IR Career Starters
August 2025
While the summer is almost over, it is my time to step back and unwind for a few weeks before a hectic autumn begins.
Despite vacation mode being on, I have still managed to compile a fresh new edition of the IRC, once again packed with hundreds of relevant opportunities in international affairs.
Occasionally, I get questions about why I never share opportunities with organisations such as the AU, EU, UN or ASEAN when jobs are to be had!
The answer is pretty simple; most graduates will be exposed to these organisations when they leave their respective universities, with a diploma, so there is not much added value in my compiling things that people can easily find by themselves!
Instead, I track about 500 different organisations, many of which work in niche domains, and who might hire a lot less, but who might also be a lot less competitive.
Another topic I never really get asked about isΒ how I ensure I reach the right people with the newsletter? And the reality here is that I do not; you do!
While the website helps to generate passive traffic of people searching for IR career advice, the vast majority (90%+) of reach is generated by subscribers and LinkedIn followers.
Every single share, comment and like echoes out the newsletter to other students and graduates facing the same challenges as you - every interaction with the newsletter on either LinkedIn or Substack helps it get picked up by the algorithm, which sadly only becomes harder and harder.
The newsletter needs both opportunities and growth to sustain itself. So, a big thanks to those who consistently share it with your networks, comment with your insights, suggest new organisations to look into, and like the content to increase reach!
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 OECD π
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Trade Policy Analyst, PAL4, Paris [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Policy Analyst β Illicit Trade and Free Trade Zones, PAL4, Paris [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Policy Analyst - Statistics on Sustainable Development Finance, Paris [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Policy Advisor, Paris [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Policy Analysts - Artificial Intelligence, Paris (5) [TEC] [ACA]
https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/OECD/oecd---en
π GIZ π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications for the openIMIS Coordination Desk - supporting a Digital Public Good, Bonn [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Secretariat of the Global Shield against Climate Risks, Bonn [ENV] [ACA]
π DCAF π
ππ§ππ«π², Project Officer β Security and Human Rights Implementation Mechanism (SHRIM) (80-100%), Geneva [HUM] [SEC]
https://www.dcaf.ch/vacancies#/
π AIIB π
ππ§ππ«π², Investment Associate - Urban/Water, Beijing [ECO] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Investment Associate β Transport, Beijing [ECO]
https://www.aiib.org/en/opportunities/career/job-vacancies/staff/index.html
π CFR π
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Membership, New York [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, Fellowship Affairs, New York [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Operations Assistant, New York [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, International Political Economy, New York [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Russia Studies, New York [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Nuclear Security and U.S. Foreign Policy, Washington DC [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Climate and Energy, Washington DC [ACA] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Technology and National Security, Washington DC [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Nuclear Security, Washington DC [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Global Health, Economics, and Development, Washington DC [HEA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Global Governance, Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
https://www.cfr.org/career-opportunities/open-positions
π FINABEL π
ππ§πππ«π§, Defence & Security Research, Brussels [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Legal Research, Brussels [ACA] [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Editor, Brussels [PUD]
π Brookings π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Fellow/Senior Fellow, China Center [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant, Tax Policy Center [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Executive Assistant, Development [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Executive Assistant, Executive Office [PUD]
https://careers-brookings.icims.com/jobs/intro
π RAND Corporation π
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative Assistant - Research Support (Security Clearance) [PUD] [ACA]
https://www.rand.org/jobs.html
π Carnegie Endowment for International Peace π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication, Beirut [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Beirut [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Washington DC [ACA] [LAW]
https://carnegieendowment.applicantpro.com/jobs/
π CSIS π
ππ§πππ«π§, Arleigh Burke Chair in Strategy (Fall 2025), Washington DC [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Southeast Asia Program (Fall 2025), Washington DC [DIP] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Middle East Program (Fall 2025), Washington DC [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Center for the Industrial Base (Fall 2025), Washington DC [SEC] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economic Security and Technology Department (Fall 2025), Washington DC [ECO] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Renewing American Innovation Project (Fall 2025), Washington DC [TEC] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Project on Nuclear Issues (Fall 2025), Washington DC [SEC] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Japan Chair (Fall 2025), Washington DC [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Critical Minerals Security Program (Fall 2025), Washington