Communications Assistant, Foreign and Defense Policy

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seeks a full-time, in-person communications assistant to work in the Foreign and Defense Policy department.

The communications assistant’s primary responsibility is to serve as an internal liaison and point of contact between AEI’s Foreign and Defense Policy department and communications teams (including the Design, Editing, Government Relations, and Video departments and digital marketing team). Other duties include managing the Foreign and Defense Policy department’s social media; assisting with developing and overseeing promotional strategies for department-wide initiatives; measuring the impact of the department’s content; managing large-scale reports and events; writing the department’s weekly newsletter, the Rundown; and fulfilling requests from the media team and Government Relations department.

This position requires excellent writing, research, communication, and organization skills. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of foreign and defense policy with experience in public relations, new media, and communications. Creativity and an ability to multitask are also essential. A BA in international relations, political science, English, journalism, or a similar field is required.

We offer a stimulating and harmonious work environment and excellent benefits. Qualified applicants should submit an online application complete with a resume, cover letter, transcripts, and 500-word writing sample on any topic. Recent and soon-to-be graduates are welcome to apply.

• Core Responsibilities
  • Serve as an internal liaison and point of contact between AEI’s Foreign and Defense Policy (FDP) department and communications teams (including the Design, Editing Services, Government Relations, and Video departments and the media relations and digital marketing teams).
  • Assist in developing and overseeing promotional strategies for the FDP department’s major reports and initiatives.
  • Lead monthly meetings to brief the FDP and communications directors and staff to discuss the department’s upcoming projects and plan the execution of the directors’ priorities.
  • Manage the department’s X account, @AEIfdp.
  • Write the department’s weekly newsletter, the Rundown.
  • Report weekly, monthly, and biannually on scholars’ and fellows’ activities, ongoing projects, writing, and availability.
  • Regularly monitor foreign and defense policy affairs to identify and anticipate new communications initiatives, and initiate and conceptualize department projects.
  • Work with the AEIdeas and media teams to publish FDP content; manage the FDP working paper series.
  • Track the FDP department’s outputs and measure its impact.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Advise the communications teams on foreign and defense policy inputs to daily AEI publications and website features.
  • Assist in promoting FDP events.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions at AEI

• The employee is regularly expected to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. This job requires close-up vision for computer work.
  
• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
  
• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.
  
• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phones, printers, and light traffic) is expected.
  
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities associated with this position.

• A bachelor’s degree in international relations, political science, English, journalism, or a similar field is required.
• Experience in communications with an emphasis on new media is required.
• The ideal candidate must be an avid consumer of foreign and defense policy news and a strong writer.
• Candidates should have 0–2 years of previous applicable full-time work experience; previous internship experience is strongly preferred.

Benefits
AEI offers generous benefits, including 18 days of paid leave (15 days of paid annual leave and 3 personal/floating holidays); 12 days of paid sick leave; paid family leave; medical and dental coverage, in addition to a health savings account; medical and dependent care FSA; a tuition assistance program of up to $5,200; life and disability insurance at no cost to employees; and a 403b retirement plan with a 12% contribution from AEI, among other benefits. For more information, you can see a full summary of our benefits at https://www.aei.org/jobs/benefits/.

Compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: scope and responsibilities of the position; a candidate's full-time, applicable work experience; key skills and qualifications; as well as internal and external market considerations. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $50,000 - $54,000. Salary is just one component of AEI’s total compensation package for employees.