IR Career Starters
March 2026
It is March, and once again time for a fresh new edition of IR Career Starters, packed with over 300 internships, traineeships, fellowships and entry/early-career positions.
While global volatility continues and the IR industry remains in a long-term slump, there are many highly interesting opportunities to be found with major intakes at regional and international organisations.
In general, I do not cover national or IGO opportunities in the newsletter, as I assume most people know these are the go-to places; however, several institutional programmes kick off during the spring, so I highly recommend staying on top of the field as part of your job hunt!
The newsletter is largely a complementary tool, and I am currently exploring other supportive measures I can offer. I have a fair few guide articles, and I am always interested in hearing wishes for new content, but I am also looking into shareable databases and doing more knowledge sharing.
I get a lot of individual requests for assistance, and while I do try to help everyone, I struggle with meeting everyone's needs. One-on-one interactions are fun and interesting, but also very time-consuming, so I am increasingly turning to communal solutions.
Lectures, masterclasses, interviews, features, and various conversational formats are things I go out of my way to accommodate; they are very effective ways to reach those who might find my insights useful.
The spring already has a few things lined up, so by all means, reach out!
All the best,
Alex
Legend
ACA - Academia and Research
DEV - International Development
DIP - Diplomacy and Policy
ECO - Economic Affairs and Trade
EDU - Education and Culture
ENV - Environment and Climate
HEA - Global Health
HUM - Human Rights / Humanitarian Affairs
LAW - International Law and Justice
PUD - Public Diplomacy, Communication and Media
SEC - Peace and Security
TEC - Technology, AI and Cyber
π The Center for a New American Security π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Defense, Washington [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development, Washington [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Energy, Economics, and Security, Washington [ECO] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Indo-Pacific Security, Washington [DIP] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Middle East Security, Washington [DIP] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, National Security Human Capital, Washington [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Technology and National Security, Washington [TEC] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Transatlantic Security, Washington [SEC] [DIP]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Artificial intelligence (AI) security and stability, Washington [TEC] [SEC]
π Democracy International π
ππ§πππ«π§, Social Media & Projects, Cologne [PUD]
https://www.democracy-international.org/jobs-internships-volunteering
π Middle East Institute π
ππ§πππ«π§, Policy Center, Washington [DIP]
π GPF Europe π
ππ§πππ«π§, Policy, Berlin or Cologne [DIP]
https://www.globalpolicy.org/en/jobs-internship
π The Lowy Institute π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Aid and Development Policy β Indo-Pacific Development Centre, Sydney [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Southeast Asia Aid Map β Indo-Pacific Development Centre, Sydney [ACA] [DIP]
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/about/careers#heading-9222
π CATO Institute π
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate β Center for Educational Freedom, Washington [ACA] [EDU]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate β Trade Policy, Washington [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Legal Associate, Washington [LAW]
https://www.cato.org/about/careers
π Front Line Defenders π
ππ§πππ«π§, African Commission on Human and Peoplesβ Rights, Banjul [HUM]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Frank Jennings Fellowship, Dublin and Geneva [HUM]
https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
π The Nature Conservancy π
ππ§πππ«π§, Marketing Coordinator, Hawaii [PUD]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, 2026 Kansas Healthy Streams and Soils Fellowship, Remote or Kansas [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², University of Redlands Stewardship Assistant, Fox Ranch Preserve [ECO]
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/
π WRI π
ππ§πππ«π§, Food Loss and Waste, Washington [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Sustainable Transport, Jakarta [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Software Engineer, Jakarta [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Policy and Capacity Building: Restoration, Washington [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Development Associate, FOLU, London [DEV]
π Atlantic Council π
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Atlantic Council Turkey Program, Washington [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Assistant, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Washington
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/careers/
π CEPA π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Democratic Resilience, Washington [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Tech Policy Program, Washington [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Editorial, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, External Affairs, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Executive Office, Washington [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Human Resources, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Transatlantic Defense and Security, Washington [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Office Operations, Washington [DIP]
