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The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial leader in digital communications to drive the organization’s comprehensive digital strategy. This individual will guide and oversee the creation of a wide range of impactful content strategies specific to each digital platform, external outreach to digital partners, and support for FDD’s experts with digital engagement. This individual will lead a vertical of content creators and social media managers to amplify FDD’s research and policy communications in the digital sphere by collaborating across departments to amplify FDD’s mission and objectives. Title to be commensurate with experience. This position may be based at FDD headquarters in Washington, DC, or in other U.S. cities where the candidate can establish and lead a world-class digital strategy team.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop and execute FDD’s overarching digital strategy, ensuring brand consistency, alignment with mission and goals, and an impactful digital voice, look, and feel.

2. Lead the creation of high-impact multimedia content, collaborating with research and communications teams to identify key messages and analysis for engaging infographics, videos, and other policy-driven digital content.

3. Drive innovation by building relationships with industry professionals, analyzing communications strategies, and integrating emerging digital trends and technologies into FDD’s digital strategies.

4. Oversee FDD’s digital channels, including website and social media platforms, ensuring a dynamic content schedule, optimal user experience, and adherence to best practices to expand FDD’s visibility, reach, and impact.

5. Provide data-driven insights to enhance digital engagement, regularly reporting key performance and impact metrics.

6. Lead and mentor a team of digital professionals, fostering strategic partnerships with external agencies, consultants, and digital coalition partners to maximize FDD’s digital reach.

7. Guide and support FDD staff in building their personal digital profiles by effectively leveraging social media platforms.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in communications, digital media, public policy, international relations, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.

2. Senior experience in digital strategy, communications, content production, and policy communications.

3. Proven success in developing and implementing high-level digital strategies and communications, working on tight deadlines and within news cycles.

4. Deep expertise managing corporate or organizational social media platforms to include Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, and Telegram.

5. Knowledge of U.S. national security and foreign policy, with the ability to align digital communications goals with breaking news; familiar with and committed to furthering FDD’s mission.

6. Strong leadership and project management skills, with a track record of guiding cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.

7. Proficiency in digital analytics tools, SEO best practices, and website optimization. Knowledge of WordPress and Adobe Creative Cloud programs preferred.

8. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging effectively with senior leadership, policy experts, and external partners.

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The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan think tank focusing on national security and foreign policy, is seeking a director to launch and lead its Program on Education and National Security, looking closely at how foreign actors are influencing the American educational system.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research on national security vulnerabilities at every level of America’s education system, including but not limited to reviewing existing legislative and regulatory processes, foreign funding streams, and the influence of outside groups.
• Publish on these issues for both internal and external publications, including newspapers, journals, and online outlets.
• Present research at events organized by FDD and outside venues and on television and radio news programs.
• Serve as a resource for research and analysis to members of the policy community and journalists.
• Increase the target audiences for the program’s research.
• When invited, testify before Congress and other U.S. and international governmental bodies on your research findings.
• Identify opportunities to collaborate with FDD’s programs and fellows to integrate research related to America’s education system into their work.
• Create and manage strategic and operational partnerships.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned to you.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field, doctorate preferred
• 8+ years’ experience in a relevant field
• Nuanced understanding of American foreign policy
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills
• Ability to define objectives and execute research plans
• Background in the education field, with public or private sector experience, preferred
• Management experience preferred
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a remote or office setting, independently and as part of a team.

FDD is a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter, CV, and writing sample. In your cover letter, please include your specific interest in FDD and this position.

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The Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is recruiting a Senior Research Analyst/Research Analyst. CEFP studies national economic security, focusing on how the U.S. can leverage its economic and financial power to achieve its national security objectives. Experts at CEFP track and analyze changes in the international economy and how allies and rivals adapt to these developments. CEFP also promotes a greater understanding of how the U.S. government can employ its economic and financial authorities and tools to counter its adversaries and support U.S. foreign policy goals.

