IR Career Starters
December 2025
December is upon us, and with Christmas around the corner, there is no better time to grind away at those applications. As always, December is a big slump when it comes to listings, but there are still some to be had.
November has been a hectic month. I attended the EU-AU Summit in Luanda, an amazing experience, but definitely one that took up almost all my time, and thus put a dampener on my regular posting and sharing of opportunities.
Earlier in June, I also had the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion on hybrid threats, geopolitics and resilience alongside Lone Wisborg, Trine Flockhart and Luke Patey during the European Diplomatic Programme in Copenhagen. The EGP is aimed at junior diplomats from all the European Member States, with participation of the training directors of the respective MFAs; another great experience!
For those curious about what else I do, the Nordic Africa Institute just shared a short video of the 2025 cohort of the NAI Early Career Diplomat Briefing programme, and the experiences we shared this summer in Uppsala.
With a busy month behind me, I do also leave a huge backlog of individual requests behind me, and while I am sadly at a point where it is just impossible to answer everyone, I do try to cover as much ground as possible.
General questions are better handled in plenary formats, and I do take time out of my calendar to speak in university, study association and branch organisation settings.
For the granular and unique challenges, bilateral engagements are better. Just please be patient with my responses, it takes time getting through to everyone!
All the best, and a merry Christmas!
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 Actuary, Boulogne-Billancourt [ECO] [ACA]
https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/OECD/oecd---en
π GIZ π
ππ§πππ«π§, GIZ Representation, Brussels [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, βIncorporating local perspectives into the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the Great Lakes Regionβ, Kigali [HUM] [SEC]
π MSF π
ππ§ππ«π², International Communications Assistant, Dubai [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Legal assistant, Geneva [LAW] [HUM]
π Human Rights Watch π
ππ§πππ«π§, Multimedia, New York [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Americas Division, Sao Paulo [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach Department, Sydney [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach Department, Tokyo [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Asia Division, Tokyo [HUM] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant, Libya and Tunisia, Tunisia [HUM] [ACA]
https://www.hrw.org/careers#all_jobs
π Council on Foreign Relations π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Research Fellow, Artificial Intelligence, New York [TEC] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Fellowship Affairs, New York or Washington [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, State and Local Officials Initiative, New York [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, Local Journalists Initiative, New York [PUD]
https://www.cfr.org/career-opportunities/open-positions
π FINABEL 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] [ACA]
π Brookings Institution π
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant or Senior Research Assistant, The Hamilton Project, Washington [ACA] [ECO]
https://careers-brookings.icims.com/
π CSIS π
ππ§πππ«π§, Project on Nuclear Issues (Spring 2026), Washington [SEC] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business (Spring 2026), Washington [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Critical Minerals Security Program (Spring 2026), Washington [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Korea Chair (Spring 2026), Washington [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Multimedia Production/ iDeas Lab (Spring 2026), Washington [TEC] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Southeast Asia (Spring 2026), Washington [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Renewing American Innovation Project (Spring 2026), Washington [ACA] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Project on Prosperity and Development and the Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative (Spring 2026), Washington [ACA] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Health Policy Center (Spring 2026), Washington [HEA] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics (Spring 2026), Washington [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Congressional & Government Affairs (Spring 2026), Washington [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Japan Chair (Spring 2026), Washington [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications (Spring 2026), Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Freeman Chair in China Studies (Spring 2026), Washington [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Americas Program (Fall 2025), Washington [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Futures Lab (Fall 2025), Washington [TEC] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Center for the Industrial Base (Fall 2025), Washington [SEC] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Critical Minerals Security Program (Fall 2025), Washington [ACA] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Americas Program (Fall 2025), Washington [ACA] [DIP]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, H. Andrew Schwartz Fellow, Washington [ACA] [PUD]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Senior Fellow - Economic Security and Technology (EST) Front Office, Washington [ECO] [TEC]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Fellow - Critical Minerals Security Program, Washington [SEC] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Coordinator/Research Assistant - Missile Defense Project, Washington [SEC] [ACA]
https://careers.csis.org/opportunities
π ICRC π
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative Assistant, Tel Aviv [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Forensic Program Assistant, Khartoum [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative, Manila [HUM]
π NRC π