DC [SEC] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Health Policy Center (Fall 2025), Washington DC [HEA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Missile Defense Project (Fall 2025), Washington DC [SEC] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Office of Korea Chair (Fall 2025), Washington DC [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Americas Program (Fall 2025), Washington DC [ECO] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Energy Security and Climate Change Program (Fall 2025), Washington DC [ENV] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Congressional & Government Affairs (Fall 2025), Washington DC [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business (Fall 2025), Washington DC [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics (Fall 2025), Washington DC [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications (Fall 2025), Washington DC [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Multimedia Production Intern - External Relations (Summer 2025), Washington DC [PUD]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Washington DC [ENV] [SEC]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business, Washington DC [ECO]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Critical Minerals Security Program, Washington DC [ECO] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate - Critical Minerals Security Program, Washington DC [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², CRM Associate - External Relations/ Information Technology, Washington DC [PUD] [TEC]
https://careers.csis.org/opportunities
π GSCP π
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Administrative Assistant, Geneva [SEC] [ECO]
https://www.gcsp.ch/work-with-us
π Green Climate Fund π
ππ§πππ«π§, Office of the Chief of Strategy and Impact, Incheon [ENV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Accounting Officer - Programme Funding [ECO] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Accounting Officer - Contribution and Equity Investment [ECO] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Accounting Officer - Expenditures [ECO] [ENV]
https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/en/sites/GCF-Careers/jobs
π ICRC π
ππ§ππ«π², Generalist Field Officer, Kassala [HUM] [PUD]
π DACAAR π
ππ§πππ«π§, General, Kabul [DEV]
π NRC π
ππ§πππ«π§, Finance, Quito [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², WASH Assistant, Kandahar [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Humanitarian Access and Safety Technical Assistant, Jerusalem [HUM] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Logistics Assistant, Guayaquil [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Technical Assistant, Quito [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², ICLA Assistant, Esmeraldas [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Education Assistant, Marib [EDU]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Technical Assistant, Tunis [ECO]
π HALO Trust π
ππ§πππ«π§, Advocacy, Washington DC [PUD] [HUM]
https://www.halotrust.org/careers/job-vacancies/
π Nordic Cooperation π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Nordregio, Stockholm [ACA]
https://www.norden.org/da/karriere
π IAEA π
ππ§πππ«π§, Web and Outreach, Vienna [PUD] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, TC Regional Divisions, Vienna [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Team Assistant, Vienna (2) [SEC]
https://www.iaea.org/employment
π ADB π
ππ§πππ«π§, General, London [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Banker, Dakar [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant Analyst - Portfolio, London [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Banker, Baghdad [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Technical Architect, London [ECO] ][ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant, Abidjan [PUD] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant, Cotonou [PUD] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate - Policy, Belgrade [ECO] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant - CSD [ENV] [ECO]
π Carbon Market Watch π
ππ§ππ«π², Policy Officer - International Transport Decarbonisation, Brussels [ENV] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Policy Officer - EU Carbon Markets, Brussels [ENV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Operations Support Assistant, Brussels [ENV] [PUD]
https://carbonmarketwatch.org/jobs/
π DrΓ₯pen i havet π
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer, Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, HR Support, Lesvos [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Humanitarian Aid, Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Mobilization, Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Integration Support, Lesvos [HUM] [DIP]
https://drapenihavet.teamtailor.com/#jobs
https://www.drapenihavet.no/ledige-internship/
π Bruegel π
ππ§ππ«π², Operations Assistant, Brussels [PUD] [ECO]
https://www.bruegel.org/careers
π SEED Madagascar π
ππ§πππ«π§, Operations and Support Junior Officer, Fort Dauphin [DEV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Operations and Administration Officer, Fort Dauphin [DEV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator, Fort Dauphin [DEV] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer, Fort Dauphin [DEV] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer - Rural Livelihoods, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Manager β Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort Dauphin [DEV] [EDU]
π IRI π
ππ§ππ«π², Project Associate, Washington DC [DIP]
https://www.iri.org/work-with-iri/#career-opportunity
π Transparency International π
ππ§πππ«π§, EU Policy, Brussels [LAW] [PUD]
π ACLED π
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital Content Creation, Remote [PUD] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Media & Digital Communications, Remote [PUD] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Social Media Officer, Remote [PUD] [SEC]
https://acleddata.com/about/careers
π IRC π
ππ§πππ«π§, non-technical, - (100)
NB. horrible website, so cannot say what is, and what isn't available.
