Associate Director, Research — Deloitte Center for Government Insights; Defense, Security, and Justice Sector

Position description

The Deloitte Center for Government Insights is a source of insights and deep analysis on the most important issues facing senior-level decision-makers within government today. The Center, which publishes 50 plus studies a year, is staffed by professionals who bring a wide array of expertise from academic to professional to hands-on experience. When it comes to insight, what really matters is not just the quality of the idea, but also how to translate it into action.

Deloitte’s Government and Public Services (GPS) teams bring deep public and private sector experience to help clients across government.t including—Civilian, National Security, and Health Care. As a key part of GPS, the Defense, Security, and Justice (DS&J) practice serves clients across the Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and the Intelligence Community to improve mission performance and tackle some of the toughest and most meaningful national security challenges.

Our team includes researchers, policy experts, and marketing and operational professionals, working together to design, develop and disseminate research products that shape thinking on government’s toughest challenges. The Center for Government Insights is one of seven research centers that form the Research & Insights organization at Deloitte.

We are seeking a Senior Research Leader at the Associate Director level to guide and expand our thought leadership agenda. This individual will play a pivotal role in shaping the Center’s research strategy, advancing innovative methodologies, and delivering high-impact insights to the marketplace while working at the intersection of academia, policy, and government. As a Senior Research Leader at Deloitte, you will:

• Shape market-moving insights that guide government executives
• Engage with top decision makers in industry and government
• Mentor the next generation of research leaders

This position requires intellectual curiosity, a strong command of research methods, and the ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse executive audiences. The ideal candidate will bring not only research acumen but also strategic foresight to set priorities that influence industry direction and Deloitte’s market positioning.

Preferred location: Washington, DC is the preferred location for this role, though qualified candidates based elsewhere may be considered if they can support regular collaboration with DC-based teams and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Market-Making Research

• Engage with senior Deloitte leaders from across the firm to define and lead the research agenda for Defense, Security, and Justice (DS&J) ensuring alignment with Deloitte’s strategic priorities and emerging industry challenges. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, defense innovation, acquisition, the defense industrial base, space, trade infrastructure and systems, and the future of justice.
• Research topics could address a range of areas including applications of AI and emerging technology including human-machine teaming, space defense technologies, quantum communication capabilities, cybersecurity, advanced electronics and power systems for defense platforms, supply chain resilience and manufacturing innovations addressing vulnerabilities in critical materials and production capacity, and hybrid cloud-edge architectures that balance cloud scalability with edge computing for military operations and logistics.
• Familiarity with space industry topics is a plus, including research related to commercial space, military space operations, space policy, and the evolving space economy.
• Design and oversee multiple large-scale, multi-method research studies (e.g., surveys, econometric modeling, AI-enabled analytics, structured interviews among others) concurrently.
• Advance innovative methodologies, integrating cutting-edge tools, academic rigor, and diverse data sources to generate unique insights.
• Cultivate collaborations with academic institutions, industry partners, and global thought leaders to expand the Center’s research reach.
• Develop and promote new research methodologies via generative AI tools to increase quality, variety, and quantity.

Shape Thought Leadership

• Serve as a visible thought leader within Deloitte’s public sector community.
• Publish research, deliver keynote presentations, and engage with media to elevate Deloitte’s brand.
• Translate complex findings into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with executive audiences and drive market impact.
• Position research as a catalyst for client conversations, policy dialogue, and strategic decision-making.
• Identify and communicate key industry trends and their implications to our clients and our business.

Inspire Teams & Drive Excellence

• Contribute to an environment that values intellectual rigor, collaboration, and inclusion.
• Serve as a mentor and role model, helping emerging researchers grow into visible thought leaders.
• Manage project delivery and quality, ensuring research meets Deloitte’s high standards and deadlines.

Engage with Clients & the Market

• Partner with Deloitte industry and sector leaders to translate insights into solutions that can solve real-world client problems.
• Engage with government executives, policymakers, and global leaders to present findings, test hypotheses, and influence decisions.
• Identify emerging issues and white-space opportunities to guide new research and strengthen Deloitte’s position in key markets.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• 10+ years of progressive experience in research, thought leadership, or strategy roles, with increasing leadership responsibility.
• Significant publication history, including written publications, briefings, and data-driven tools.
• Deep knowledge of and expertise within the DS&J sector or elements of the sector, with proven ability to connect research to real world implications.
• Strong analytical, research, and project management skills; expertise in large, complex data sets and statistical methods (R, Python, Stata).
• Experience using LLMs and similar AI tools to facilitate deeper research and develop new analytic approaches.
• Deep knowledge of the latest public sector and national security trends.
• Demonstrated excellence in writing and communicating for executive audiences.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into actionable insights and a compelling narrative
• Recognized presence in the DS&J market — publications, media appearances, conference presentations, or industry contributions that demonstrate thought leadership.
• Proven record of leading and inspiring high-performing teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to build consensus in complex, matrixed environments
• Experience in the professional services environment and comfort in operating in a matrixed organization
• Ability to travel 0-10%, on average, based on the work you do and the clients and industries/sectors you serve.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or above
• Secret, Top Secret, or SCI security clearance helpful, but not required

The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At Deloitte, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $124,600 to $255,900.

You may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.

Application instructions

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