https://cepa.org/about-cepa/work-with-us/
π Caspian Policy Center π
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Washington [ACA] [DIP]
https://www.caspianpolicy.org/careers
π Milken Institute π
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Washington [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Events and Programs, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Business and Program Development, Washington [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Associate, Social Impact & Philanthropic Research, Washington [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Associate, Neuroscience, Washington [HEA]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Associate, Financial Analyst, Washington [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Associate, Feeding Change, Washington [HEA]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Associate, Special Projects, Washington [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Programmatic Fundraising, Washington [ECO]
https://milkeninstitute.org/about/careers
π Kiel Institute π
ππ§πππ«π§, The (Geo-)Politics of Global Telecommunications, Kiel [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, The Ukraine Support Tracker, Kiel [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, research project on international capital flows, Kiel [ECO] [ACA]
https://www.kielinstitut.de/institute/career/
π International Idea π
ππ§ππ«π², State Associate Project Officer, ESGBV, Oyo, Kaduna & Benue [HUM] [LAW]
π Center for Democracy & Technology π
ππ§πππ«π§, Spring 2026 Academic-Year Externship, Washington (5)
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, AI Governance Fellow, Washington [TEC]
π DRC π
ππ§ππ«π², Operational Tracking Assistant, Amman [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Human Resources Assistant, Mykolaiv [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant β GBV Case Worker, Mai β Tsebri [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Student Assistants - LMU, Diaspora & GPS / Grants Management Unit, Copenhagen [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Humanitarian Mine Action Assistant (NTS/EORE Assistant), Kharkiv [HUM]
π Consortium on Gender, Security & Human Rights π
ππ§πππ«π§, Research & Administrative, Boston [ACA]
https://genderandsecurity.org/internship-program
π BIED π
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Research Specialists, - [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Young Professionals Program, - [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, 2025 Publication Fellows, - [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, 2025 International Affairs Fellows, - [ACA]
https://www.biedsociety.com/jobs-new
π Global Rights Compliance π
ππ§πππ«π§, Speculative Opportunities, The Hague [LAW] [HUM]
https://globalrightscompliance.org/work-with-us/
π PSP π
ππ§πππ«π§, Geopolitics, Montreal [DIP]
https://www.investpsp.com/en/work/careers/
π RUSI π
ππ§ππ«π², Course Assistant, London [EDU]
https://www.rusi.org/about/our-people/careers
π ICMPD π
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer, Abuja [HUM]
π SEED Madagascar π
ππ§ππ«π², Media and Communications Coordinator, Fort-Dauphin [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Programmes Manager - Conservation and Rural Livelihoods (Madagascar), Fort-Dauphin [ECO] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Conservation Research Assistant, Fort-Dauphin [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer - Conservation and Rural Livelihoods, Fort-Dauphin [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Manager β Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort-Dauphin [HEA] [EDU]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer β Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort-Dauphin [HEA] [EDU]
ππ§ππ«π², Programmes Manager - Community Health, Fort-Dauphin [HEA] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer - Community Health, Fort-Dauphin [HEA] [DEV]
π IREX π
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Kyiv [HUM] [DEV]
https://www.irex.org/job-seekers
π Bruegel π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Visiting Fellowships, Brussels (3) [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate accountant, Brussels [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistants, Brussels (3) [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant on Energy and Climate, Brussels [ACA] [ECO]
https://www.bruegel.org/careers
π DrΓ₯pen i Havet π
ππ§πππ«π§, HR Support, Greece [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Humanitarian Aid, Greece [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Mobilization, Greece [DEV] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Integration Support, Greece [HUM]
https://www.drapenihavet.no/ledige-internship/
π Justice in Motion π
ππ§ππ«π², Communications Associate, Remote (US) [PUD]
https://www.justiceinmotion.org/join-us
π ICTJ π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programs, New York [LAW] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, New York [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Design, Monitoring and Evaluation, New York [ACA] [LAW]
https://www.ictj.org/careers-0
π IFRC π
ππ§πππ«π§, Migration & Displacement, Kuala Lumpur [HUM]
https://careers.ifrc.org/lumesse_jobsearch.html
π MyAgro π