π Adam Smith International π
ππ§ππ«π², Delivery Associate (Organised Illegal Migration) - UPSCALE II Programme, Islamabad [SEC] [LAW]
https://adamsmithinternational.com/associate-consultant-positions/
π ICTJ π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programs, New York [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication, New York or Remote [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Design, Monitoring and Evaluation, New York or Remote [ACA] [LAW]
https://www.ictj.org/careers-0
π IFRC π
ππ§πππ«π§, Protection, Gender and Inclusion, Nairobi [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Finance and Admin, Bangkok [ECO] [HUM]
https://careers.ifrc.org/lumesse_jobsearch.html
π Politico π
ππ§πππ«π§, Editorial Internship, HQ Summer 2026, Arlington (2) [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Business Development Associate, Professional Subscriptions, Arlington [ECO]
https://www.politico.com/careers
π MyAGro π
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, - (32) [DEV]
https://www.myagro.org/careers/
π UN University π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Government, Guimaraes (8) [ACA] [TEC]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Policy Research Fellow - Power & Accountability, Kuala Lumpur [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Academic Officer, Bonn [ACA] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Associate β Energy Research in Agri-food System Innovations, Bonn [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Student Assistant, Remote (2) [ACA] [ENV]
π SEI π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Policy, Stockholm [DIP] [ENV]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Bankable Climate Adaptation Solutions and Finance Mechanisms at the local scale, Bangkok [ENV] [ECO]
https://www.sei.org/people/jobs/
π Baan Dek Foundation π
ππ§πππ«π§, BDF Communication, Chiang Mai [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, BSI Communication, Bangkok [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Video Editor & Translator, Remote [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Account and Finance, Chiang Mai [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Health Literacy Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [HUM] [HEA]
ππ§πππ«π§, HR & Admin, Chiang Mai [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Women Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [HUM] [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [PUD] [EDU]
https://www.baandekfoundation.org/work-with-us#workwithus
π MENA Rights Group π
ππ§πππ«π§, Legal, Geneva [LAW] [HUM]
https://www.menarights.org/en/about/careers
π GOAL π
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer, Dublin [HUM]
https://www.goalglobal.org/careers/#current-openings
π IA Society π
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Officer, Resource Mobilization and Development, Geneva [HEA]
https://apply.workable.com/iasociety/#jobs
π Search for Common Ground π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication, Brussels [PUD] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Affairs and Partnerships Policy, Remote [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Program Development, Remote [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Program Development Asia Regional Team, Bishkek [PUD] [SEC]
π Hague Centre for Strategic Studies π
ππ§ππ«π², Data Scientist & Software Developer (Junior), the Hague (2) [ACA] [SEC]
π SIPRI π
ππ§ππ«π², Management Assistant, Solna [PUD]
https://www.sipri.org/about/vacancies
π Samuel Hall π
ππ§πππ«π§, Research Assistant - Research & Policy Pillar, Nairobi [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant, SWANA Region- Research & Policy Pillar, Remote [ACA] [DIP]
https://www.samuelhall.org/careers
π PHR π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications β Video Production, New York [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications β Media and Publications, New York [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital Communications, New York [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Human Resources, New York [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Individual Development, New York [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Working with Medical Director, New York [ACA] [HEA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Legal, New York [LAW]
π SPC π
ππ§ππ«π², Finance and Administration Assistant, Kiribati [ECO] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Officer - Science Summit Resources, Suva [EDU] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Human Resources Associate, Suva [PUD]
π Impact Initiatives π
ππ§πππ«π§, Applied Research for HQ, Geneva [ACA]
https://www.impact-initiatives.org/work-with-us/#vacancies
π HIAS π
ππ§πππ«π§, Social Services, New York [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Social Services, Silver Spring [HUM]
https://hias.org/who/careers/#
π ACTED π
ππ§ππ«π², Mozambique : Country Finance Officer, Pemba [ECO]
https://www.acted.org/en/get-involved/join-us/vacancies/
πCenter for Democracy and Technology π
ππ§πππ«π§, Academic-Year Externship, Remote [LAW] [TEC]
π RAND Europe π
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative Assistant - Defence, Security and Justice, Cambridge [SEC]
https://www.rand.org/randeurope/employment.html
π Enabel π
ππ§πππ«π§, Innovation, Brussels [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Support Event and Capitalisation - Gender and Inclusion, Brussels [PUD]
https://jobs.enabel.be/go/All-vacancies/4648801/
π DRC π
ππ§πππ«π§, EU Humanitarian Advocacy, Brussels [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Financial, Copenhagen [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Economic Recovery Team, Copenhagen [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant, Beledweyn [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection and HDP Assistant β Emergency Response, Dollo Ado and Daka Suftu [HUM]
https://drc.ngo/about-us/work-with-us/
π BIED Society π
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Research Specialists, - [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Young Professionals Program, -
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, 2025 Publication Fellows, - [PUD]
https://www.biedsociety.com/jobs-new
π Plan International π
ππ§ππ«π², Health and Nutrition Assistant, Gorodolla [HEA]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Assistant, Gorodolla [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Business Development Associate, Cairo [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Sponsorship Assistant, Nampula [PUD]
https://jobs.plan-international.org/
π Peace Humanity π
ππ§πππ«π§, Weekly News Recap Writer: Peace and Security section, Remote [PUD] [SEC]
https://peacehumanity.org/join-us/
π ICMP π
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer, Vienna [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant, Sarajevo [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Resources Management Officer, Brussels [DIP] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer, Islamabad [DIP]
π Learning Life π
ππ§πππ«π§, Family Diplomat, Washington DC [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Family Diplomacy Ambassador, Washington DC [DIP]