Open Positions | Council on Foreign Relations

Available Positions in New York or Washington, DC

Fellow/ Senior Fellow for Climate Change Policy

The David Rockefeller Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is seeking to hire a fellow or senior fellow for climate change, with the title depending on the successful candidate’s level of experience. The fellow will contribute to CFR’s Climate Realism Initiative. The fellow will be expected to conduct original research and writing on topics that may include the geopolitical, geoeconomic, or security implications of climate change and the transition to low-carbon energy as well as climate-oriented trade, technology, and industrial policy, with the goal of informing debates and making recommendations for U.S. foreign policy. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual looking to shape the conversation to prepare the United States for the grave threats posed by global climate change, navigate the opportunities and risks of the energy transition for U.S. interests, and develop pragmatic and realistic strategies to avert the worst potential impacts of climate change.

Available Positions in New York

Executive Assistant, Human Resources

The Executive Assistant, Human Resources (EA, HR) will work as part of the Human Resources team, providing support to CFR’s Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and assisting with organizing team meetings and initiatives. The EA, HR will serve as a main point of contact in the HR department, triaging important updates to the appropriate team members. In addition, the EA, HR acts as a liaison between the various HR sub-groups and between offices. As the EA, HR is a key presence for the department, they will work full-time onsite in CFR’s New York offices. This position requires a high level of discretion and confidentiality and the ability to manage relationships both internally and externally.

Research Associate, Asia Studies

As part of the Studies Program, the research associate will spend half of his/her time supporting the fellow for Asia studies. The research associate will also support the work of other fellows and programs within the Studies Program.

Advertising Operations Associate, Foreign Affairs

Founded in 1922, Foreign Affairs is the preeminent publication on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which is a leading independent, nonprofit membership organization and nonpartisan center dedicated to producing and disseminating foreign policy ideas.

The Advertising Operations Associate will support all aspects of Foreign Affairs Print and Digital advertising sales. This role is an excellent opportunity to work at a venerable magazine and learn marketing and sales processes from beginning to end. We are looking for someone who is extremely organized, has strong communication skills and has experience with Google Ad Manager. Role reports into Advertising Director.

Talent Partner, Internships

Reporting to the Director, Talent, the newly created Talent Partner, Internships position will oversee and run CFR’s internship program. Currently, CFR hosts about 150 interns each year, split into three cohorts (Fall, Spring, Summer). In their first year, the Talent Partner will be asked to help evaluate, provide recommendations, and implement changes to the internship program to create better alignment with CFR’s current and future organizational needs.

In collaboration with the Director, Talent, the Talent Partner will play a central role in understanding the needs of departments seeking interns and identifying how to best match talent. The Talent Partner, Internships, will serve as the primary resource to both interns and intern supervisors throughout the program if issues arise and provide coaching to both parties. Furthermore, the Talent Partner will be involved with programming for interns’ professional development and work closely with the Learning, Development, and Engagement team to create and lead sessions.

In addition, a key part of this role will be to implement meaningful metrics to evaluate impact of the program.

Research Associate, Africa Policy Studies

The Research Associate will work under the direction of the Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, focusing on U.S. foreign policy with respect to political and security issues, civil society, democracy, corruption, and religion in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Program Assistant, Corporate Affairs

The Program Assistant will support the work of the Corporate Affairs department, which administers the Corporate Program and is the Council’s primary point of contact with the private sector. The Corporate Program raises $6 million through its membership program, which offers a forum for executives from approximately 120 leading global business and financial firms to explore issues at the nexus of business and foreign policy. The Program Assistant will spend half of his/her time supporting the Managing Director of CEO Programs. The Program Assistant will also support the work of the Corporate Program, supporting the Managing Director of Corporate Member Relations and will ensure the highest level of corporate member interaction.

Managing Director of Administration

Under the direction of the Senior Vice President and Director of Studies, the Managing Director oversees the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of Studies, CFR’s internal think tank. This includes staffing, budgeting, and developing and implementing departmental procedures. It also involves working with senior staff outside of Studies in areas including human resources, fundraising, compliance, and outreach.

Assistant Editor, David M. Rubenstein Fellow, Foreign Affairs

Founded in 1922, Foreign Affairs is the preeminent publication on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which is a leading independent, nonprofit membership organization and nonpartisan center dedicated to producing and disseminating foreign policy ideas.

The Assistant Editor, David M. Rubenstein Fellow has substantial responsibilities and is involved in all aspects of Foreign Affairs’ editorial process. Previous assistant editors have gone on to careers in a variety of fields, including journalism, academia, and government. The position lasts for one year, starting as early as June. The position will be offered on a hybrid basis. CFR currently defines hybrid as working at least three days a week onsite, with Tuesdays and Thursdays considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite.

