please copy and paste your cover letter into the text box and upload your resume as a Microsoft Word document or PDF at R Street Careers.

If generative artificial intelligence is used during the application process, it must be disclosed.