Senior Fellow, Global Energy Center

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

Overview

The Atlantic Council seeks a talented, dynamic, and entrepreneurial individual for a full-time Senior Fellow position to serve jointly in its Global Energy Center and Atlantic Council Romania office.

The Senior Fellow’s main responsibility will include leadership and execution of the “Transatlantic critical infrastructure catalyst project” housed jointly by the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center and the Atlantic Council Romania office, which seeks to to unlock international capital, elevate US strategic engagement, and mobilize corporate participation for critical infrastructure projects across Central and Southeast Europe. This includes providing the substantive direction and programmatic leadership of the project, development of necessary networks of influence amongst private sector, public official, and civil society stakeholders to drive project impact, as well as the coordination and execution of milestones and deliverables throughout the project lifecycle. Where relevant, the fellow will also conduct independent research, writing, and stakeholder engagement activities to advance the Global Energy Center and Atlantic Council Romania’s thought leadership on energy and infrastructure issues in the US and abroad.

The successful candidate will have an entrepreneurial spirit, superb communication skills, and enjoy the complexity of helping to build a rapidly growing program. The candidate should have a background in energy, European/Eastern European political economy, political science, international relations, economics, history, area studies, or a related field. The position requires excellent and communication skills, superior writing ability, extraordinary attention to detail, and a proven aptitude to make sound judgments, assume responsibility and work independently in a fast-paced Center with tight deadlines and competing priorities.

The successful candidate for this position will be committed to the Atlantic Council’s core mission to renew the Atlantic community for global challenges. 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, education, and organizational equity, with offers from $100,000 to $125,000. Applications submitted by June 30, 2026, will be prioritized for consideration.

Job Responsibilities:

Transatlantic Critical Infrastructure Catalyst Project Programming (80 percent)

• Lead the execution of the Transatlantic critical infrastructure catalyst project over the course of 2026 – 2028, including but not limited to:
  • Execution of project activities; inclusive of stakeholder roundtables, research reports, and briefings with representatives from the private and public sectors to advance project outcomes;
  • Development of a network of influence to advance the Transatlantic critical infrastructure catalyst project, including the engagement of senior officials from the public and private sector, relevant experts from the financial and energy/infrastructure sectors, and other regionally-relevant individuals;
  • Coordination of project budget and expenses associated with aforementioned activities;
  • Direct engagement with and stewardship of project donors to ensure activity timelines are well-communicated and project deliverables meet expectations while adhering to the Atlantic Council’s intellectual independence policy.

Global Energy Center & Atlantic Council Romania Thought Leadership and Program Development (20 percent)

• Lead independent research initiatives related to the Global Energy Center and Atlantic Council Romania’s programming to support Atlantic Council thought leadership on energy and infrastructure issues and policy, inclusive of roundtables and publications not related to the Transatlantic critical infrastructure catalyst project.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher, in energy and environmental studies, European/Eastern European political economy, political science, international relations, economics, history, area studies, or other relevant fields.
• 6 – 8 years of relevant professional experience.
• Superb organizational skills, attention to detail, and demonstrated initiative.
• Proven track record in managing multiple projects simultaneously and demonstrated experience interacting with and/or briefing high-level government officials or business executives.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including an ability to work well in a team and to communicate effectively with others ranging from interns to government and business leaders in the United States and abroad.
• Interest in geopolitics, energy policy, energy security, and climate policy.
• Experience in organizing and staging events is highly desired.
• Superior English language writing skills and analytical ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; photo-editing, web-editing, and social media skills are highly desired.

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.

The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.

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