This position would support CEFP’s research portfolio focused on combatting illicit finance, corruption, and the malign influence of state enablers of global authoritarianism and terrorism. A core focus of this position would look at the threats posed by the leadership in countries including but not limited to China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran; and other jurisdictions that enable financial crime, terrorism, corruption, and illicit financial flows. Related to the portfolio, responsibilities could include:

• Support the research, development, and publication of research products for CEFP, with a focus on data-driven analysis and drafting policy memos, briefs, monographs, and other products as required.
• Employ data and analytic tools relevant to CEFP’s original research and thought leadership.
• Support CEFP in executing events and outreach related to your research.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned to you consistent with the Senior Research Analyst/Research Analyst role.

Requirements:

• At the Research Analyst level:1-3 years (or equivalent) experience in research and writing or data-driven analysis.
• At the Senior Research Analyst level: 5-8 years (or equivalent) experience in research and writing or data-driven analysis.
• A bachelor’s degree in economics, data sciences, political science, international relations, public policy, a foreign language, or a related field is required; an advanced degree is desirable.
• Investigative research skills to include experience with open-source intelligence (OSINT) or asset tracing (i.e. i2, Orbis, Lexis Nexis, Dunn & Bradstreet, etc.)
• Strong alignment with FDD mission and position as an independent, non-partisan foreign policy think tank.
• Strong presentation and communications skills.

Desired qualifications:

• Experience in handling complex datasets, data modeling, and statistical programs.
• Prior experience conducting research, investigations, or data analysis using non-English sources.
• Prior experience working for, with, or alongside U.S. government law enforcement or regulatory agencies.

Please submit a cover letter, CV, and a recent writing sample on a topic relevant to the work of CEFP. Interested candidates should apply here.

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Interested and qualified applicants should apply here.

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FDD seeks a full-time active duty U.S. military officer to serve as a Military Fellow in its Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). The successful applicant will have the rank of O-4 to O-6 and seek to gain research experience on issues related to U.S. defense policy and strategy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research related to the defense strategies, policies, and capabilities necessary to deter and defeat threats to the freedom, security, and prosperity of Americans and our allies;
• Author or co-author on the above and related topics (both internal and external publications, including newspapers, journals, and online outlets);
• Discuss research at events, both organized by FDD and in outside venues;
• Work with appropriate FDD staff to plan and execute meetings and briefings, as well as networking and professional development opportunities for FDD scholars with Department of Defense officials; and
• Support the day-to-day research and work of CMPP and CMPP’s Senior Director.

Qualifications

• Active duty U.S. military officers between the rank of O-4 (Major/Lieutenant Commander) – O-6 (Colonel/Captain);
• Commitment for 6-month or 1-year fellowship;
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team; and
• Excellent writing, research, and analytical skills.

FDD is a nonprofit and nonpartisan national security and foreign policy institute devoted to independent research in the defense of free nations against their enemies. FDD runs a National Security Network (NSN), a nonpartisan mentorship and leadership development program for mid-career national security practitioners. NSN is comprised of nearly 600 alumni from the military, the executive branch, the Hill, think tanks and the private sector. FDD does not accept donations from foreign governments.

Interested and qualified applicants should apply here. 

To view current internship opportunities, visit us here.

About FDD’s internship program

Based in downtown Washington, D.C., the Foundation for Defense of Democracies has a number of internship opportunities available during the spring, fall and summer semesters. All FDD interns will have the opportunity to participate in a twice-monthly speaker series, which brings high-level DC officials and senior staff members to engage with interns in an intimate setting. FDD interns will be encouraged to build on their academic skills by working closely with senior staff. FDD is also happy to assist students who wish to earn academic credit for this internship. All interns are eligible for a stipend and will be required to complete specific government documentation before this stipend is paid. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. It is recommended that interested candidates submit applications early.

Please specify the department(s) for which you would like to be considered (feel free to indicate preferences) in your cover letter. While you may use the same cover letter for multiple positions, please submit a separate application for each position of interest. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For general inquiries, email: [email protected].

Eligibility

• Must have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Should have a relevant course of study and have completed coursework in any of the following fields: International Relations, Security Studies, History, Communications, Journalism, International Economics, Political Science, Computer science, and/or a relevant STEM field of study.
• Interns should have knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Word, as well as basic Excel skills.
• Must be able to commit to a minimum of 22 hours per week.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Application Materials Required

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover letter (Please review our website and include which FDD projects and issue areas resonate with you and why. Also indicate where you found this internship and your availability for the semester.)
3. Writing sample (no more than three pages)
4. Unofficial transcript copy