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Social Scientist, Senior

CACI International

Fort Meade, MDFull-time$104–218K/yrSeen 3 days agoSeen in employer's feed 3 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$104–218K/yr
Location
Fort Meade, MD
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

TS/SCI clearanceMaster's degree

Job overview

CACI seeks a senior social scientist to support national security missions by researching the human dimensions of conflict and competition. The role applies qualitative and quantitative methods to assess information environments, audience behavior, and influence networks, then translates findings into operational recommendations. The scientist collaborates with military planners, intelligence professionals, and operational leaders across combatant commands.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Social Science ResearchQualitative ResearchQuantitative ResearchOperational PlanningPsychological OperationsPerformance MeasurementData Collection PlanningData VisualizationOpinion ResearchAudience ProfilingInfluence Network AnalysisAssessment ReportingResearch EvaluationExecutive BriefingResearch Instrument DesignData Analytics ToolsAI/ML ToolsMilitary AssessmentsHPEM IntegrationMilitary Operational AssessmentsCENTCOM AOR FamiliarityINDOPACOM AOR FamiliarityNORTHCOM AOR Familiarity

Qualifications

Active TS/SCI Clearance With Polygraph10+ Years Military Planning or Assessments7+ Years With Bachelor's Degree5+ Years Military Assessments and ResearchPhD in Relevant Field

Benefits

Paid Time Off
Tuition Assistance

Full job description

Job Title: Social Scientist, Senior

Job Category: Science

Time Type: Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: TS/SCI with Polygraph

Employee Type: Regular

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%

Type of Travel: Local


The Opportunity:

Join a team dedicated to advancing national security through innovative irregular warfare and operations expertise. CACI is seeking Social Scientists to support mission-critical efforts that help U.S. and partner forces better understand the human dimension of conflict and competition. By applying behavioral, cultural, political, and social science research methods, you will provide data-driven insights that inform operational planning, influence activities, and strategic decision-making in some of the world's most complex environments.

Working across Geographic and Functional Combatant Commands, you will collaborate with military planners, intelligence professionals, and operational leaders to assess the information environment, analyze audience behaviors and influence networks, and evaluate the effectiveness of operations. Your research and analytical expertise will directly contribute to developing evidence-based recommendations that improve mission effectiveness and support national security objectives.

This is an opportunity to apply rigorous qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to real-world challenges while influencing operational outcomes at the strategic and operational levels. Candidates who are passionate about human behavior, social research, and solving complex global problems in dynamic environments will find meaningful opportunities to make a measurable impact while growing their careers with CACI.

Responsibilities:

  • Conducts campaign and operational level assessments of the information environment using opinion research, intelligence, operational reporting, and social media insights

  • Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research applying rigorous social science methodologies to support operational planning in multi-national environments

  • Leads Hierarchy of Psychological Effects Model (HPEM) analysis in support of Psychological Operations

  • Develop and track measures of performance and effectiveness for OIE, IW, and Sensitive Activities

  • Creates data collection plans and coordinate stakeholder collection of social, cultural, economic, political, and religious indicators

  • Provides data visualization and translates empirical research findings into operational assessments for decision-makers

  • Designs, evaluates, and oversees opinion research through surveys, flash polls, focus groups, and in-depth interviews

  • Develops audience profiles and analyzes key communicators, networks, and regional or transregional state/non-state influence

  • Creates and delivers formal assessment reports through briefs, presentations, and inputs to Command-and-Control systems

  • Leads innovative social science research initiatives and evaluates external studies for methodological strength and operational relevance

Qualifications:

Required

  • Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph

  • MA/MS in a relevant field (e.g. behavioral sciences, social sciences, anthropology, sociology, psychology)

  • 10+ years’ experience supporting military operational planning and/or assessments (7 years with BA/BS) for OIE, IW, Sensitive Activities, or compartmented activities)

  • Demonstrated experience briefing or delivering written concepts to executive/senior-level (GO/FO/SES) decision makers

  • Demonstrated experience designing, administering and/or evaluating research instruments and activities in support of military operations

  • Demonstrated experience integrating data analytic tools, to include AI/ML enabled tools, in support of assessments and research

Desired:

  • PhD in relevant field

  • Demonstrated expertise applying social science and data analysis to military evaluations and assessments for OIE, IW, and Sensitive Activities

  • 5 years’ experience supporting military operational assessments and research at the CCMD, Service Component Command, Joint Task Force or similar level

  • Familiarity with CENTCOM, INDOPACOM, and/or NORTHCOM AORs

  • Demonstrated experience supporting formal assessments of Psychological Operations and integration of HPEM

What You Can Expect:

A culture of integrity.

At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.

An environment of trust.

CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.

A focus on continuous growth.

Together, we will advance our nation's most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.

Pay Range :

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.

The proposed salary range for this position is:

$103,800 - $218,100

CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.

How this job compares

Set against the 4,869 open Researcher jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 31, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$104–218K/yr
  • Maryland median$92–113K/yr85 salary ranges
  • US median$100–150K/yr2,231 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $161K, is 58% above the Maryland median midpoint ($102K) — in the middle half of Researcher salary ranges in Maryland.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 106 open Researcher jobs in Maryland and 4,869 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Experience
This posting asks for at least 10 years of experience — more than three in four Researcher postings that state a minimum ask for (median 4 years, across 1,605 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a master's degree; 2,441 of the 4,869 open Researcher jobs (50%) ask for a master's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 31, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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