ππ§ππ«π², Communications Associate, Dakar [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Marketing and Social Media Associate, Thies [PUD]
https://www.myagro.org/careers/
π UNU π
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Bonn [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Operations & Programme Assistant, Kuala Lumpur [ACA]
π Baan Dek Foundation π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Chiang Mai [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Bangkok [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Video editor and translator, Bangkok or Chiang Mai (remote) [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Accountant and Finance, Chiang Mai [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Health Literacy Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [HEA] [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, HR & Admin, Chiang Mai [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Women Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [DEV]
https://baan-dek.jobs.personio.com/
π Karen Human Rights Group π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Programme Management, Thailand [HUM]
https://www.khrg.org/job-opportunities
π GOAL π
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer, Dublin [HUM [DEV]
https://www.goalglobal.org/careers/#current-openings
π SIPRI π
ππ§πππ«π§, Food, Peace and Security Programme, Solna [HEA] [SEC]
https://www.sipri.org/about/vacancies
π Asia Foundation π
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Pacific Islands [ACA] [PUD]
https://asiafoundation.org/about/careers/#open-positions
π ACTED π
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan : Country Logistics Officer β Port-Sudan [HUM] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan : Cash Project Officer β Port-Sudan [ECO] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Myanmar: Country Finance Officer β Yangon [HUM] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Armenia: Project Development Officer β Yerevan [HUM] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Libya : Country Finance Officer β Tunis [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Chad: Project Development Officer β NβDjamena [HUM] [DEV]
https://www.acted.org/en/get-involved/join-us/vacancies/
π MSF π
ππ§πππ«π§, L&D Unit, Geneva [PUD] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Tembo Meal Support, Barcelona [ACA] [DEV]
π Human Rights Watch π
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach, Zurich [DEV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Africa Division Intern (Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia), Johannesburg [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach Department, Toronto [DEV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Africa Division Intern (South Africa and Eswatini), Johannesburg [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Development and Outreach, Zurich [DEV] [PUD]
π European Institute of Peace π
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Assistant - Middle East and Gulf (EDP), Brussels [SEC]
https://vacancies.eip.org/jobs
π Council on Foreign Relationsπ
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, International Economics, New York [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Latin America Studies, New York [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Task Force, Washington [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, Local Journalists Initiative, New York [PUD]
https://www.cfr.org/career-opportunities
π The European Army Interoperability Centre π
ππ§πππ«π§, Defence & Security Research, Brussels [SEC] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Legal Research, Brussels [LAW] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Editor, Brussels [PUD]
π Brookings Institution π
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant, Retirement Security Project, Economic Studies, Washington [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant, The Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Washington [ACA] [ECO]
https://www.brookings.edu/careers/
π Carnegie Endowment for International Peace π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Beirut [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Beirut [ACA] [SEC]
π CSIS π
ππ§πππ«π§, Korea Chair (Spring and Summer 2026) [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Aerospace Security Project (Spring 2026) [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economics Program (Spring and Summer 2026) [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Missile Defense Project (Spring 2026) [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications and Operations [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economic Security and Technology Department (Spring 2026) [ECO] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Americas Program (Spring 2026) [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program (Spring 2026) [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business (Spring 2026) [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Critical Minerals Security Program (Spring 2026) [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Korea Chair (Spring 2026) [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Renewing American Innovation Project (Spring 2026) [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Project on Prosperity and Development and the Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative (Spring 2026) [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics (Spring 2026) [ECO]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Senior Fellow - Economic Security and Technology (EST) Front Office [ECO] [TEC]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Energy Security and Climate Change Program - Fellow [ECO] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Coordinator & Research Assistant OR Program Manager & Research Associate - Freeman Chair in China Studies, Washington [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Manager & Research Associate - Renewing American Innovation [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant - Aerospace Security Project [ACA] [SEC]
