Research Specialist - Middle East and Central Asia (Falls Church, VA; St. Louis, MO)

October 6, 2026

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Research Specialist - Middle East and Central Asia (Falls Church; St. Louis)

Position: Research Specialist - Middle East and Central Asia

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Falls Church,VA. (Remote within the Continental US but strong preference will be given to applicants located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.)

About Us: Tesla Government Inc. (no affiliation with the automotive company) is a rapidly growing small business, located in Falls Church, Virginia. Founded in 2009, Tesla Government seeks to improve how government agencies manage and share information internally and with government and external partners. Our proven agile, outcome-oriented approach delivers results quickly, reducing risk and driving client success.

We offer Flex PTO, flexible work schedule, health benefits, 4% matching on 401k contributions, competitive compensation, and work from home (telework). We have a friendly, active work environment, and our projects make a difference.

The Role: Research Specialists support in-depth open source research, report writing, data organization, user relationship management, and knowledge management for customers focused on the specified region.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (proportional breakdowns of responsibilities vary):

Research & Writing

Respond to user information needs by developing reports from open source research and official reporting

Identify key emerging topics in the region and take the initiative to develop reports on the topics in advance of user requests

Study and adhere to strict style guide and writing standards

Continuously review and revamp previously composed reports so that they maintain applicability and are of premium quality

User Relationship Management

Build and maintain relationships with users virtually and in-person

Brief users on evolving topics

Train users to navigate and leverage online platforms and collaboration tools

Identify, suggest, and execute key information-sharing initiatives that provide value to government and military organizations

Knowledge Management

Help users manage their information, organizing it in an intuitive manner

Manage extensive compilations of reports to enable users to readily discover information

Continually find new ways to better relay information, leveraging visualizations and breaking up text

Other Duties, as Assigned

Attributes of a Successful Research Specialist:

A keen sense of how to discover hard-to-find information
Ability to organize complex information in an easily navigable way
Ability to synthesize content from disparate sources to produce clean, clear, and concise reports on complicated subjects
Ability to create engaging written, graphical, and multimedia content
Ability to meet deadlines without compromising quality
Technical savvy and willingness to learn various computer and web-based applications
Comfortability with public speaking

Required Qualifications:

BA/BS in foreign affairs, international security, area studies, political science, governmental studies, a related field or military experience
Experience studying or working on international relations, strategic competition, conflict, development, law enforcement, and/or governance issues
US citizenship and ability to acquire a security clearance

Desired Qualifications:

MA/MS in foreign affairs, international security, area studies, political science, governmental studies, or a related field
Study or work experience in Middle East and/or Central Asia regions
Foreign language skills: Arabic or Farsi
Work or internship experience with think tanks, development agencies, US military, or federal government
Experience facilitating collaboration between multiple stakeholder organizations
Knowledge and experience using Python or other data scraping/analysis tools

Compensation: The expected initial salary for this role is $60,000 annually. Actual compensation may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge and skills, education, experience, certifications, geographic location, and organizational needs. Individual compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to base salary, Tesla Government offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings options, paid time off, paid holidays, and professional development opportunities.

Tesla Government Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws

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