Pros
PROJECTS: some of the most interesting, important, and impactful work you'll find in DC or elsewhere. A genuinely unique and innovative look at persistent conflict, illicit networks, and governance / security issues. An institutional commitment to doing things the right and intellectually rigorous way. Lots of market signals that what they're doing is valued by government, NGOs, and private industry. Opportunities for travel to interesting parts of the world. PEOPLE: all young, well-educated, foreign language and life experience, and into their work. People like each other. Not a whole lot of buddy-buddy stuff like happy hours, but the office atmosphere is friendly, productive, and frequently humorous. MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION: this is both a pro and con. On the positive side, the organization is extremely flat and results-oriented. There are no bureaucracies, pointless meetings, or micro-management. You get handed a bunch of cool technology, a general mission set, and are expected to reach the end (i.e. generate an outstanding research product) your own way. The hands-off approach allows room for individual innovation. Management has a vision for the place, cares deeply, and knows what needs to happen to get there. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: this also is both a pro and con. On the positive side, you likely will get experiences way ahead of your peers. The chance for a mid-twenties person to lead research projects, get major grants, and brief SES-level (and above) stakeholders is pretty cool. If you are a self-starter, there also are remarkable opportunities to learn some technical and software skills.
Cons
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION: on the negative side, the extreme hands-off and project-driven approach results in poor communication, a reliance on individual personalities, and an atomized office. This is a collective, not an organization - you will go exactly as far as you individually push. If you want to feel like part of something larger than yourself, you will be disappointed. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND COMPENSATION: starting salary is low, but that's to be expected at a non-profit. What is far worse is that there are no pathways for advancement. The flat and atomized nature of the place means any title change is purely ceremonial. There is zero correlation between performance and pay. Good or bad, you earn the exact same you did before (which, given inflation, means you're losing money), even if you brought in major contracts / grants. The end result is that you fundamentally are not recognized for your work, and that the only way to advance either your salary or professional development is to leave. Unsurprisingly, there is very high turnover, with an established pattern of people putting in ~2 years and then departing for greener pastures. If the organization wants to grow, it needs solve this problem, because as currently constructed it almost perfectly incentivizes people to build up their resume, get frustrated, and then leave.