The deadline to apply is January 17, 2025.

Associate Editor, Foreign Affairs

Founded in 1922, Foreign Affairs is the preeminent publication on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which is a leading independent, nonprofit membership organization and nonpartisan center dedicated to producing and disseminating foreign policy ideas.

Foreign Affairs is looking for a associate editor to join our editorial team. This position is located in New York on a hybrid basis. CFR currently defines hybrid as working at least three days a week onsite, with Tuesdays and Thursdays considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite. CFR’s hybrid schedule is subject to change.

Senior Editor, Foreign Affairs

Founded in 1922, Foreign Affairs is the preeminent publication on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which is a leading independent, nonprofit membership organization and nonpartisan center dedicated to producing and disseminating foreign policy ideas.

Foreign Affairs is looking for a senior editor to join our editorial team. This position is located in New York on a hybrid basis. CFR currently defines hybrid as working at least three days a week onsite, with Tuesdays and Thursdays considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite. CFR’s hybrid schedule is subject to change.

Deputy Editor, Foreign Affairs

Founded in 1922, Foreign Affairs is the preeminent publication on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which is a leading independent, nonprofit membership organization and nonpartisan center dedicated to producing and disseminating foreign policy ideas.

Foreign Affairs is looking for a deputy editor to join our editorial team. This position is located in New York on a hybrid basis. CFR currently defines hybrid as working at least three days a week onsite, with Tuesdays and Thursdays considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite. CFR’s hybrid schedule is subject to change.

Associate Director/Deputy Director, Foreign Affairs Media Relations

CFR’s Global Communications and Media Relations team works to promote CFR and Foreign Affairs content, activities, and experts via outreach to the media.

CFR is seeking to hire an associate director (or deputy director, depending upon experience). This role is responsible for media relations efforts for Foreign Affairs magazine and its website, ForeignAffairs.com. The position will work closely with the media relations coordinator for Foreign Affairs. The position reports to CFR's vice president, Global Communications, with close coordination with the editors and staff of Foreign Affairs. The position is hybrid, based at CFR’s headquarters in New York City.

Communications Assistant, Global Communications and Media Relations

The Global Communications and Media Relations department is responsible for positioning and promoting CFR and its scholars via the full spectrum of media, marketing, and public relations. The Communications Assistant, based in CFR’s New York office, must have an excellent understanding of international issues, the media landscape, and CFR scholars and content, and how they relate to the news cycle.

Research Associate, History and Foreign Policy

The research associate will work under the direction of the senior fellow for history and foreign policy. This position is based in CFR’s New York office on a hybrid basis. CFR currently defines hybrid status as working at least three days a week onsite, with Tuesdays and Thursdays considered institutional anchor days when all staff are required to be onsite.

Research Associate, Latin America and Geoeconomics

The research associate will report to the senior vice president, director of studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg chair. The fellow’s current work focuses on two general research areas: international trade and Latin America. The fellow’s work on international trade focuses on global supply chains and industrial policy, and their effects on economies and societies in the Western Hemisphere. Research on Latin America includes political and economic trends, crime and public security, energy, and immigration, with a special focus on Mexico, Brazil, and the Southern Cone.

Assistant Director, Event Management

The Assistant Director, Event Management will provide support to the Event Operations team based out of the New York office, both in contributing to management and oversight of the Harold Pratt House rental operations, and in supporting day-of logistics for Council events. This is an on-site role.

Assistant Director, Corporate Member Relations

The assistant director will support the work of the Corporate Affairs department, which administers the Corporate Program and is the Council’s primary point of contact with the private sector. The Corporate Program raises over $6 million through its membership program, which offers a forum for executives from approximately 100 leading global businesses to explore issues at the nexus of business and foreign policy.

Reporting to and working closely with the Managing Director, Corporate Member Relations, the assistant director will ensure the highest level of corporate member interaction. Qualified candidates will have related experience that requires exceptional attention to detail, the ability to prioritize, sound judgment, and the highest level of discretion

Program Coordinator, National Program

CFR is truly a national organization, with a plurality of its membership based outside of our New York and Washington, DC, hubs. The National Program provides a forum for these members to discuss pressing foreign policy issues and contribute to CFR’s research by organizing approximately eighty on-the-ground meetings each year in cities across the country, as well as two large annual events and interactive virtual programming.

