Associate Director, GeoTech Center

Job Details

Atlantic Council Headquarters – Washington, DC 20005
Position Type: Full-time
Salary Range: $72,000–$76,000 per year
Position requires a minimum of 4 days per week on site
Diversity and Inclusion

The GeoTech Center is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and strongly encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Overview

The Atlantic Council GeoTech Center seeks a strategic, collaborative, and execution-focused Associate Director to help lead a growing portfolio on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The successful candidate will turn ambitious ideas into high-quality policy work, including research, convenings, workshops, briefs, partner engagement, and grant‑funded programs.
This role will have a strong AI and national security focus, including AI governance, responsible AI, AI adoption, and the geopolitical effects of AI. It also requires curiosity and range, and the Associate Director should help build work across related portfolios such as space systems, biotechnology, quantum, digital public infrastructure, data governance, and other technologies and digital policies shaping national power, markets, and societies.
The GeoTech Center works through three core pillars: Competition, Cooperation, and Innovation. Across these pillars, the Center examines how the United States and its partners can compete responsibly, cooperate across borders and sectors, and spur innovation that serves people, prosperity, and peace. The Associate Director will translate that mission into practical programs, clear analysis, and trusted relationships.
The ideal candidate is a strong project manager, a confident writer, and a thoughtful policy professional who can work with government officials, companies, researchers, civil society, and funders, moving between strategy and execution.
Job Responsibilities

Project Management and Planning: manage major workstreams across the Center’s AI and technology portfolio, including timelines, budgets, deliverables, partner coordination, reporting, and internal approvals.
Research and Analysis: contribute to policy briefs, reports, memos, proposals, talking points, and other written products on AI governance and adjacent technology policy issues.
Portfolio Development: support the design of new initiatives that advance the Center’s Competition, Cooperation, and Innovation pillars, identify policy gaps, shape fundable concepts, and build programs connecting emerging technology issues to geopolitical priorities.
Fundraising and Partnership Development: support fundraising efforts by identifying prospective funders, shaping grant and sponsorship concepts, drafting proposal language, preparing briefings, and maintaining strong relationships with partners.
Convenings and Stakeholder Engagement: lead or support high‑quality public and private convenings, including roundtables, workshops, delegations, briefings, and major events, building relationships with policymakers, industry leaders, technologists, academics, civil society, and donors.
Internal Coordination and Operations: work closely with GeoTech leadership, Atlantic Council Technology Programs, communications, events, development, finance, and editorial teams to keep projects moving smoothly and on time.
External Representation: represent the GeoTech Center at meetings, events, and peer networks, raising the Center’s visibility as a practical, trusted, and forward‑looking voice on technology policy.
Team Contribution: mentor junior staff, interns, and consultants as needed, modeling a collaborative, accountable, and considerate team culture.
Qualifications

A minimum of five years of direct professional experience in think tanks, government affairs, or INGOs working on technology policy.
Demonstrated knowledge of AI policy and governance. Familiarity with U.S. AI policy is preferred; experience with international, transatlantic, Indo‑Pacific, or Global South perspectives is a plus.
Proven ability to lead complex projects from concept through execution, including events, publications, grants, stakeholder processes, and cross‑team workflows.
Strong writing, editing, and communication skills, with the ability to explain technical and policy issues in clear language for senior and nontechnical audiences.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and sound judgment under pressure; able to prioritize, anticipate problems, and keep momentum in a fast‑moving environment.
Advanced degree in international affairs, public policy, law, computer science, science and technology studies, engineering, or a related field preferred. Equivalent professional experience will be considered.
Professional fluency in English is required. Proficiency in additional languages is highly desirable.
Management training or previous leadership/management experience preferred.
Willingness to travel internationally.
Candidates must have current authorization to work in the United States.
Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off
403(b) plan
FSA options
Pet insurance
Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility
Wellness benefits

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