Assistant Director, Forward Defense

About Forward Defense

The Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense (FD) program, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, generates ideas and connects stakeholders in the defense ecosystem to promote an enduring military advantage for the United States, its allies, and partners. Our work identifies the defense strategies, capabilities, and resources the United States needs to deter and, if necessary, prevail in future conflict. Strategy & policy: FD analyzes the current and future threat environment, identifies strategic choices, and develops and assesses US strategy and policy in pursuit of national objectives. Capabilities & concepts: FD assesses the defense capabilities and emerging technologies that are shaping the battlespace and proposes novel concepts for employing these systems to support US defense strategy. Resourcing & acquisition: FD facilitates government and private sector collaboration to strengthen the defense-industrial base, overcome barriers to innovation adoption, and navigate resource tradeoffs to field capabilities in relevant timeframes.

About the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges and opportunities facing the United States and the world. The Center honors General Brent Scowcroft’s legacy of service and embodies his ethos of nonpartisan commitment to the cause of security, support for US leadership in cooperation with allies and partners, and dedication to the mentorship of the next generation of leaders.

Overview of the Role

The Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense Program is thrilled to hire an Assistant Director. The Assistant Director will help manage and execute key projects across Forward Defense’s three key portfolio areas; help manage junior colleagues working on projects in these subject areas; and support the Director in managing Forward Defense. The candidate will help to oversee projects within Forward Defense; assist in maintaining, developing, and cultivating a vast network of crucial partner and donor relationships; and help contribute to the research and editorial work of our numerous publications on issues related to current and future defense and security challenges.

The ideal candidate will be innovative, resourceful, proactive, and have a proven track record of working with policymakers, military officials, and/or senior experts on emerging defense and security issues. The Assistant Director will have solid judgment and the ability to multitask and communicate effectively in a dynamic work environment. The ability to manage down, manage up, and work with team members across all levels is critical. In addition, sound judgment and the skills to oversee multiple projects and keep deliverables on track while balancing competing timelines is a must.

The candidate will support the Director and other team members in the oversight and operations of Forward Defense internally and will represent Forward Defense in external meetings as needed.

This position is based in our Washington, DC, headquarters, requiring a minimum of 4 days per week in office. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, education, and organizational equity, with offers from $60,000 to $75,000. Applications submitted by May 9, 2025, will be prioritized for consideration.

Job Responsibilities 

The Assistant Director will be specifically responsible for the following:

• Coordinate and assume primary responsibility in organizing and executing major Forward Defense projects with oversight from the Deputy Director and Director.
• Help set the operational tempo and timelines for projects, track multiple deliverables, and delegate tasks to junior colleagues to execute logistical and administrative operations in the support of events and publications.
• Assist in shaping the content, format, and structure of FD’s publications and convenings, and support the Director’s assignment and coordination of the team’s projects.
• Contribute to shaping Forward Defense’s goals and desired policy and programmatic outcomes for our portfolio, including assisting with business development, grant and partnership proposal writing, donor reporting, and budgeting.
• Edit written work and coordinate closely with fellows and staff to produce articles, issues briefs, blog posts, and other written and audio-visual work.
• Liaise with other Council centers, our development team, engagement team, and executive office to ensure the successful execution of and publicity for events and publications.
• Help to maintain, develop, and cultivate a wide network of crucial partner and donor relationships, including in the defense industry, US and foreign government partners, the technology sector, and academic partners.
• Contribute to the intellectual work of the Center by contributing to research and writing on issues related to your areas of expertise.
• Represent Forward Defense at some external meetings and events.
• Supervise FD’s interns and junior staff and provide mentorship where possible, including training junior staff on processes, protocol, and software.

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of full-time work experience in a position with transferable operational and project management skills.
• While not required, experience in managing interns or leading staff in a collaborative team setting can be an advantage.
• Experience in project management, event management, and stakeholder management.
• Exceptional organizational, writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong track record in engaging, and knowledge of, key stakeholders in US defense and security, including representatives of US and foreign governments, academia, and think tanks.
• Significant interest in, and demonstrated knowledge of, defense and security issues across Forward Defense’s work, specifically military strategy, operations, and technology.

To produce quality work and to successfully achieve our mission, we recognize the need for our staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a work/life balance. Our comprehensive benefits package helps to keep costs low for our staff and their families. Benefits include, but are not limited to comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, 403(b) plan, FSA options, pet insurance, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, and wellness benefits.