Research Director

Department: Antonin Scalia Law School

Classification: Public Relations & Mktg Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Arlington, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State is dedicated to fostering significant legal scholarship on new and timeless questions about the modern administrative state, in order to elevate and improve debates occurring in the courts, Congress, the executive branch, and the broader public.

About the Position:

The Research Director holds significant responsibility for much of the Center's operations with respect to the Gray Center's academic operations – focused on the Gray Center's research roundtables, which we are currently increasing in number, and, which help to incubate, develop, and publicize new scholarly research by law professors, political scientists, and economists, so that arguments are much more strongly made and logic is tightened.

Responsibilities:

• Works with the Executive team to identify the topic of each Research roundtable, on topics likely to be of national importance in administrative law in the coming five years. Identifies and recruits authors who are typically nationally recognized legal scholars from top law schools around the country. Researches issues in order to evaluate the relevance of prospective participants’ writings. Collaborates with the Policy Director and authors to ensure they are staying on track and on schedule. Identifies and recruits discussants who can provide good incite and feedback to the authors to join roundtables from around the country.
• Maintains the Gray Center’s online library of research that's been sponsored by the Center. Ensures our research is well catalogued (a never-ending process as cataloguing technologies evolve) and widely available for scholarly research and legal reference.
• Promotes research in social media so relevant scholars and practitioners are aware of the Center’s output (it is important that the topics and arguments contained in our research circulate continually and widely). Ensures social media is used to distribute our works, especially when particular studies are more timely based on current events.
• Assists with newsletters and podcasts promoting research. Assists in the process of producing and promoting these efforts.
• Works to define research agenda for the upcoming year. Works with the Executive team to determine the research agenda for each upcoming year.
• Performs other duties related to the position.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Bachelor of political science, economics, public policy, or similar;
• Exposure to administrative law either through study or work experience;
• Experience writing that includes summarizing complex ideas simply in laymen’s terms;
• Experience working collaboratively in a team environment;
• Experience in a professional environment;
• Ability to deal professionally with nationally recognized scholars; and
• Ability to plan and organize.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field;
• MS, JD, or Ph.D. in law, political science, or public policy;
• Considerable experience in a law firm, university, or think tank (typically 2+ years); and
• Knowledge of issues in administrative law, constitutional law, and public policy.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Research Director at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume for review.

Posting Open Date:  August 8, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  August 22, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes