Indo-Pacific Security Initiative – Spring 2027 Young Global Professionals Program

Atlantic Council; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Atlantic Council is seeking a Spring 2027 Young Global Professionals intern for the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) at our Washington, DC headquarters. The role focuses on tracking, supporting, and executing project tasks, with research, event coordination, and communications duties in a fast-moving policy environment.

The internship is full-time (forty hours per week) and in-office four days a week, with compensation at $18.50 per hour.

Qualifications

• Must be a college junior, grad student, or recent graduate in relevant fields.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to synthesize information.
• Interest/knowledge in Indo-Pacific defense and deterrence topics.
• Experience with wargames, seminars, or workshops is a plus.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate IPSI’s day-to-day operations for current and future projects.
• Support event logistics, invitations, note-taking, and participant tracking.
• Assist in communications and promotion via email, webpage, and social media.
• Conduct research, editing, and drafting of technical reports and briefings.

Skills

Research & writing

Communication

Adaptability

Defense & deterrence knowledge

Cultural awareness

Multitasking

Mandarin (desirable)

Education

College junior / graduate student

Asian Studies / International Relations / National Security

Tools

MS Office

Social media tools

Website editing

Email marketing software

Job description

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative – Spring 2027 Young Global Professionals Program

Job Location:Washington, DC Headquarters
Employment Type:Temporary
Seniority Level:Intern
Job Category:Staff

Description

TheScowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing economic and military threats to the rules-based order along with North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear and missile advancements. IPSI produces innovative written and video analysis, conducts tabletop exercises and wargames, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, and other key private and public-sector stakeholders.

IPSI seeks a talented, dynamic, and entrepreneurial individual for a fast-paced position. The Young Global Professional (YGP) will be responsible for tracking, supporting, and executing project tasks as part of the Initiative’s defense and security work to provide analysis and actionable recommendations for US, allied, and partner military and government audiences. The YGP will support research, panels, workshops, tabletop exercises, and other project activities as needed.

Successful candidates will communicate effectively and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. They will possess:

• Excellent administrative and organizational skills;
• Exceptional research and writing ability;
• A positive attitude and adaptability;
• Knowledge of defense and deterrence issues, including in the Indo-Pacific region; and
• Awareness and understanding of culture and protocol for those in the Indo-Pacific region.

This internship is based full-time in our Washington, DC, headquarters, requiring a minimum of 4 days per week in office. Interns will be compensated at a rate of $18.50 per hour.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate IPSI’s day-to-day operational, substantive, and administrative functions for ongoing and future projects. This includes monitoring regional news cycles, managing network databases, and consolidating relevant information and materials.
• Support the coordination, scheduling, convening, and logistics for both public and private events including drafting invitations, correspondence with key participants, notetaking, and participant tracking.
• Implement communications and promotion strategy around core events and publications, via e-mail, on our webpage, and by social media and multimedia if required.
• Conduct research and source citation, editing, proofreading, and graphical work to support project activities, to include technical reports, summaries, and briefings that IPSI staff and fellows are working on.

Qualifications

• Must be at least a college junior in good standing, a graduate student, or a recent graduate, preferably majoring in Asian Studies, International Relations, National Security, or another related field.
• Interest in and knowledge of core topics related to Indo-Pacific defense and deterrence, including familiarity with military threats posed by the People’s Republic of China and/or North Korea. Experience with relevant wargames, seminars, and workshops are a plus.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills (both verbal and written,in-person and virtual), including the ability to work through challenges and high emotional intelligence; Experience interfacing with Indo-Pacific stakeholders preferred.
• Versatile skills in research, writing, and attention to detail that can be applied to a range of lengths and formats.
• Strong organizational, logistical, time management, and administrative skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite is required and experience with other social media, website, and email marketing software is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, think quickly under time pressure, and multi-task to fulfill simultaneous competing demands as part of a team.
• Mandarin skills highly desirable, but not required.
• We welcome applications from candidates who can commit to working full-time (forty hours per week) from the Atlantic Council’s Washington, DC headquarters. We require candidates to be in the office four days a week.

The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing threat to the international order and North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear weapons advancements. IPSI produces innovative analysis, conducts tabletop exercises, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, other key private and public-sector stakeholders, and publics.

Please note: The Atlantic Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any classification protected by law, including but not limited to those protected characteristics covered by the DC Human Rights Act, including age, skin color, credit information, disability, family responsibilities, familial status, gender identity & expression, genetic information, homeless status, marital status, matriculation, national origin, personal appearance, place of residence or business, political affiliation, race, religion, seal eviction record, sex, sexual orientation, source of income, status as a victim or family member of a victim of DVSOS, or status as a victim of an intrafamily offense. The Atlantic Council is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for all qualified individuals and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business need. For more information, please connect with us at [e-mail] . Eligibility to work in the United States is confirmed with E-Verify; employment at the Atlantic Council is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).