Assistant Director, Global Energy Center

Position description

The Global Energy Center (GEC) at the Atlantic Council is seeking a talented, motivated, and entrepreneurial individual for a full-time Assistant Director role to support the Center’s growing research, convening, and stakeholder engagement portfolio. Reporting to the Center’s Director of Research and Programs, the Assistant Director will manage key elements of the Center’s programmatic activities, including research and writing, stakeholder engagement, and event development and execution. The role will require a combination of program management, original research, and strategic outreach across the Global Energy Center’s diverse body of work. This includes energy security, energy geopolitics, infrastructure resilience, supply chain security, and the global energy transition.

The Assistant Director will have specific responsibility for managing the Energy & Defense program, an effort focused on advancing energy security as a cornerstone of national defense. This includes organizing the annual Energy & Defense Summit, engaging with senior defense and government stakeholders, and contributing to research and policy discussions on the nexus of energy and national security. In coordination with the Center’s leadership, the Assistant Director will coordinate the Veterans Advanced Energy Fellowship, a professional development program that supports military veterans to lead on energy issues critical to US national security.

Candidates with specific interest and experience in operational energy, energy security and geopolitics, military logistics, critical infrastructure resilience, and defense innovation are encouraged to apply, especially those who have worked with or alongside the US Departments of Defense, Energy, or similar government agencies. The successful candidate will have strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills; the ability to develop original ideas and produce high-quality research and writing; and a background in energy, international security, history, area studies, public policy, or related fields. Special consideration will be given to candidates with demonstrated expertise at the intersection of energy, national security, and defense policy, particularly regarding military readiness, infrastructure resilience, and strategic competition.

The successful candidate will have exceptional communication and writing abilities are essential, including the capacity to distill complex topics into clear, policy-relevant analysis and translate ideas into actionable outputs. The role requires intellectual agility and comfort working across disciplines, as well as the ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders in government, industry, and the military. Candidates must be able to manage both long-term projects and time-sensitive tasks with minimal oversight, take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-performing environment. Experience with business development—including cultivating partnerships and supporting fundraising—is a plus. A collaborative mindset and the ability to coordinate effectively across programs and teams are essential.

The position is based in our Washington, DC headquarters, requiring a minimum of 4 days per week in the office. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, education, and organizational equity, with offers from $60,000 to $65,000. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage the Global Energy Center’s Energy & Defense programming, including research initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and event coordination.  
• Lead the organization and execution of high-level convenings, including the Energy & Defense Summit, private roundtables, and public panels.
• Lead coordination of the Veterans Advanced Energy Fellowship.
• Conduct original research and produce written outputs such as reports, policy briefs, strategic memos, and event materials.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior leaders across government, industry, the military, and academia, and represent the Center in public and private forums.
• Support fundraising and business development efforts, including proposal writing, partnership cultivation, and sponsorship outreach.
• Coordinate with the communications team to promote events and publications, while monitoring relevant policy developments to inform the Center’s strategic priorities.
• As needed, support wider programming of the Global Energy Center.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in security studies, international relations, energy and environmental studies, history, area studies, or other relevant fields (Master’s degree preferred).
• 2-4 years of professional work experience in a relevant area of work (preferably energy, defense, or geopolitics).
• Demonstrated ability in project/program management and event coordination with exceptional attention to detail and ability to multi-task in a time-sensitive environment.
• Professional presence, including the ability to represent the Atlantic Council with external constituencies, such as senior government officials, military, industry leaders, board members, and donors.
• Experience with business development, including grant writing and donor cultivation, is a plus but not required.

Application instructions

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