Assistant to the Vice President, National Program and Outreach

CFR is truly a national organization, with a plurality of its membership based outside of our New York and Washington, DC, hubs. The National Program provides a forum for these members to discuss pressing foreign policy issues and contribute to CFR’s research by organizing approximately eighty on-the-ground meetings each year, as well as two large annual events and interactive virtual programming. The Outreach side of the department is dedicated to raising the profile of CFR beyond CFR’s membership and promoting an informed citizenry through programming and the dissemination of CFR resources. Current initiatives focus on state and local officials; local journalists; college and university educators, administrators, and students; and congregational leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations. We are also currently developing a fifth initiative focused on the technology industry.

The Assistant to the Vice President of CFR’s National Program and Outreach department will provide administrative support to department leadership and work closely with fellow National Program team members to assist with programming ideas and execution. This position will be based in CFR’s New York office on a hybrid work schedule.

Available Positions in Washington, DC

Research Associate, Digital and Cyberspace Policy

CFR’s David Rockefeller Studies Program is one of the country’s largest foreign policy think tanks with a widely respected and influential research staff. The Studies Program aims to advance the discussion of American foreign policy and international affairs through its writing, publications, public outreach, and discussions. The research associate will work under the direction of the senior fellow for digital and cyberspace policy.

Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow

The David Rockefeller Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is seeking to hire a Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow. The fellow will be expected to conduct original research on nuclear security policy, which includes nuclear terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and nuclear weapons, and as it relates to nuclear security, nuclear energy. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual looking to shape new thinking and creative policy solutions on the spread of nuclear weapons to unstable and hostile states, the collapse of arms control and risk of conflict between nuclear-armed nations, the importance of nuclear weapons in great power competition, and the impact of new technologies such as AI and quantum on the nuclear balance.

Associate Director/Deputy Director, Media Relations

CFR’s Global Communications team works to promote CFR and Foreign Affairs content, activities, and experts via outreach to the media.

CFR’s Communications team is seeking to hire an associate or deputy director, depending on job experience. This role is responsible for leading media relations efforts to promote CFR publications, initiatives, and experts. The position will work closely with the managing director and communications coordinator in DC and with the communications team in NY. The position reports to the vice president of Global Communications.

Deputy Director, Corporate Member Relations

The Deputy Director, Corporate Member Relations will support the work of the Corporate Affairs department, which administers the Corporate Program and is the Council’s primary point of contact with the private sector. The Corporate Program raises over $6 million through its membership program, which offers a forum for executives from approximately 120 leading global businesses to explore issues at the nexus of business and foreign policy.

The Deputy Director will report directly to the Managing Director, Corporate Member Relations, and work closely with others in the Corporate Affairs department and across the Council. This position will work on all matters related to corporate member relations, stewardship, retention, and business development.

Associate Director, Open Source Observatory

The associate director will support the work of the Open Source Observatory, part of the China Strategy Initiative (CSI). CSI seeks to answer the questions that go to the heart of American China strategy through fresh analysis, granular policy recommendations, and convenings with experts from around the world. Critical to that effort is the Open Source Observatory which will acquire, digitize, and translate vast quantities of Chinese-language material.

The associate director will report to and work closely with the Director of the China Strategy Initiative. Qualified candidates will have related experience in managing Chinese translation projects.

Director, HR Systems & People Analytics

The Director, HR Systems & People Analytics will evaluate and recommend HR systems solutions for CFR’s current and future organizational needs. The Director will also liaise with payroll and all HR sub-functions including talent, learning and development, and total rewards and be fully integrated into the team(s). In addition, they will partner with key internal stakeholders such as Finance, Information Technology, and Product & Engineering. A key piece of this position will be to work with an in-house analytics team to build an HR metrics dashboard, with the goal of telling interesting and relevant stories through data to a variety of audiences within and beyond the organization.

Associate Director, Benefits

The Associate Director, Benefits works across all benefits programs at CFR in collaboration with the existing team in both the NY and DC offices. In partnership with the Deputy Director, Benefits and Compensation, the Associate Director manages transactional work for benefits and HR related activities related to payroll. The Associate Director will be the main benefits contact and a go-to resource for employees in the DC office. The Associate Director will also be the primary leave administrator for the DC office, meeting with employees to discuss the leave process, distributing relevant materials, and providing information to CFR’s third party leave administrator to help process claims. In addition, this role provides additional onsite support for in-office HR presence, including assisting with large-scale events and aiding with other HR team functions as needed.

How to Apply

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Contact

New York Office

58 East 68th Street
New York, NY 10065
tel 212.434.9400

Washington Office

1777 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
tel 202.509.8400