Job Description

JOB SUMMARY: At CSIS we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups.   The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity.  Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 200 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.   The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism (WITT) Program seeks highly motivated candidates for a full-time (35 hours per week), three-month (with the possibility of extension to six-month) internship beginning in September 2024. Led by Dr. Seth G. Jones, director and Harold Brown Chair, the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program (formerly known as the Transnational Threats Project) conducts research and analysis on irregular and hybrid warfare, terrorism, and military operations. The program examines Chinese, Russian, and Iranian irregular and hybrid warfare activities, such as covert action, economic warfare, support to non-state partners, cyber operations, disinformation, political warfare, and espionage. It also assesses terrorist and paramilitary activities by such organizations as Lebanese Hezbollah, Shia militias, the Houthi movement (or Ansar Allah), the Islamic State, al Qaeda, and far-right and far-left extremist networks. Finally, the program researches the military capabilities of China, Russia, and other U.S. adversaries and examines how the United States and its allies can best respond.   The Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program conducts fieldwork overseas, builds and analyzes data sets, and utilizes satellite imagery and other types of qualitative and quantitative analysis. It also draws from an extensive network of policy experts from the U.S. and partner governments, Congress, academia, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. In partnership with CSIS’s Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab, the program translates its research into high-quality videos, podcasts, reports, visualizations, and other products designed to engage audiences and inform policy discussions through objective analysis. The Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program's work is highly valued by government officials, corporate executives, and other influential leaders seeking to understand, prevent, and counter transnational threats.   The Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program conducts fieldwork overseas, builds and analyzes data sets, and utilizes satellite imagery and other types of qualitative and quantitative analysis. It also draws from an extensive network of policy experts from the U.S. and partner governments, Congress, academia, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. In partnership with CSIS’s Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab, the program translates its research into high-quality videos, podcasts, reports, visualizations, and other products designed to engage audiences and inform policy discussions through objective analysis. The Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program's work is highly valued by government officials, corporate executives, and other influential leaders seeking to understand, prevent, and counter transnational threats.   The hired candidate will be paid hourly, commensurate with experience ($17.50/hour for current undergraduate hires, $18.50/hour for hires with a bachelor’s degree, and $19.50/hour for hires with a master’s degree).   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:   • Conducting qualitative and quantitative research to analyze trends in local, regional, and global terrorist and non-state actor group activity, as well as irregular and conventional military activity by U.S. adversaries such as Russia, China, and Iran; • Using cutting-edge research methods to support written analysis, including but not limited to creating original maps, analyzing satellite imagery, and building original databases and datasets on terrorist and insurgent networks; • Creating, maintaining, and utilizing geodatabases to draft maps and other figures that show conflict trends; • Preparing detailed backgrounders on a broad range of transnational threats worldwide in preparation for Congressional testimonies, media interviews, and other external (public) events; • Assisting the team in all aspects of event planning, promotion, and execution for public events and for internal (private) meetings and briefings with members of the U.S. government, private sector, foreign government partners, and others; • Other similar duties as needed.   KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:   The position requires the following skills and experiences: • Completed Bachelor’s degree; • 0-2 years of relevant work experience (including internships); • Prior academic or professional experience conducting policy research on terrorism, irregular warfare, and/or military operations in the Middle East; North, East, or West Africa; Europe; and Asia (i.e., South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, or Russia); • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting research; • Must be detail-oriented and well-organized, with demonstrated success working in collaborative team environments and proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously under strict deadlines.   Highly competitive candidates typically have one or more of the following experiences: • In pursuit of a Master’s degree; • 1-3 years of experience in a professional office environment; • Quantitative data research, including creating, maintaining, and analyzing large Excel spreadsheets such as data from Janes Terrorism and Insurgency Centre, Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), or the ADL Hate, Extremism, Antisemitism, Terrorism (H.E.A.T.) Map;  • Creating and manipulating geodatabases, including working with QGIS, CARTO, Mapbox, and other open-source mapping platforms; • Experience copyediting and reviewing long-form (10-50 pages) written products such as commentaries, op-eds, and reports; • Overseas travel or academic/professional experience in Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Middle East; • Language proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Farsi, French, Mandarin, Russian, or Ukrainian.   All candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. Foreign nationals must have employment authorization, as CSIS does not sponsor visas for interns.    PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK CONDITIONS:   This position will be based out of our Washington DC headquarters and is expected to be in-office 3+ days per week. The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.      Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.     Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.   HOW TO APPLY:   Please note that application instructions must be followed, otherwise your application may be rejected. Interested applicants should submit the following as separate documents through the online portal: cover letter, resume, and college transcripts (official or unofficial).   The hiring committee will invite a subset of applicants to take a short test of their writing and quantitative skills, which should take no more than 3 hours. The hiring committee will then select applicants for interviews from that subset.   Interested applicants should submit a resumé, cover letter, and college transcript at

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