Jobs at Council on Foreign Relations

Leads CFR’s Publications team and edits major foreign policy research reports for quality, clarity, structure, accuracy, and policy relevance. Supervises and mentors editorial staff, sets standards and priorities, manages publication schedules, develops editorial processes, and cultivates freelance editor and designer networks. Collaborates across departments, advises fellows on book publishing, and represents Publications organization-wide. Requires extensive editing experience, editorial leadership, foreign policy knowledge, strong judgment, interpersonal skills, and project management abilities.

Lead the launch and growth of CFR West, a new initiative connecting technology and foreign policy. Develop strategy, build technology-community relationships, shape convenings and research products, represent CFR on the West Coast, cultivate philanthropic and corporate support, and oversee regional staff. The role requires an entrepreneurial senior technology leader with policy exposure, strong convening and translation skills, broad knowledge of AI, defense technology, economic security, and U.S.-Asia relations, and willingness to travel frequently.

Design Manager responsible for hands-on creative execution across digital products, branding, editorial features, print publications, and organizational campaigns. The role maintains and evolves CFR’s brand standards, design documentation, templates, reusable patterns, and design systems. It provides design feedback, leads complex initiatives, collaborates with freelance creatives and cross-functional teams, and ensures consistent, high-quality deliverables across digital and print channels.

Leads CFR’s Local Journalists Initiative, including national events, webinars, workshops, outreach strategy, media partnerships, newsletters, email campaigns, and digital content. Manages one staff member, budgets, CRM records, program metrics, and relationships with local journalists and external organizations. Collaborates with Global Communications to strengthen local media engagement and CFR’s reputation. The role is based primarily onsite in New York and requires travel several times annually and occasional work outside normal business hours.

The Director of Government Affairs develops and executes outreach strategies with Congress, congressional staff, executive officials, and diplomats. Responsibilities include maintaining Capitol Hill relationships, coordinating policymaker consultations and events, connecting CFR fellows and experts with policymakers, overseeing external participants, and tracking international affairs developments. The role requires congressional or government relations experience, event planning expertise, strong communication and discretion, and frequent onsite work in Washington, DC.

Leads CFR’s West Coast regional outreach and engagement strategy, building relationships with members, policymakers, technology leaders, academics, businesses, media, and civil society organizations. The role expands CFR’s regional network, strengthens stakeholder connections, identifies strategic partners, informs programming, represents CFR at events, and supports cross-departmental initiatives. It is fully remote from Northern California but requires frequent West Coast travel and periodic travel to New York and Washington, DC.

Leads narrative development, editing, and production for video explainers, documentaries, social content, and podcasts. Responsibilities include script development, interviews, motion graphics, animation, platform-specific video adaptation, editorial guidance, vendor licensing, project timeline management, and mentoring producers. The role requires strong foreign policy interest, advanced post-production expertise, mastery of Adobe Premiere and After Effects, and proficiency across social video formats.

Supports alumni engagement programs by managing communications, CRM records, dues billing, event planning, logistics, virtual meeting operations, and post-event follow-up. Serves as the primary alumni contact and coordinates with speakers, presiders, visitors, media, and staff. The role also researches participation data, reports engagement trends, and advises on an alumni directory and portal.

Manages HR department operations, cross-functional projects, meetings, events, communications, and process documentation. Provides confidential executive assistance to the CHRO, including calendar and travel coordination, expense and invoice processing, contract review, document management, and meeting preparation. Serves as a liaison across HR teams and organizational stakeholders while handling sensitive information, tracking priorities, and coordinating departmental activities.

Supports directors in managing a defense and national security program’s operations, publications, events, budgets, marketing, digital presence, grants, and projects. Coordinates authors, fellows, interns, speakers, and internal departments; edits and proofreads research materials; organizes conferences; assists with funding proposals and reports; and handles scheduling, travel, and administrative tasks. The role requires strong writing, editing, organization, project management, and knowledge of defense and national security.

Writes and edits foreign policy explainers and digital content for general audiences. Responsibilities include copyediting, fact-checking, news monitoring, homepage curation, content pitching, newsletter and multimedia support, and collaboration with graphics and data teams. The role requires strong newsroom judgment, writing and editing skills, foreign policy knowledge, and the ability to work quickly in a deadline-driven environment.

Leads accounting, payroll, accounts receivable, and accounts payable operations for a nonprofit organization. Oversees financial close, reporting, grants, cost allocations, investments, audits, compliance filings, internal controls, and process automation. Manages and develops finance staff while partnering with FP&A, programs, development, auditors, and senior leadership to ensure accurate financial stewardship and strategic alignment.