IR career starters - June 2025
We're delighted that Alexander Borum, a special advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark diplomatic corps, has kindly agreed for us to reproduce his periodical list of internships, traineeships, fellowships and entry-level positions in IR on our website.
After an incredibly busy May, I am pleased to share another edition of the IR Career Starters newsletter packed with almost 300 opportunities for those seeking a career in international affairs. While the industry is not as bountiful as it was just half a year ago, it is clear that the new normal is here, and IR careers will be as competitive as ever!
For those seeking to maximise their exposure to opportunities, I provide more than just the newsletter. I maintain a twice-per-week posting schedule (Tuesdays and Thursdays) on LinkedIn, when at all possible. This enables me to share opportunities that are outside the scope of the newsletter, yet are either excellent opportunities or higher-tier entry points into the international organisations (which I do not cover in the newsletter). You are welcome to drop a follow if this sounds useful to you.
For both the newsletter and posts, I have to emphasise the importance of engagement; I do not have time to promote the newsletter at any significant level, which was the case in the past - this means that I rely 100% on subscribers and readers to echo out the newsletter and opportunities. On Substack and LinkedIn, reach is determined by your interactions with the content, so every like, comment, and share makes a huge difference!
Hope itβs of use,
Alex
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Policy Advisor β Science and Technology Policy, Paris [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistants, Paris (6) [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Promotion of Climate-Friendly Cooking: Kenya and Senegal, Eschborn [ENV] [PUD]
Intern, Communications and Event Management for the Africa-EU Energy Partnership Secretariat [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Access to climate finance with "Partnering for Readiness, Bonn [ENV] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community of Practice (Partnerships and Development, Geneva [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer (MENA), Geneva [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Associate, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Beijing [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, LGBT Rights Program, Nairobi [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant, Youth Advocacy - Student Taskforce, Los Angeles [HUM]
π Council on Foreign Relations π
ππ§ππ«π², Development Associate, New York [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Education Creative Content, New York [EDU]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Russia Studies, New York [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Council Trips, New York [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, History and Foreign Policy, New York [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Global Health, Economics, and Development, Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Climate Change Policy, Washington DC [ACA] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Global Governance, Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Southeast Asia and South Asia, Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
π European Army Interoperability Centre π
ππ§πππ«π§, Defence & Security Research, Brussels [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Legal Research, Brussels [ACA] [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Brussels [PUD] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Editor, Brussels [PUD]
π Brookings Institution π
ππ§ππ«π², Staff Assistant, Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Washington DC [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Paralegal, Washington DC [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant; Governance Studies, Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², AI Policy Research Associate, - [ACA] [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², AI Evaluations Research Associate, - [ACA] [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Technical AI Policy Associate, - [TEC] [DIP]
π Carnegie Endowment for International Peace π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Beirut [PUD] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Beirut [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Technology and Society - Carnegie India, New Delhi [TEC] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Multimedia Production - External Relations (Summer 2025), Washington DC [PUD] ππ§πππ«π§, Japan Chair (Summer 2025), Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Americas Program (Summer 2025), Washington DC [ACA] [PUD]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Fellow/Senior Fellow - Japan Chair, Washington DC [ACA] [PUD]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Critical Minerals Security Program, Washington DC [ACA] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate - Critical Minerals Security Program, Washington DC [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant - Japan Chair, Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², CRM Associate - External Relations/ Information Technology, Washington DC [PUD] [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Social Media Officer, Kenya [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Social Media Officer, Senegal [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², ICLA Assistant Afghanistan, Herat [LAW] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², ICLA Technical Assistant Colombia, Northeast Arauca [LAW] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Health, Safety and Security Technical Assistant Ukraine, Kherson [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Technical Assistant Colombia Northeast, Santa Marta [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Technical Assistant Colombia Northeast, CΓΊcuta [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Technical Assistant Colombia Northeast, OcaΓ±a. [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Technical Assistant Colombia Northeast, CΓΊcuta [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance General Assistant, PanamΓ‘ [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², ICT Technical Assistant Colombia Northeast, CΓΊcuta [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Livelihoods and Food Security Technical Assistant Colombia Northeast, Santa Marta [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Culture Department, Singapore [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Department, Singapore [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Executive Office, Singapore [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Governance Unit, Singapore [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Human Resources Unit, Singapore [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Office Support Assistant, HALO Syria, Dar'a [HUM]
π Council of the Baltic Sea States π
ππ§πππ«π§, CBSS Secretariat, Stockholm (3) [DIP]
π African Development Bank Group π
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative & Finance Assistant β Country Office of Zambia, Lusaka [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Team Assistant, FIRM, Abidjan [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Logistics Assistant, TCGS3, Abijan [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Project Officer, Mandaluyong [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Human Resource Officer, Mandaluyong [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Procurement and Contracts Officer, Mandaluyong [ECO] [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Risk Management Officer, Mandaluyong [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Economics Officer, Mandaluyong [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Treasury Officer, Mandaluyong [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Statistics Officer (Data Science), Mandaluyong [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Investment Officer, Mandaluyong [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Statistics Officer, Mandaluyong [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Project Officer, New Delhi [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Project Officer (Urban Development), New Delhi [ECO] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Project Officer (Urban Development), Suva [ECO] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Project Officer (Urban Development), Bishkek [ECO] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate FP&A, London [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant Analyst, Tunis [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Tech Business Analyst, Sofia [ECO] [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Developer (Frontend), Sofia [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Developer (Backend), Sofia [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Security Engineer Privilege, Sofia [TEC] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Security Engineer Vulnerability & Pen Test, Sofia [TEC] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Platform Engineering, Network, Sofia [TEC]
