Assistant General Counsel, AI, Emerging Technologies, & Strategic Agreements

About RAND

RAND is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest.

Assistant General Counsel, AI, Emerging Technologies, & Strategic Agreements

The RAND Corporation’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking a highly motivated, professional attorney to join our Legal Strategy & Advancement Team as the Assistant General Counsel focusing on AI, Emerging Technologies & Strategic Agreements.

Opportunity Summary

Reports directly to the Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary.

Your core responsibilities would include:

• technology transactions involving AI and other emerging technologies;

• drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, IP agreements, and licensing arrangements;

• helping develop new ways of leveraging RAND’s IP; and

• addressing novel challenges as they arise.

We are seeking an attorney with:

• Practical experience using AI tools to provide timely, accurate legal advice, with a continuous improvement mindset and enthusiasm for exploring new AI capabilities;

• A focus on helping clients identify risks and opportunities, and on finding innovative solutions to problems;

• Comfort with wearing “multiple hats” and in building legal infrastructure from the ground-up; and

• Passion for the legal subjects on which the attorney advises.

About RAND OGC

We are a high-performing team of talented legal professionals that support the entire enterprise – everything we do is for the purpose of enabling RAND to deliver on its mission. While each of our team members has specialist skills, we are also intellectually curious generalists who engage across the full range of issues and opportunities experienced by RAND.

Even as RAND researchers leverage and evaluate the most advanced frontier AI models and capabilities in tackling the world’s most complex public policy challenges, our team has fully adopted leading edge AI legal tools to enhance and advance our legal services – with continuous exploration of new capabilities and a willingness to challenge longstanding assumptions and practices. We combine this with high levels of engagement across the organization and collaboration within the team and with the people we support, enabling us to confidently provide thoughtful, practical, and actionable advice at the speed of a fast-moving organization.

RAND OGC has three levels of attorney positions: Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, and Associate General Counsel, reflecting progressively increasing levels of established skill, experience, and responsibility.

The Role

As part of an OGC team focused on advancing RAND’s mission through innovative solutions, the primary responsibilities of this role will include:

• Advising on technology transactions and emerging technology matters, including artificial intelligence, digital assets, data use, and related legal issues affecting RAND’s research and operations;

• Drafting, negotiating, and managing a wide range of commercial agreements, including licensing agreements, NDAs, vendor agreements, technology agreements, and similar transactions;

• Advising on intellectual property matters, including IP strategy, protection of RAND’s IP assets, patents, and negotiation of IP-related provisions in research and commercial agreements;

• Advocacy with research sponsors on behalf of RAND in conjunction with research division leadership, including periodic in-person visits to sponsor locations;

• Collaborating with the Director of Contracts and other RAND operations personnel to establish and update high-quality, agile processes for the review and negotiation of contracts and agreements;

• Proactively identifying risks and working with stakeholders to design and implement solutions;

• Tasking and directing outside counsel as required;

• Advising staff on compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and

• Special projects assigned by the General Counsel.

Other responsibilities may include:

• Advising RAND’s Development function with respect to the terms of charitable gifts and grants;

• Advising and training on export control and trade compliance matters, including ITAR, EAR, and related regulatory frameworks applicable to RAND’s domestic and international activities, including AUKUS; and

• Advising on federal government contracting matters, including FAR/DFARS compliance and related procurement issues.

RAND’s OGC roles tend to involve a unique combination of responsibilities – in our experience no candidate (even the ones we hire!) ever checks every single box. If you’re excited about this role, think you have what it takes, and are ready to learn, we encourage you to apply.

Qualifications

The requirements for this Assistant General Counsel role are as follows:

Required:

At least six (6) years of experience as a practicing attorney with some combination of substantive experience in technology transactions, intellectual property, commercial agreements, or related transactional areas;

Detail-oriented, works well under pressure, and has an affinity for RAND’s Mission;

Proven problem-solver who takes ownership of assigned areas of responsibility;

Demonstrated ability to confidently provide sound judgment even in ambiguous situations;

Collaborative, collegial, and skilled at building consensus with diverse professional groups;

Demonstrated desire to take on increasing levels of responsibility and confidence to engage in novel legal issues that may be outside prior experience;

Ability to identify priorities and adjust as necessary to meet unanticipated needs; and

Ability to travel occasionally to other RAND offices (primarily in the U.S.).

Preferred / “Plus” Factors:

Experience working in-house for a technology company, research institution, or organization engaged in emerging technology work;

Experience working for (or with) a non-profit organization; and/or

Substantive experience pertaining to any of the following:

• federal government contracting, FAR/DFARS compliance, or government procurement matters;
• export control regulations (EAR, ITAR) or trade compliance programs;

• cybersecurity;

• any of the “other responsibilities” described above

Education & Licensing

J.D. and licensed to practice law (in good standing).  If not licensed to practice law in the state of employment, must qualify under the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Rule 1A:5 or the requirements for Registered In-House Counsel for the State of California (as applicable).  Licensure in California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C., or New York is a plus.

Security Clearance

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance and DHS Fitness. Accordingly, U.S. citizenship is required.

Location

This role is based in either RAND’s Arlington, VA (Washington DC area) office or Santa Monica, CA (Los Angeles area) headquarters and is eligible for RAND’s hybrid work environment. Candidates should expect to work from a RAND office about three days per week on average.

Salary Range:  $177,500 - $235,000

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer