May has kicked off, and despite an incredibly hectic period at work, it is time for another edition of the IR Career Starters Newsletter this month, packed with over 350 relevant internships, traineeships, fellowships and entry/early-career positions.
While this might look to be a return to normal on the IR job market, it might honestly just be a case of a single large organisation having a dreadful recruitment platform, and not cleaning out old defunct listings - so take the numbers with a grain of salt!
Last week, I did a career talk for L.S.A Custodia from Leiden University on kicking things off career-wise; I am always happy to try and fit these in, both in person and hybrid, as it is a little bit more personal and two-way oriented (save for the 1hr+ monologues that I sometimes do) so it was definetly a pleasure.
With an increasingly busy schedule, I am generally leaning more towards these engagements than 1:1 sessions, as I honestly struggle to find the time for them. I do get a few dozen requests per week, and while I try to respond to everything, I do maintain a fair backlog. While I always try to help where I can, a lot of questions can however be answered through the many guides and how-tos that I have written over the years, so please check them out!
I also have to give props to Jens Wickström who has been supporting the newsletter production by fulfilling a recurring wish for catagories and labels, making it easier to search up the right oppotunities! and also to the paid subscribers (Tamara, JT and Mark) who despite this being a fully open-access newsletter, with no additional benefits for paid subscribers, manage to offset pretty much all the costs involved in hosting the site, domain name etc - as I have noted before, things are running at near zero as it is, so I would much rather recommend you supporting Ukraine during its time of need.
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
🌐 MSF 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Learning & Development Unit, Geneva [HEA] [PUD]
🌐 OECD 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Assistant, Paris [DIP] [PUD]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Junior Legal Advisor - Accession, Directorate for Legal Affairs, Paris [LAW]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Junior Policy Analyst- Aggressive Tax Planning, Digitalisation of the economy, Paris [ACA] [ECO]
https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/OECD/oecd---en
🌐 GIZ 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Technical Support Unit Mitigation Action Facility, Berlin [ACA] [ENV]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Capacity for Nutrition – Advisory and Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, Bruxelles [HUM] [HEA]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, GIZ Representation, Brussels [DIP]
🌐 AIIB 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Senior Digital Program Specialist - Generative AI Analytics, Beijing [TEC] [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Analyst, Board Operations, Beijing [DIP]
https://www.aiib.org/en/opportunities/career/job-vacancies/staff/index.html
🌐 HRW 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate - Americas, - [HUM]
🌐 Council on Foreign Relations 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Program Assistant, Education, New York [EDU]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Associate, Finance, Business, and Technology, New York [ACA] [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Associate, History and Foreign Policy, New York [ACA] [DIP]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President and Director of Studies, New York [DIP]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Executive Assistant, Human Resources, New York, Washington DC [PUD]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Executive Assistant, Digital Content, New York, Washington DC [PUD]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Associate, Global Health, Economics, and Development, Washington DC [ACA]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Associate, U.S. Foreign Policy, Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Associate, Climate Change Policy, Washington DC [ACA] [ENV]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Associate, Global Economics, Washington DC [ACA] [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Associate, Global Governance, Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Associate, Southeast Asia and South Asia, Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
https://www.cfr.org/career-opportunities/open-positions
🌐 FINABEL 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Defence & Security Research, Brussels [ACA] [SEC]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Legal Research, Brussels [ACA] [LAW]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Communications, Brussels [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Editor, Brussels [PUD]
🌐 Brookings Institution 🌐
𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, Fellow/Senior Fellow & Director of Trade and Economic Statecraft, Washington DC [ACA] [ECA]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Staff Assistant, Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Washington DC [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Paralegal, Washington DC [LAW]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Assistant - Governance Studies, Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
https://careers-brookings.icims.com/
🌐 RAND Corporation 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Technical AI Policy Associate, - [ACA] [TEC]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Field Interviewer, Santa Monica [ACA]
https://www.rand.org/jobs.html
🌐 CSIS 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Multimedia Production External Relations (Summer 2025), Washington DC [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Japan Chair (Summer 2025), Washington DC [DIP] [ACA]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Energy Security and Climate Change Program (Summer 2025), Washington DC [ENV]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Project on Prosperity and Development (Summer 2025), Washington DC [PUD] [ACA]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Southeast Asia Program (Summer 2025), Washington DC [DIP] [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Economic Security and Technology Department (Summer 2025), Washington DC [DIP] [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Americas Program (Summer 2025), Washington DC [ACA] [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Office of Korea Chair (Summer 2025), Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, Freeman Chair in China Studies, Washington DC [ACA]
𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, Critical Minerals Security Program, Washington DC [ACA] [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Program Coordinator/Research Assistant - Economics Program and Scholl Chair in 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, International Business, Washington DC [ECO] [ACA]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, CRM Associate - External Relations/ Information Technology, Washington DC [TEC]
https://careers.csis.org/opportunities
🌐 Carnegie 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Communications, Beirut [SEC] [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Research, Beirut [SEC] [ACA]
https://carnegieendowment.applicantpro.com/jobs/
🌐 Green Climate Fund 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Liaison Officer for Jamaica, Remote [ENV]
https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/
🌐 NRC 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, ICLA and Community Project Assistant Consortium Nashiriki DR Congo, Béni [HUM]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Finance Technical Assistant, Jerusalem [HUM] [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Health, Safety and Security Technical Assistant, Jerusalem [SEC] [ACA]
🌐 ASEF 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Culture, Singapore [EDU]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Communications, Singapore [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Executive, Singapore [ACA] [DIP]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Governance, Singapore [ACA] [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Human Resources, Singapore [PUD]
https://asef.org/contact-us/work-for-us/
🌐 Council of Europe 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Project Assistants, Kyiv (4) [HUM]
https://talents.coe.int/en_GB/careersmarketplace
🌐 EBRD 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Data, Analytics & Strategy, London [ECO] [ACA]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate, Impact (Corporate Sector), London [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate, Green Financial Systems, London [ECO] [ENV]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate Banker, Istanbul [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Assistant, London
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate, Legal, Procurement Policy and Advisory Department, London [LAW] [ACA]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate, Talent Acquisition, Belgrade [PUD]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate, Gender and Economic Inclusion, London [HUM] [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate, London [LAW] [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate Banker, Istanbul [ECO]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Assistant, London
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Assistant, Mission Coordination, Kyiv
https://jobs.ebrd.com/search/?q=&locationsearch=
🌐 CADUS 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Institutional Fundraising, Berlin [ECO] [HEA]
https://www.cadus.org/en/participate/vacancies/
🌐 SEED Madagascar 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Operations and Support Junior Officer, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Operations and Administration Officer, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Programme Manager - Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort Dauphin [DEV] [EDU]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, SCRP, Remote [ACA] [DEV]
🌐 Egmont Institute 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Communications and Events, Brussels [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, European Affairs, Brussels [DIP] [PUD]
https://www.egmontinstitute.be/jobs-internships-and-opportunities/
🌐 Dråpen i Havet 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Programmes development, Remote [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, MEAL Development, Remote [DEV]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Communication, Lesvos [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Fieldworker, Lesvos [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, HR Support, - [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Humanitarian Aid, - [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Community Empowerment Mobilization, - [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Integration Support, - [HUM]
https://www.drapenihavet.no/ledige-internship/
https://drapenihavet.teamtailor.com/#jobs
🌐 Internews 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, P&C Administrative Assistant, London [PUD]
🌐 Justice in Motion 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Communications Associate, Remote [PUD]
https://www.justiceinmotion.org/join-us
🌐 ACLED 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Associate Data Scientist, Remote [ACA] [SEC]
https://acleddata.com/about-acled/careers/
🌐 Adam Smith International 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Communications Associate, Honiara [PUD]
https://adamsmithinternational.com/associate-consultant-positions/
🌐 IRC 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Misc Internships, - (178) [HUM]
https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/search-results?keywords=&from=10&s=1
🌐 International Center for Transitional Justice 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Programs, New York [LAW] [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Communications, New York [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Design, Monitoring and Evaluation, New York [ACA] [HUM]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Finance and Administrative Assistant - MENA, New York [ECO]
https://www.ictj.org/careers-0
🌐 Open Society 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Investment Associate, New York [ECO]
https://osfglobal.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/OSF
🌐 MyAgro 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Program Associate, - (32) [DEV]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Executive Assistant, New York [DEV] [DIP]
https://www.myagro.org/careers/
🌐 United Nations University 🌐
𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, Government Fellows, Guimaraes (8) [DIP] [ACA]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Communication Assistant (GS5), Bonn [PUD]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Assistant (CTC2), Kanazawa [ACA]
🌐 Baan Dek Foundation 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Video Editor and Translator, Chiang Mai [PUD] [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Accountant and Finance, Chiang Mai [ECO] [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Health Literacy Empowerment Program (HLEP), Chiang Mai [HEA] [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, HR & Admin, Chiang Mai [PUD]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Women Empowerment Program (WEP), Chiang Mai [HUM] [DEV]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Community Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [HUM] [DEV]
https://baan-dek.jobs.personio.com/
🌐 MENA Rights Group 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Legal, Geneva [LAW] [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Translator, Remote [HUM] [PUD]
http://www.menarights.org/en/about/careers
🌐 Welthungerhilfe 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Food Systems Toolkit, Berlin [ENV] [DEV]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Climate Resilience, Bonn [ENV] [DEV]
https://www.welthungerhilfe.org/jobs/
🌐 GOAL 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Volunteer, Dublin [HUM] [DEV]
https://www.goalglobal.org/careers/#current-openings
🌐 Search for Common Ground 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Program Development Asia Regional Team, Bishkek [DIP]
🌐 Center for Disaster Philanthropy 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Strategy and Research Program Associate, New York [ACA]
https://disasterphilanthropy.org/about/careers/
🌐 Clingendael Netherlands Institute of International Relations 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, EU and Global Affairs Research Unit (with a focus on EU Agriculture), The Hague [ACA] [DIP]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, 'Prospects for political reform and renewal' - Middle East, The Hague [ACA]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, West Africa & Sahel: Politics and Crime, The Hague [ACA] [SEC]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Business & Peace, Horn of Africa, The Hague [SEC] [ECO]
https://www.careers.clingendael.org/vacancy-jobs/overview-internships-extern
🌐 Protection Approaches 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, On Your Side Outreach Officer, London or Remote [LAW]
https://protectionapproaches.org/current-vacancies
🌐 Project Hope 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Development Assistant, Washington DC [HEA]
https://projecthope.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home?c=projecthope&date=WithinThirtyDays
🌐 HIAS 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Social Services, Silver Spring [HUM] [ACA]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Social Services, New York [HUM] [ACA]
https://hias.org/who/careers/#
🌐 ISS 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Conflict Prevention in the Great Lakes Region, Nairobi [SEC] [ACA]
https://issafrica.org/about-us/careers-and-opportunities
🌐 European Endowment for Democracy 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Administration, Logistics and Events support, Brussels [HUM]
https://apply.workable.com/eed/
🌐 Center for Democracy & Technology 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, legal, Brussels [LAW]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, policy analyst, Brussels [DIP]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, research, Brussels [ACA]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, technologist, Brussels [TEC]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, nonprofit communications and development, Brussels [PUD]
🌐 EuroCities 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Environment, Brussels [ENV]
🌐 RAND Europe 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Administrative Assistant, London [DIP]
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Assistant - Education, Employment and Skills, London [ACA] [DIP]
https://www.rand.org/randeurope/employment.html
🌐 German Marshall Fund of the United States 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Summer 2025 Trainee - GMF Technology Team, Washington DC [TEC]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Summer 2025 Civil-Military Relations Program, Washington DC [SEC]
https://gmfus.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-openings.php?search=true&
🌐 Centre for Policy Research 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Law and Social Science Research, Brussels [LAW] [ACA]
https://cprindia.org/work-with-us/
🌐 BIED Society 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, 2025 Research Specialists (taking applications now) [ACA] [DIP]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, 2025 Young Professionals Program (accepting applications now) [ACA] [DIP]
𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, 2025 Publication Fellows [ACA] [DIP]
https://www.biedsociety.com/jobs-new
🌐 World Concern 🌐
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Grant and Donor Engagement, Shoreline [DEV] [HUM]
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Shoreline [DEV] [HUM]
https://worldconcern.org/getinvolved/internships
🌐 TNO 🌐
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞, General, - [TEC]
https://www.tno.nl/en/careers/vacancies/2025/05/tno-traineeship/
🌐 European Policy Centre 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Communication and Events Team, Brussels (4) [PUD]
https://www.epc.eu/en/vacancies
🌐 CEPS 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Research Assistant/Researcher in Tech Policy and AI, GRID Unit, Brussels [ACA] [TEC]
https://www.ceps.eu/about-ceps/career-opportunities/
🌐 ICMPD 🌐
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲, Team Assistant, Ankara [DEV] [SEC]
Quick correction-the RAND Europe jobs are in Cambridge, not London.