https://www.csis.com/about-us-career/
π Green Climate Fund π
ππ§πππ«π§, Office of the General Counsel β Private Sector Team, Incheon [ENV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Team Assistant, Incheon [ENV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Climate Investment Associate (Talent Pool) - Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Incheon (2) [ENV] [ECO]
https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/en/sites/CX_1001
π ICRC π
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Legal Counsel, Kyiv [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative Assistant, Kharkiv [HUM]
π NRC π
ππ§ππ«π², WASH Technical Assistant (Soft), Bunia [HEA]
ππ§ππ«π², Wash Technical Assistant, Bunia [HEA]
ππ§ππ«π², Logistics Assistant (Procurement), Kyiv [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², WASH and Shelter Technical Assistant, Shire [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Shelter Technical Assistant, Gadarif [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Shelter Technical Assistant, Tripoli [HUM]
π ASEF π
ππ§πππ«π§, Culture, Singapore [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Singapore [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Education, Singapore [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Executive Office, Singapore [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital Transformation, Singapore [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Governance and Sustainable Development, Singapore [DIP] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Human Resources, Singapore [PUD]
https://asef.org/contact-us/work-for-us/
π Norwegian Peopleβs Aid π
ππ§ππ«π², IM Assistant, Angola [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Logistics Assistant, Shyroke [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Assistant/Cashier, Shyroke [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Admin Assistant, Dushanbe [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Logistics Assistant, Syria [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Assistant, Damascus [ECO] [HUM]
https://www.npaid.org/vacancies
π IAEA π
ππ§πππ«π§, Design, Research, and Data Collection in Training, Vienna [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Finance Officer (Accounts Payable)(P1), Vienna [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Digital Printing Officer(P2), Vienna [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Project Officer (SAS)(P2), Vienna [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Team Assistant(G4), Vienna [PUD]
https://www.iaea.org/employment
π InterAmerican Development Bank π
ππ§πππ«π§, Several, Washington (89) [DEV]
NB. IADB has a massive intake of 89 interns, too many to list but check it out!
π EBRD π
ππ§πππ«π§, Strategic Partner Framework (SPF), Sofia [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Advice for Small Businesses, Istanbul [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Banker, Kyiv [ECO]
Entry, Associate Banker, Yeravan [ECO]
https://jobs.ebrd.com/search/?q=&locationsearch=
π OECD π
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Policy Analyst β Capital Markets and Corporate Governance - PAL3, Paris [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Policy Analyst, IFCMA, Paris [DIP] [ACA]
https://www.oecd.org/en/about/careers.html
π GIZ π
ππ§πππ«π§, Transport and Climate Change, Bonn [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication and Event Management β Transport and Climate Change, Bonn [ENV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, GET.transform Intern Digital Infrastructure, Bonn [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, International Hydrogen Ramp-up Programme (H2Uppp), Eschborn [ENV]
π International Crisis Group π
ππ§πππ«π§, Online Communications, Belgium, Kenya or UK [PUD]
π DCAF π
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer (Directorβs Office), Geneva [SEC] [DIP]
https://www.dcaf.ch/vacancies#/
π Caribbean Development Bank π
ππ§πππ«π§, Risk Management, Barbados [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Secretariat, Barbados [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Finance, Barbados [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Integrity, Compliance and Integrity, Barbados [ACA] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economics, Barbados [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Social Sector, Barbados [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Private Sector, Barbados [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Legal, Barbados (2) [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Independent Evaluation, Barbados (2) [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Strategy and Development Effectiveness, Barbados [PUD]
https://www.caribank.org/work-with-us/careers/open-positions
Want more IR career advice? Check out my open-access website www.ircareerstarters.com
The link for CSIS seems to be wrong- it's https://careers.csis.org/opportunities