Associate Director, Eurasia Center

About the Eurasia Center

The core of the Eurasia Center’s focus is its Ukraine work, housed under the Ukraine in Europe Initiative, which it launched in response to the dramatic events of the Euromaidan Revolution and the Russian war of aggression that began in February 2014. The Initiative has worked to galvanize international support to for an independent Ukraine within secure borders whose people will determine their own future and for global understanding that a Russian victory in Ukraine would be a severe blow to the interests of the US, its democratic allies in Europe and elsewhere. The Eurasia Center also has an extensive body of work on Russia and other countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and expanding work on Central Asia. Its portfolio includes frequent virtual, domestic, and international conferences and events along with publications. The Center’s experts and partners regularly publish reports and brief US and European policymakers.

Overview of the Role

The Atlantic Council seeks a highly motivated, organized, collegial, and talented individual to serve as an Associate Director in its Eurasia Center. The Associate Director will support the Eurasia Center’s programming activities and team’s work related to Ukraine, Russia, Central Asia, and the wider region, with an active role in organizing the Center’s conferences, events, and communications.

The Associate Director will help lead the Eurasia Center’s portfolio on Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus; execute and manage junior colleague’s work on key projects on these subject areas and in the Ukraine portfolio; and support the Senior Director and Deputy Director with tasks related to the broader management of the Eurasia Center. The candidate will oversee significant projects within the Eurasia Center; maintain, develop, and cultivate a wide network of crucial partner and donor relationships; and contribute to the editorial and strategic work of our shortform and longform publications and content.

The ideal candidate is innovative, resourceful, proactive, and has a proven track record of working with policymakers, military officials, and/or senior experts on issues related to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the wider Eurasia region. The Associate Director will have solid judgment and the ability to multi-task and communicate effectively in a dynamic work environment. The ability to manage up, throughout the team and organization, and work with team members across all levels is critical. In addition, sound judgment and the skills to oversee multiple projects and keep tasks, team members, and deliverables on track while balancing competing timelines is a must.

The candidate will support the Senior Director and Deputy Director in the oversight and operations of the Eurasia Center internally and will represent the Eurasia Center in external events and meetings as needed. attention to detail, a positive attitude, and a desire to grow with the team. Proficiency in Russian or Ukrainian is preferred.

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 $85,000 to $94,000. Applications submitted by May 26, 2025, will be prioritized for consideration.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage and assume primary responsibility in organizing and executing major Eurasia Center projects and events, including our Russia Tomorrow series.
• Oversee the operational tempo and timelines for projects, track multiple deliverables, and delegate tasks to and oversee junior colleagues to execute logistical and administrative operations in support of events and publications, ensuring products delivered to upper management meet high expectations.
• Support Center financial management including through Salesforce, due diligence research, vendor contracts, service agreements, and payments.
• Contribute to shaping the Eurasia Center’s goals and desired policy and programmatic outcomes for our portfolio, including business development efforts, grant and partnership proposal writing, donor reporting, and budgeting.
• Edit written work and coordinate closely with fellows and staff to produce articles, issue briefs, blog posts, and other written and audio-visual work. Oversee the production of the UkraineAlert blog and social media content.
• Liaise with other Council centers, our development team, engagement team, and executive office to ensure successful execution of, and publicity for, events and publications.
• Maintain, develop, and cultivate a wide network of crucial partner and donor relationships.
• Contribute to the intellectual work of the Center through research and writing. Generate ideas for programming on these topics.
• Represent the Eurasia Center at external meetings and events.
• Supervise and provide mentorship to the Eurasia Center’s interns and junior staff, including training junior staff on processes, protocol, and software.

• 4-6 years of relevant experience in foreign policy/national security/defense preferably with a focus on Eurasia including background living and/or working in the region. Experience with Ukraine, in particular, is not necessary but a plus.
• Understanding of Washington policy environment.
• Master’s Degree preferred, but not essential.

Required skills/Qualifications/Experience

• Significant interest in, and demonstrated knowledge of, defense, security issues, energy security, economics, and reform issues across the Eurasia Center’s work.
• Experience in project management, event management, stakeholder management, budget creation and management.
• Exceptional organizational, writing, editing, and verbal communication skills. Verbal and written communication skills must include Russian and/or Ukrainian language skills. Experience with copyediting, preferably following Chicago Manual of Style preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Professional presence, including the ability to effectively represent the Atlantic Council with external constituencies domestically and abroad, such as board members, donors, senior government officials, congressional staff, journalists, and business leaders.

• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work well with a team in a dynamic environment and ability to work independently and proactively.

• A track record of media engagement and familiarity with regional media entities. Strong social media proficiency, particularly within the professional context.
• Working knowledge of social media management platforms, such as Sprout Social; website management tools, such as WordPress; and email marketing tools, such as Marketo.
• Experiencing developing budgets, experience with Salesforce, familiarity with gift documentation standards including formal donor agreements.

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.