Program Specialist

Summary

The Atlantic Council's Millennium Leadership Program (MLP) cultivates a new generation of connected and empowered global leaders ready to take on unprecedented challenges. We bring together rising stars from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors through three pillars: leadership, community, and impact. Our portfolio includes the flagship Millennium Fellowship and the Millennium Leadership Intensive, and we convene our community each year at the Global Leadership Forum. We are now entering an exciting new chapter: MLP will soon become the Global Leadership Center, growing beyond international programming to establish itself as a hub for thought leadership on the future of global leadership. Joining us now means helping shape that transition from the ground up.About the Team and This RoleWe are a small, entrepreneurial team with an outsized global footprint. We build things from scratch, move fast, and hold ourselves to a high standard. There is no “that's not my job” here. On any given day, you might draft a proposal in the morning, troubleshoot hotel logistics for an international study tour at lunch, and write social media copy in the afternoon.This internship is for someone who wants to be stretched. We're looking for a self-starter with grit and ambition: someone who sees what needs to be done and does it before being asked, who sweats the details because they know the details are what make a program excellent, and who takes pride in producing polished work under real deadlines. You will be treated as a genuine member of the team, trusted with real responsibility, and expected to deliver.In return, you'll get an unusually broad view of how a high-impact global program runs, from large-scale event planning and proposal writing to communications strategy and monitoring and evaluation. You'll also learn alongside our Fellows in leadership trainings led by executive-level facilitators, and you're encouraged to attend events across the Atlantic Council.What You'll DoKeep the engine running. Manage applicant data and tracking, scheduling, program materials, and coordination of meetings and activities with accuracy and follow-through.Make events happen. Own logistical pieces of our convenings, including international study tours, retreats, trainings, and virtual programming (travel, hotels, transportation, technology).Write, and write well. Draft proposals, promotional materials, social media posts, website content, and support the publication process for long-form pieces.Measure what matters. Help design surveys, track metrics, and run basic data analysis to support our monitoring and evaluation work.Be the team's second set of eyes and ears. Take notes at meetings and events, flagwhat's falling through the cracks, and help close loops.Jump in wherever needed. Our work is all-hands-on-deck. Expect the unexpected, and bring a solution, not just the problem.A go-getter. You take initiative, anticipate needs, and don't wait for perfectinstructions to get started.Relentlessly detail-oriented. You catch the typo, double-check the time zone, and confirm the booking.A strong writer and communicator. You can adapt your voice from a crisp email to a persuasive proposal to a punchy social post.Gritty and resilient. You thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and stay steady when plans change at the last minute.A true team player. You're as comfortable owning a task independently as you arepitching in to help a colleague hit a deadline.Ambitious and curious. You want to learn everything you can, and you hold your own work to a high bar.QualificationsGraduate student or recent college graduate, preferably in political science/international affairs, public policy, communications, international education, or a related field.Demonstrated interest in international affairs, foreign policy, or international exchange through coursework or experience.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills; able to juggle multiple priorities.Proficiency in MS Office; experience with WordPress, Canva, Salesforce, Monday.com, or similar platforms is a plus.Professionalism and poise working with colleagues and partners in the US and abroad.Comfort working in a cross-cultural environment.Must be authorized to work in the United States.Must be available to work full-time (40 hours/week) in person in Washington, DC for the duration of the internship.Applications close Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET (4:59 am GMT) and require a resume and cover letter. Due to the large volume of applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.#J-18808-Ljbffr

Job Description

The Atlantic Council's Millennium Leadership Program (MLP) cultivates a new generation of connected and empowered global leaders ready to take on unprecedented challenges. We bring together rising stars from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors through three pillars: leadership, community, and impact. Our portfolio includes the flagship Millennium Fellowship and the Millennium Leadership Intensive, and we convene our community each year at the Global Leadership Forum. We are now entering an exciting new chapter: MLP will soon become the Global Leadership Center, growing beyond international programming to establish itself as a hub for thought leadership on the future of global leadership. Joining us now means helping shape that transition from the ground up.About the Team and This RoleWe are a small, entrepreneurial team with an outsized global footprint. We build things from scratch, move fast, and hold ourselves to a high standard. There is no “that's not my job” here. On any given day, you might draft a proposal in the morning, troubleshoot hotel logistics for an international study tour at lunch, and write social media copy in the afternoon.This internship is for someone who wants to be stretched. We're looking for a self-starter with grit and ambition: someone who sees what needs to be done and does it before being asked, who sweats the details because they know the details are what make a program excellent, and who takes pride in producing polished work under real deadlines. You will be treated as a genuine member of the team, trusted with real responsibility, and expected to deliver.In return, you'll get an unusually broad view of how a high-impact global program runs, from large-scale event planning and proposal writing to communications strategy and monitoring and evaluation. You'll also learn alongside our Fellows in leadership trainings led by executive-level facilitators, and you're encouraged to attend events across the Atlantic Council.What You'll DoKeep the engine running. Manage applicant data and tracking, scheduling, program materials, and coordination of meetings and activities with accuracy and follow-through.Make events happen. Own logistical pieces of our convenings, including international study tours, retreats, trainings, and virtual programming (travel, hotels, transportation, technology).Write, and write well. Draft proposals, promotional materials, social media posts, website content, and support the publication process for long-form pieces.Measure what matters. Help design surveys, track metrics, and run basic data analysis to support our monitoring and evaluation work.Be the team's second set of eyes and ears. Take notes at meetings and events, flagwhat's falling through the cracks, and help close loops.Jump in wherever needed. Our work is all-hands-on-deck. Expect the unexpected, and bring a solution, not just the problem.A go-getter. You take initiative, anticipate needs, and don't wait for perfectinstructions to get started.Relentlessly detail-oriented. You catch the typo, double-check the time zone, and confirm the booking.A strong writer and communicator. You can adapt your voice from a crisp email to a persuasive proposal to a punchy social post.Gritty and resilient. You thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and stay steady when plans change at the last minute.A true team player. You're as comfortable owning a task independently as you arepitching in to help a colleague hit a deadline.Ambitious and curious. You want to learn everything you can, and you hold your own work to a high bar.QualificationsGraduate student or recent college graduate, preferably in political science/international affairs, public policy, communications, international education, or a related field.Demonstrated interest in international affairs, foreign policy, or international exchange through coursework or experience.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills; able to juggle multiple priorities.Proficiency in MS Office; experience with WordPress, Canva, Salesforce, Monday.com, or similar platforms is a plus.Professionalism and poise working with colleagues and partners in the US and abroad.Comfort working in a cross-cultural environment.Must be authorized to work in the United States.Must be available to work full-time (40 hours/week) in person in Washington, DC for the duration of the internship.Applications close Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET (4:59 am GMT) and require a resume and cover letter. Due to the large volume of applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.#J-18808-Ljbffr