RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (DETAILEE)
Department: Department of Defense
Location(s): Fort McNair, District of Columbia
Salary Range: $71308 - $102548 Per Year
Job Summary: The Perry Center supports the community of security and defense professionals in the Americas to pursue collaborative approaches to mutual opportunities and challenges. Through academics, research, and outreach, including ministerial-level consulting, we advance sustainable institutional capacity, strengthen the rule of law and democracy, and promote greater understanding of U.S. policy throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Major Duties:
- Introduction: The Wiliam J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (WJPC) is the Department of War's premier regional forum offering strategic level defense and security education, research assistance and dialog regarding the development of effective security policy within the Western Hemisphere. The Center's civilian and military graduates and partner institutions comprise communities of influence that work toward a more cooperative and stable international security environment.The Perry Center's mission is to support the community of security and defense professionals in the Americas to pursue collaborative approaches to mutual opportunities and challenges. Through academics, research, and outreach, including ministerial-level consulting, we advance sustainable institutional capacity, strengthen the rule of law and democracy, and promote greater understanding of U.S. policy throughout the Western Hemisphere. Major Duties: During the detail, the incumbent operates under the general direction and administrative guidance of the Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs (DASD(WHA)), who assigns program responsibilities, provides administrative direction, defines success criteria, and directs research priorities. The role involves significant independence in supporting the WJPC mission. Policy Analysis & Advisory Services: Provide policy analysis and advice to DASD(WHA) and other senior DoW officials on political military and other aspects of U.S. defense and security relations with Western Hemisphere countries as assigned, and keep leadership informed of significant developments. Regional Expertise & Monitoring: Maintain awareness and expertise on current events, political and security developments, military and security cooperation, and other developments in the Western Hemisphere that affect U.S. national security interests. Interagency Coordination: Coordinate closely across the Policy enterprise, with other OSW offices and the Military Services, and with the Joint Staff, U.S. Northern Command, the Department of State, the National Security Council Staff, and other Executive Branch partners, and U.S. embassy country teams. Representation & Communication: Represent WHA at DoW and interagency meetings, and communicate WHA policy perspectives and interests to DoW, interagency, and external audiences. Integrate views and assessments of country representatives on defense issues into U.S. policy considerations and communicate the DoW position on key issues to foreign counterparts. High-Level Engagement Support: Organize and support high-level engagements and meeting between DoW and foreign officials, to include DoW leadership participation in Defense Bilateral Working Group meetings and related subgroup meetings, and in multilateral ministerial-level meetings. Participate with and advise senior DoW principals during travel, and during meetings with foreign counterparts. Congressional Relations: Prepare and review testimony, responses to questions, and other products for use in DoW engagements with Congress. Provide expert advice, timely updates, and policy guidance through written correspondence, oral presentations, and meetings. Administrative Support: Coordinates activities to prevent delays and enhance services for WJPC activities. Identifies program resource needs and communicates them to management. Additional Duties: Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Required Qualifications: Earned master's degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline such as international security (defense/war) studies, international relations/affairs, public policy, and/or public management. Minimum of one year of relevant professional experience. Excellent written and communication skills in English and Spanish. Demonstrated high-quality analytic research skills: Ability to conduct cross/multi-disciplinary analysis and synthesis. Proven capacity to write under strict professional standards. Ability to effectively organize and communicate findings to a policy or practitioner-oriented audience. Proven ability tow ork collaboratively, placing team mission and professional integrity before personal agenda. Ability to perform in a matrixed organization with multiple stakeholders and priorities. Detail-oriented organizational skills. Self-management and performance in a changing, fast-paced work environment. Professionalism and proficiency in international environments and among senior officials. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
How to Apply: To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below. Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. 1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. 2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application. 3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status, then More Information for this position. Return to an incomplete application by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Application Deadline: 2026-04-01