Employment and Internships

National Security Research Fellow

The American Security Project is seeking a flexible and driven national security research fellow to help educate and inform policymakers and the public on military readiness and defense issues through evidence-driven, nonpartisan research and programming. Qualified applicants will have excellent writing and research skills, strong general knowledge of traditional and emerging national security topics, and an ability to perform both quantitative and qualitative policy analysis on complex topics.

The primary issue area of this fellowship centers on military readiness, specifically the impacts of chronic health conditions like overweight and obesity on manpower, human performance, and veteran health and well-being. As needed, the fellow must also be willing to contribute to ongoing and novel projects on strategic competition, climate and energy security, and other national security topics. Prior experience in defense analysis or military service is highly desirable.

ASP research fellows are tasked with carrying out the primary research and grant responsibilities of the institute. This includes drafting and editing reports and policy briefs, designing and executing events, and engaging constructively with donors and stakeholders. This is a multidisciplinary position in which the fellow will be responsible for both publishing independent research and communicating that research to public and policymaker audiences.

Major functions and responsibilities:

• Conducting the primary research, drafting, and editing of 3-5 policy reports each year on military readiness and other national security-related topics.
• Writing and adapting policy reports into blog posts, op-eds, briefing notes, and other content designed for easy-to-understand public consumption.
• Monitoring and contributing to upcoming legislation, regulation, congressional hearings, and other discourse on issues relevant to ASP research and programming.
• Organizing events, including identifying relevant topics of interest, selecting experts for panels and briefings, and creating and managing audience listservs.
• Supervising between 2-3 interns and/or research assistants per academic semester.
• Arranging and leading educational Hill meetings with congressional staff or principals.
• Engaging constructively with external parties and current/potential funders, including at networking events, dinners, galas, and conferences.
• Working with senior management on identifying and applying for new funding opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or bachelor’s degree plus 2-3 years’ experience) in a relevant field.
• Between 1-3 years of experience in policy research and analysis.
• Located in (or willing to relocate to) the Washington, DC region and work in ASP’s downtown DC office. Remote work is permitted for up to two days a week.
• Excellent research and writing skills, with proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Dedicated to nonpartisan, non-biased, evidence-driven policy solutions.
• Quick learner, capable of rapidly familiarizing oneself with new subjects and setting and executing a programming and research agenda.
• Flexibility and willingness to take on multiple responsibilities as part of a small team.
• Ability to work as a member of a group and independently.
• Competency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook, Teams) required. Proficiency in Canva, Adobe Suite (Photoshop, InDesign), and quantitative analysis tools (R, Stata, SPSS, Python, QGIS) a plus.

Salary:

Base salary range $65,000-$75,000 depending on qualifications and experience. End-of-year bonus depending on high performance.

Benefits:

• $250 monthly WMATA transportation stipend.
• Generous health insurance coverage, including dental and vision.
• Access to ASP 403b retirement program (unmatched).
• 18 paid vacation days annually, accruing at 1.5 days monthly.
• 11 paid federal holidays.

Applicants for the position should send a 1.) cover letter, 2.) resume, 3.) references, and a 4.) short writing sample (4 pg. max) to Matthew Wallin at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.