ππ§ππ«π², ICLA Technical Assistant North-East Ukraine, Kharkiv [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², ICLA and Protection Assistant Yemen, Aden [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Technical Assistant Sudan, Nyala [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Assistant, PanamΓ‘ [ACA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², ICLA and Protection Assistant Yemen, Taiz [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Assistant (Admin & Comms), - [HUM] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Shelter Technical Assistant, Tripoli [HUM] [DEV]
π ASEF π
ππ§πππ«π§, Culture Department, Singapore [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Department, Singapore [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Executive Office, Singapore [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Governance Unit, Singapore [ACA] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Human Resources Unit, Singapore [PUD]
https://asef.org/contact-us/work-for-us/
π HALO Trust π
ππ§ππ«π², Government Affairs Associate (HALO USA), Washington [HUM] [SEC]
https://www.halotrust.org/careers/job-vacancies/
π ADB π
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Portfolio Management Officer, Mandaluyong [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Logistics Management Officer (Mail and Messenger Services), Mandaluyong [PUD] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Corporate Services Officer, Bangkok [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Operations Assistant, Sydney [DEV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Assistant, Bangkok [ECO] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Operations Assistant, Nepal [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Operations Assistant, Bangladesh [ECO]
https://www.adb.org/work-with-us/careers/current-opportunities
π EBRD π
ππ§ππ«π², Event Assistant, London [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, HROD Front Office, London [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Banker, London [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Banker, Abijan [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Vulnerability Management Engineer, Sofia [TEC] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Banker, Kyiv [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Product Engineer, JIRA, Sofia [TEC] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Environmental & Sustainability, Grievance Management and Response, London [ENV] [DIP]
https://jobs.ebrd.com/search/?q=&locationsearch=
π SEED Madagascar π
ππ§πππ«π§, Conservation Research Assistant, Fort Dauphin [ENV] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Junior Programme Officer - Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort Dauphin [HEA] [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Lead, Fort Dauphin [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer Backend Web Developer, Remote [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Pro Bono PR & Media Consultant, Remote [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Media and Communications Officer, Fort Dauphin [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer - Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Fort Dauphin [ENV] [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 [DEV] [HEA]
π A Drop in the Ocean π
ππ§πππ«π§, HR Support, Greece [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Humanitarian Aid, Greece [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Mobilization, Greece [HUM] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Integration Support, Greece [HUM] [DEV]
https://www.drapenihavet.no/ledige-internship/
π Environmental Justice Foundation π
ππ§ππ«π², Ocean Research Assistant, London [ENV] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer, Monrovia [ACA] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Research and Advocacy Officer - Climate and Oceans, London [ENV] [ACA]
π Transparency International π
ππ§πππ«π§, Illicit Financial Flows Policy, Brussels [ECO] [LAW]
π Islamic Relief π
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital Marketing, London [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Fundraiser, London [ECO]
https://islamic-relief.org/current-opportunities/
π International Rescue Group π
ππ§ππ«π², Agriculture Assistant, Deir ez-Zur [DEV] [ACA]
https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home?c=rescue
π United Nations University π
ππ§ππ«π², Student Assistant, Bonn [ENV] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Associate, Biodiversity and Society, Tokyo [ENV] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Operations & Finance Associate, Kuala Lumpur [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Knowledge Management, Events, and Operations Assistant, Richmond Hill [PUD]
π Stockholm Environment Institute π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Postdoctoral Fellow: Climate Economics, Nairobi [ENV] [ECO]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Postdoctoral Fellow: Climate Modelling and Impact Assessment, Nairobi [ACA] [ECO]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Inclusive Climate Finance for Vulnerable Communities in the Asia Pacific, Bangkok [ENV] [ECO]
https://www.sei.org/people/jobs/
π Baan Dek Foundation π
ππ§πππ«π§, BSI Communications, Bangkok [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Video Editor & Translator, Remote [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Accountant and Finance, Chiang Mai [ECO]
https://baan-dek.jobs.personio.com/
π Karen Human Rights Group π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Advocacy Team, Thailand [PUD]
https://www.khrg.org/job-opportunities
π GOAL π
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer, Dublin [HUM]
https://www.goalglobal.org/careers/#current-openings
π Climate Action Network π
ππ§ππ«π², Campaign Officer, - [PUD] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Network Development Assistant, - [PUD] [ACA]
https://climatenetwork.org/get-involved/work-with-us/
π Search for Common Ground π
ππ§πππ«π§, Program&Communications, Bishkek [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Program Development, Washington [DIP]
π The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies π
ππ§πππ«π§, HCSS General, The Hague (3) [DIP] [SEC]
π Netherlands Institute of International Affairs Clingendael π
ππ§πππ«π§, Violence, authoritarianism and transformation in the modern Middle East, The Hague [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Business and Peace, Horn of Africa, The Hague [ECO] [SEC]
