Project Assistant, Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

Atlantic Council Of The U S; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 36,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Atlantic Council in Washington, DC seeks a project assistant for the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative within the Scowcroft Center. This fast-paced, temporary 6-month role focuses on tracking, supporting, and executing project tasks, including research, events, travel, and reports.

The ideal candidate will have strong organizational and writing skills, familiarity with defense issues, and the ability to work evenings to accommodate time zones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience with defense issues and deterrence theory.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to work irregular hours and travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day support for projects and programming, including scheduling and reporting.
• Coordinate logistics for public and private events with minimal supervision.
• Manage travel arrangements and expense documentation for project personnel.
• Support communications, promotions, and research for project activities.
• Assist in drafting reports, summaries, and briefings.

Skills

Organizational skills

Event management

Administrative skills

Intercultural communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Atlantic Council Headquarters - Washington, DC, Position Type: Temporary , Salary Range: $26.45 - $27.40Hourly, About the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

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 U.S. 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 seeks a talented, dynamic, and entrepreneurial individual for a fast-paced position as a project assistant with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The project assistant will be primarily 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 and allied military and government audiences. The project assistant will support research, roundtables, briefings, panels, workshops, travel, tabletop exercises, and other project activities as needed. A successful candidate will communicate effectively and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. They will possess: Excellent administrative and organizational skills; Exceptional research and writing ability; Superior attention to detail; Positive attitude and adaptability; Knowledge of protocol for dealing with military and defense officials; 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 position is based in our Washington, DC, headquarters, requiring a minimum of 4 days per week in office. This position is for an initial 6-month period. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and education, with offers from $26.45 to $27.40 per hour. Applications submitted by April 1, 2026, will be prioritized for consideration.

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct day-to-day support of projects and programming, such as scheduling, responding to requests for information, coordination with staff, drafting monthly progress reports, and any other substantive or administrative tasks related to project management as needed;
• Coordinate, schedule, implement, and manage logistics for both public and private events with minimal supervision, including shaping structure and agendas, drafting invitations, correspondence with key participants, and participant tracking;
• Manage travel by project personnel and event invitees for projects, to include scheduling, reserving accommodations and transportation, and handling expense documentation;
• Implement communications and promotion strategy around core events, including via e-mail, social media, and multimedia; and
• Support on research and source citation, drafting, editing, proofreading, and graphical work to support project activities, to include drafting portions of project reports, summaries, and briefings.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required;
• Proven organizational, logistical, project/event management, and administrative skills;
• Familiarity with defense issues and deterrence theory through study or experience;
• 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;
• Willingness and ability to work irregular hours and evenings to accommodate ally and partner timezones and to travel if needed;
• Track record of attention to detail;
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including intercultural communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse project participants and stakeholders from a range of US organizations and across the Indo-Pacific;
• Versatile writing skills that can be applied to a range of lengths and formats;
• Excellent research skills, to include familiarity with key sources of information on defense and deterrence issues, as well as on weapons of mass destruction and other military threats from the People’s Republic of China and/or North Korea;
• Experience preparing or participating in tabletop exercises, wargames, simulations, seminars, and workshops preferred, but not required;
• Experience in or working directly with US military and/or Department of War preferred, but not required;
• Mandarin skills highly desirable, but not required.

Benefits

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.