Senior Research Associate

The Institute for Global Affairs (IGA), a nonprofit organization led by board president Ian Bremmer and board chair Zachary Karabell, seeks a full-time senior research associate in our New York, NY office. This position will be focused on strengthening IGA’s research and advocacy.

Summary

This individual will conduct original, thought-provoking research; contribute to public-facing multimedia content; and educate the public on critical foreign affairs issues. The senior research associate will receive support – and be expected – to develop a public platform for policy analysis (and argumentation) which supports the mission of IGA and the goals of its Independent America (IA) program. 

Effectively contributing to and communicating IGA’s programming to various audiences, including policymakers, potential donors, and the public, the senior research associate will have strong writing and research skills and the ability to convey complex analysis with clarity and concision. The position is ideally suited to either (1) a national security or foreign policy journalist or producer with a track record of high-impact reporting who wants to dive deeper on specific topics and/or develop an analytic point of view and public voice, or (2) a postdoc or recent master’s degree recipient with a policy-relevant area of expertise and both the ability and willingness to transition into publicly engaged, mediagenic work.

The successful candidate will have a broad curiosity about, and experience observing, US foreign policy with a particular commitment to help make foreign policy debates accessible, and to challenge conventional wisdom. The candidate will need the maturity to juggle multiple projects simultaneously, and technical proficiency to quickly learn and use a variety of software and cloud-based programs. 

Responsibilities 

The senior research associate will be a critical ambassador for IGA in general and for the Independent America (IA) project in particular.

RESEARCH

The senior research associate will support the IA research agenda and IGA’s broader public education mission, reporting to senior fellow Mark Hannah. A successful candidate will have a knack for being able to interpret research results and distill complex ideas to make them relevant and engaging for a broad audience. Specific responsibilities include: 

• Conduct IA-related research on US foreign and defense policy, tracking the current administration’s agenda, the policy proposals of leading lawmakers, and arguments advanced within the broader foreign policy community. 
• One to two independently authored and published op-eds per month under their own (individual or shared) byline, as well as collaboration, research, and editing support on other IA op-eds. 
• Thought partnership to support the production of EGF’s None Of The Above podcast, and up to four explainer-style videos annually. Developing mission-aligned video concepts, identifying subjects and narrative arcs, and scripting narration.
• Propose, plan, manage, execute, and promote stand-alone research products (e.g., issue briefs, memos, and explainers) which contribute IGA’s public education mission. Identify and pursue opportunities to present IA research at public events, conferences, and think tank panel discussions.
• For an annual domestic (fall) and international (spring) surveys, participate in the development of survey instruments, and contribute substantially to the writing and editing of the reports.
• Coordinate monthly meetings with five non-resident fellows, help recruiting and selecting each annual cohort of non-resident fellows, and ensure their work is mission-aligned and impactful. 

EDITORIAL

In this role, the senior research associate will work closely with one communications-focused research associate and one production-focused research associate to strengthen the arguments and narratives in IGA’s multimedia products. 

• Lead out a style guide for IGA social media posts across IGA’s X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads accounts. Work with IGA’s senior research associate & social media manager and a freelance consultant to identify new audience growth opportunities. 
• Work with IGA’s social media manager and the production-focused research associate to develop an editorial calendar for multimedia products like “What in the World,” low-cost explainer videos, podcast-excerpted audiograms, and graphics.
• Host the reboot of IGA’s “On Target” series of YouTube videos (and possibly introduce an audio-only podcast offering), interviewing IGA non-resident fellows (and perhaps others at peer organizations) on topics related to their areas of expertise and current events. 
• Develop and nurture relationships with opinion editors and broadcast producers and bookers to help amplify IGA’s research in the press. 

Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following qualifications: 

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in international relations, journalism, political science, or a related field. A record of high-visibility foreign policy or national security reporting would be welcomed in lieu of a graduate degree. 
• 2-5 years of professional experience, with demonstrated writing skills for a variety of expert and lay audiences.
• Mission-driven, entrepreneurial and ambitious, with a demonstrated ability of connecting one’s own professional aspirations to the aspirations of one’s employer. 
• Existing network of professional relationships with general interest or relevant policy-focused media outlets, and/or with foreign policy-related research and advocacy organizations.
• Knowledge of key issues in contemporary US foreign policy, and an openness to a diversity of viewpoints and research methodologies.
• Familiarity with social media channels and strategic about using them to reach non-traditional audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and move projects forward according to their timelines.
• Willingness to assist with development efforts, and plan strategically about aligning philanthropic goals of donors and prospective donors with IGA’s mission. 

Application

To apply for this position, please email info@instituteforglobalaffairs.org with the following materials in one PDF or .doc file: a resume, brief cover letter, two writing samples, and the names, contact information, and brief description of the relationship with two professional references. Review of applications will begin September 3, 2024.