https://www.careers.clingendael.org/vacancy-jobs/overview-internships-extern
π Stockholm International Peace Research Institute π
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistants for 2026 Stockholm Forum, Stockholm [ACA] [SEC]
https://www.sipri.org/about/vacancies
π Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue π
ππ§πππ«π§, Oslo Forum team, Geneva [DIP] [PUD]
π People In Need π
ππ§ππ«π², Procurement Assistant, Shire [ECO] [DEV]
https://apply.workable.com/people-in-need-2/
π Project Hope π
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer, MH Clinician, US [HEA]
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative Assistant, Jamaica [HUM]
https://projecthope.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home?c=projecthope
π ACTED π
ππ§ππ«π², Mozambique: Project Development Officer β Pemba [PUD] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan : Area MEAL Officer, Sudan [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Republic Democratic of the Congo : Area MEAL Officer β Bukavu [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Democratic Republic of the Congo : Area Logistics Officer β Kinshasa [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², DRC : Project Officer WASH β Kalemie [DEV]
https://www.acted.org/en/get-involved/join-us/vacancies/
π Center for Democracy & Technology π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & External Affairs, Washington [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Legal, Washington [LAW] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Policy, Washington [DIP] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Washington [ACA] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Technologist, Washington [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Externship, Washington [PUD] [DIP]
π RAND Europe π
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Programme Support Officer, Cambridge [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Data Science Apprentice, Cambridge [ACA]
https://www.rand.org/randeurope/employment.html
π ALDE Party π
ππ§πππ«π§, Events, Brussels [PUD]
https://www.aldeparty.eu/jobs/events-trainee-german-speaking-40
π German Marshall Fund of the United States π
ππ§πππ«π§, Civil-Military Relations Program, Washington [DIP] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Geostrategy Hub-Risk and Strategy Workstream, Paris [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Program and Research, Ukraine Programs, GMF, Brussels [PUD] [ACA]
https://gmfus.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-openings.php?search=true&
π DRC π
ππ§πππ«π§, Executive leadership support and communication, Copenhagen [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant-PSS, Hudet [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant-GBV CM, Hudet [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant-GBV CM, Hudet [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant - PCM, East Borena [HEA] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant β Legal, Hudet [LAW] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant- Legal Aid Assistant, Lebanon [HUM] [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant, Kharkiv [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², IT Assistant (readvert), Kyiv [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant (Psycho-Social Support Assistant), Kharkiv [HUM] [HEA]
ππ§ππ«π², Administration Assistant, Sumy [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², HR and admin Assistant, Homs [HUM] [PUD]
https://drc.ngo/about-us/work-with-us/
π IISS π
ππ§πππ«π§, Research Internship on Technology, Trade and Geopolitics, Washington [ACA] [DIP]
π BIED Society π
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Research Specialists, Washington [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Young Professionals Program, Washington [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, 2025 Publication Fellows, Washington [PUD] [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, 2025 International Affairs Fellows, Washington [ACA]
https://www.biedsociety.com/jobs-new
π Global Rights Compliance π
ππ§πππ«π§, Speculative, Remote [LAW] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Jnr OSINT Researcher, Remote [LAW] [ACA]
https://globalrightscompliance.org/work-with-us/
π RUSI π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Financial Crime Policy, London [ECO]
https://www.rusi.org/about/our-people/job-opportunities
π ENNHRI π
ππ§πππ«π§, Human Rights (Rule of Law, Human Rights, and Democracy), Brussels [HUM] [LAW]
π EPC π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Connecting Europe, Brussels [ACA]
https://www.epc.eu/vacancies/connecting-europe-fellowship/
π CEPS π
ππ§πππ«π§, EU Research and Innovation Policy, GRID Unit, Brussels [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Data Science, Brussels [ACA] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital Communications, Brussels [PUD]
https://www.ceps.eu/about-ceps/career-opportunities/
π ICMPD π
ππ§ππ«π², Team Assistant, Amman [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Team Assistant, Ankara [DIP]
π CONCORD π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication, Brussels [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Policy and advocacy: Civil Society Power, Brussels [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, EU Partnership, Brussels [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Policy and advocacy: financing and funding for sustainable development, Brussels [DIP] [ECO]
https://concordeurope.org/vacancies/
π European Climate Foundation π
ππ§πππ«π§, Legal and Risk Management Unit, Brussels, The Hague or Paris (anywhere) [LAW] [ENV]
https://cezanneondemand.intervieweb.it/europeanclimate/en/career#vacancies
Fantastic update, and that European Diplomatic Programme panel sounds like it hit a critical intersection. The hybrid threats/geopolitcs/resilience triad is where most traditional diplomatic training still lags behind reality; most junior diplomats are stil being prepared for negotiation tables when the real battleground is algorithmic manipulation and infrastructure vulnerabilities. What stood out most was bringing together practitioners like Wisborg and Patey who've actually operationalized resilence frameworks rather than just theorized them. The gap between academic threat assessment and deployable countermeasures is where diplomatic institutions are bleeding the most credibility right now.