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

About the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project

The Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project (SLP) advises on the application of legal tools to advance prevention and accountability efforts for atrocity crimes, human rights violations, terrorism and corruption offenses around the world.


The SLP seeks to achieve this through the following ways:

  • Organizing advocacy campaigns urging legislators and international decision-makers to create new legal tools and improve existing ones to aid victims and seek accountability.
  • Filing and supporting impact litigation and human rights interventions in international, regional and national courts and forums.
  • Providing trainings, guides, and other resources to practitioners, advocates, and survivors of serious international crimes on how they can use legal mechanisms to pursue redress.
  • Publishing leading scholarship and convene public and private events, all designed to advance the global debate on the sophisticated use of strategic litigation.  


The SLP’s work is global in scope, with a focus on serious international crimes in the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, China and Ukraine.

Overview of the Role

Under the supervision of the head of the SLP and in close cooperation with the project team, the program assistant will work on all aspects of day-to-day management to support human rights, litigation initiatives and other law-related project deliverables. Previous experience in international human rights advocacy, comparative law, and/or criminal law and procedure; or working on policy in government, a think tank, or other NGO is highly desired. The ideal candidate will be remarkably well-organized and detail-oriented and will have demonstrable administrative and communication experience. The program assistant will also be involved in regional and thematic projects led by the Strategic Litigation Project, including event coordination, publication management, and business development. The program assistant will oversee the publication process of articles and papers; coordinate the activities of a growing network of nonresident senior fellows, consultants, and partners; contribute to fundraising efforts and managing donor relations; and assist in managing public-facing communications, including a quarterly newsletter and social media, among other responsibilities. The candidate will also be encouraged to engage in their own research and publishing in addition to their cooperative assignments, and proactively seek out opportunities for growth.


A successful candidate must communicate effectively and enjoy fast-moving teamwork. The position requires a superior ability to multitask with a record of coordinating projects and events, excellent administrative skills, exceptional writing ability, attention to detail, a positive attitude, and an ability to manage, follow strict federal grant guidelines, and effectively communicate progress on project deliverables for grant reporting purposes. Our ideal candidate will have experience producing in-person and virtual events with high-level speakers, key donors, and constituencies, as well as budget management and reporting experience.


This position is based in our Washington, DC, headquarters on a hybrid schedule. Pay is commensurate with experience, education, and organizational equity, with offers starting at $50,000.

Job responsibilities

  • Provide administrative and logistical support to the SLP’s management team, including scheduling, managing external contacts, arranging travel, and completing expense reports.
  • Serve as a liaison for internal and external offices including high-level US and foreign government officials, diplomats, business executives, law firms, board members and SLP’s management team.
  • Provide operational, logistical, and administrative support for meetings, events and activities related to the SLP’s focus areas.
  • Draft and vet event materials such as event invitations, talking points, agenda, briefing materials, etc.
  • Work closely with the Atlantic Council publications team to manage the editing process of articles and papers.
  • Support the recruitment, onboarding, and compensation of contractors following specific federal grant guidelines.  
  • Contribute to Atlantic Council blogs with news aggregation, policy analysis, short articles, and blog postings.
  • Draft weekly reports to communicate project activities as well as regular communication to stakeholders.
  • Conduct research and support business development as necessary, including by drafting components of federal grant proposals.
  • Represent the SLP and its work to governments, policymakers, the media, victim and survivor communities, the global legal and human rights communities, academics, donors/funders and other stakeholders.
  • Assist in managing SLP communications channels, including social media, a quarterly newsletter, and contact lists.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as International Affairs, Criminal Justice, or Political Science.
  • Demonstrable interest in the advancement and promotion of human rights, accountability, the role of civil society, and democracy around the world.
  • Approximately 1-2 years’ relevant work experience. 
  • Strong writing, communication, and analytic skills.
  • Experience planning and managing virtual, hybrid, and in-person events.
  • Team player with good interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
  • A high level of personal energy, reliability, and commitment.
  • Fluency in English, other languages a bonus.


Start Date

June 1, 2024. Position fully funded for one year, with the possibility of renewal pending additional funding.

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.

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Explore the Program

Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

Learn more

All Atlantic Council employees are required to adhere to the Atlantic Council’s vaccination policy. All Atlantic Council employees must be fully vaccinated and boosted, and they must submit proof of both vaccination and COVID-19 booster shot on their first day of employment. Prospective or new employees may seek an exemption to the vaccination requirement through human resources and must have an approved exemption prior to the start of their employment.

Please note: The Atlantic Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and District of Columbia civil rights regulations and policies, the Atlantic Council does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics covered by applicable law. The Atlantic Council provides reasonable accommodation for all qualified applicants needing assistance, employees whose disability, sincere religious belief, or other protected characteristics are protected by law, and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business need. The Atlantic Council believes that equity and inclusion amongst our team members are critical to our success as a global organization, and seeks to recruit, develop, and advance the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. 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).