Assistant Director, Forward Defense

Job Location:  Atlantic Council Headquarters – Washington, DC
Employment Type: Full-time
Seniority Level: Associate
Job Category: Staff

About Forward Defense

The Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense (FD) program, situated in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, artificial intelligence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.

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.

Overview of the Role

The Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense Program is thrilled to hire an Assistant Director. The Assistant Director will support the Associate Director leading the portfolio in executing FD’s strategic forces work, including work related to space security, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, and long-range precision strike. The Assistant Director will take a more independent, leading role building the program’s space security workstream, while supporting the other pillars of work; help coordinate junior colleagues working on projects in these areas; and support the Associate Director and Director with tasks related to the broader management of the strategic forces portfolio. The candidate will oversee significant projects within Forward Defense; maintain, develop, and cultivate a wide network of crucial partner and donor relationships; and 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 is innovative, resourceful, proactive, and has a proven track record of working with policymakers, military officials, and/or experts on issues that fall under the strategic forces portfolio, with particular emphasis on space. The Assistant Director will have solid judgment and the ability to multi-task and communicate effectively in a dynamic work environment. The ability to “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 tasks, team members, and deliverables on track while balancing competing timelines is essential.

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 and education, with offers from $61,000 to $70,000. Applications submitted by July 17, 2026, will be prioritized for consideration.

Job Responsibilities 

The Assistant Director will be specifically responsible for the following:

• Support the organizing and executing of major Forward Defense projects and work pertaining to our strategic forces portfolio under the supervision of the Associate Director and Director.
• Lead building the space program of work, in coordination with the Associate Director and Director, including the development of the program’s space security workstream through business development, grant and partnership proposal writing, donor reporting, budgeting, and thought leadership.
• Support the Associate Director in setting the operational tempo and timelines for projects, tracking multiple deliverables, and delegating tasks to and overseeing junior colleagues to execute logistical and administrative operations in support of events and publications, ensuring products delivered to upper management meet high expectations.
• Help shape the content, format, and structure of FD’s strategic forces publications, taking primary responsibility forFD’s space security publications and convenings, and support the Associate Director’s and Director’s assignment and coordination of the team’s projects.
• Contribute to the Center’s intellectual work through research and writing on strategic forces, with a particular focus on space security, including space deterrence, space-based command and control, counterspace threats, dual-use space technology, and missile defense. Generate ideas for programming on these topics.
• Edit written work and coordinate closely with fellows and staff to produce articles, issue 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 and publicity of events and publications.
• Help maintain and develop a wide network of crucial partner and donor relationships, including in the defense industry, commercial space sector, US and foreign government partners, technology sector, and academic partners.
• Provide day-to-day support and mentorship to FD’s interns and junior staff.

General Qualifications

• 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 US space security.

Specific Qualifications

Assistant Director 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Graduate degree in a related field is strongly preferred.
• Previous relevant, substantive work experience and demonstrated expertise in subject matter.
• Minimum 2 years of full-time work experience, in a position with transferable operational and project management skills, and relevant substantive knowledge. 
• While not required, experience in managing interns or leading staff in a collaborative team setting can be an advantage.  
• While not required, experience in business development, stakeholder management, developing budgets, and tracking expenses can be an advantage.

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.

About the Program

Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.

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