Jobs at Council on Foreign Relations

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.

Leads media relations and executive communications for the Council’s president, developing proactive strategies, cultivating national and international media relationships, and drafting briefing materials, talking points, op-eds, newsletters, and digital content. Expands the president’s social media presence and public profile, advises senior executives, manages issues communications, and coordinates media opportunities, partnerships, collaborations, and events.

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.

Researches, develops, and produces original video content including documentaries, explainers, social videos, and podcasts. Writes scripts and interview questions, conducts interviews, operates professional camera and lighting equipment, and edits platform-native content. Collaborates with experts, writers, editors, vendors, and production staff while managing schedules and deliverables. The role also requires video SEO awareness, motion graphics knowledge, licensing coordination, and strong interest in international affairs and foreign policy.

Supports earned media strategy for CFR’s Studies Department by drafting press releases, media advisories, pitches, and journalist resources. Maintains media lists, tracks mentions, monitors inquiries, updates online media highlights, and supports events and virtual briefings. The role also assists with communications team onboarding and intern recruitment and supervision. Candidates need strong writing and editing skills, knowledge of international affairs and media landscapes, and experience with media monitoring, engagement tools, CRMs, and ESPs.

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.

Manage fellowship program operations, including marketing, applicant recruitment and screening, fellow placements, applicant communications, content editing, budget and grant tracking, reimbursements, reporting, and event logistics. Coordinate information sessions, conferences, travel support, and program materials while supporting the director and fellows across Washington, DC, and New York.

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.

Provides reception, visitor screening, phone management, customer service, badge and access coordination, meeting and event support, and administrative assistance to Finance, Legal, and other teams. Responsibilities include scheduling, expense reports, invoice processing, document preparation, deadline tracking, travel booking, visitor management, and coordination with facilities and events staff. The role is fully onsite in Washington, D.C., with regular overtime and occasional weekend work.

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.