π Environmental Justice Foundation π
ππ§ππ«π², Japan Oceans Campaigner, London [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², EU Communications Officer, London [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Mobilization Project Assistant, Lesvos [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Humanitarian Aid Project Assistant, Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication, Lesvos [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Voluntary Fieldworker Greece, Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, HR Support, Lesvos [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Humanitarian Aid, Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Mobilization, Lesvos [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Integration Support, Lesvos [HUM]
https://drapenihavet.teamtailor.com/#jobs
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications & Events department, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, European Affairs Programme, Brussels [DIP]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Joint Research Fellow, Brussels [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Events and Communications, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Press and Communications, Brussels [PUD]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Visiting Fellowships, Brussels [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Energy and climate economist, Brussels [ECO] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Editorial Officer, Brussels [ACA] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Assistant, Remote [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator, Fort Dauphin [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Programme Manager - Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Programme Officer - Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Senior Conservation Research Assistant, Fort Dauphin [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Programme Officer - Conservation and Environment, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Operations and Support Junior Officer, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Operations and Administration Officer, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Manager - Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Accounting, Finance, and Administration Officer, Bangkok [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², βCommunications Associate, Remote [PUD] [LAW]
π International Rescue Committee π
ππ§πππ«π§, Possibly several, US-based (20)
NB. IRC has a terrible recruitment platform, so I am switching to conservative rather than optimistic estimates. If you read this, IRC, you should do better.
π Adam Smith International π
ππ§πππ«π§, Program and Finance Teams, Islamabad (4) [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Public Financial Management (PFM) Advisor, Port Vila [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Communications Assistant, Honiara [PUD]
π International Center for Transitional Justice π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programs, New York [ACA] [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, New York [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Design, Monitoring and Evaluation, New York [ACA] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Cash and Voucher Assistant (CVA), Panama City [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Engagement and Accountability, Panama City [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), Panama City [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Finance, Panama City [ECO] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Protection, Gender and Inclusion, Panama City [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant, Finance and Administration, Accra [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant, Programme, Accra [DEV] [HEA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Editorial Internship, New York Fall 2025, New York [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Editorial Internship, HQ Fall 2025, Arlington [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Business Development Associate, Professional Subscriptions, Arlington [ECO] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, - (32) [DEV]
π United Nations University π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Government, Guimaraes (8) [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Human Resources Assistant (PSA), Putrajaya [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Human Resources Assistant (GS4), Bonn [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant for Global Youth MIDORI platform(CTC1), Remote [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Associate, Innovation and Education (PSA3), Tokyo [PUD] [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Student Assistant: Marketing, Bonn [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Expert Marketing, Bonn [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Video Editor & Translator, Chiang Mai [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Accountant and Finance, Chiang Mai [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Health Literacy Empowerment Program (HLEP), Chiang Mai [HEA]
ππ§πππ«π§, HR & Admin, Chiang Mai [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Women Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [EDU] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Program, Chiang Mai [EDU] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer, Dublin [HUM]
π Search for Common Ground π
Iπ§πππ«π§, Program Development Asia Regional Team, Bishkek [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Assistant -Nigeria, Abuja [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Associate, Bangkok [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Human Rights Defenders Programme Associate, Remote [HUM] [PUD]
π Hague Centre for Strategic Studies π
ππ§πππ«π§, Water, Peace and Security, The Hague [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, HCSS General Internship, The Hague [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, HCSS Datalab, The Hague [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication internship with focus on media and social media, Solna [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Gender and Climate, Suva [LAW] [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Audits, Geneva [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Applied Research, Geneva [ACA] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Social Services, Silver Spring [HUM] [HEA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Social Services, New York [HUM] [HEA]
ππ§ππ«π², Democratic Republic of Congo: Area Finance Officer β Bukavu [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan : Project Development Officer β Port-Sudan [ECO] [PUD]
π Disaster Philanthropy π
ππ§ππ«π², Finance and Operations Associate, Washington DC [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Justice and Violence Prevention, Cape Town [LAW] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Central Africa Observatory on Organised Crime and Violence, YaoundΓ© (2) [ACA] [SEC]
π European Endowment for Democracy π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programme support (Western Balkans), Brussels [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Grant-making support (Eastern partnership, Russian speaker), Brussels [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Grant-making support (Ukrainian speaker), Brussels [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Externships, Brussels (10)
ππ§πππ«π§, Project Development, Brussels [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant - Research and Innovation Ecosystems, Cambridge [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, DRC Standby Roster Team, Copenhagen [HUM]
π Centre for Policy Research π
ππ§πππ«π§, Law and Social Science Research, New Delhi [ACA] [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Communications Officer, Remote [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Officer, Remote [ACA] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Research Specialists, Remote [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Young Professionals Program, Remote [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Publication Fellows, Remote [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 International Affairs Fellows, Remote [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Grants & Donor Engagement, Shoreline [HUM] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring and Evaluation, Shoreline [DEV] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Policy Analysts, Brussels (7) [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant, Ankara [LAW] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant, Ankara [LAW] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant, Istanbul [LAW] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior βProject βOfficer, Vienna [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer, Ankara [LAW]
Photo by Adolfo FΓ©lix on Unsplash