Career Opportunities

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Women Peace & Security/

Strategic Communications Fellowship

Hosted at Women In International Security

 

The Fourth Freedom Forum* invites interested candidates to apply for the full-time Howard S. Brembeck Fellowship. This one-year, renewable fellowship will be hosted as a full-time employee at Women In International Security (WIIS), where it will support the organization’s work while also receiving mentorship opportunities throughout.  

 

Howard S. Brembeck Fellowship

In its third year, the Howard S. Brembeck Fellowship is focused on promoting fair opportunities for aspiring young professionals early in their career to support them in continuing to build practical skills in the field of international peace and security. The founder Howard S. Brembeck had a vision of multigenerational engagement on international peace and security. This fellowship continues his legacy of promoting and supporting young professionals and future leaders whose work will also help to advance the Fourth Freedom Forum’s mission. Given this focus, the fellowship works to promote equity in the field through supporting young professionals who have historically faced marginalization based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Priority will be given to applicants from these backgrounds. 

 

Fellowship Objectives and Duties

Women In International Security (WIIS) has played a significant role in the Women Peace & Security (WPS) agenda since its inception, participating in the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing and supporting the global movement leading to the United Nations Security Resolution 1325 (2000). Despite progress in the intervening 25 years, implementation of the WPS agenda has been slow due to a lack of political will and resources and a shortage of communication of successes. Moving forward, global dialogue bolstered by strategic communication is needed to reinvigorate and adapt the WPS agenda to meet current and future security challenges, such as climate change, pandemics, migration, trafficking, and conflict-based gender violence. The Brembeck Fellowship will coincide with the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, allowing the successful fellow to play a crucial role in helping WIIS launch and implement its “Advancing 1325 @ 25” project. As such, specific objectives for the fellowship include:

  • Strategic Communications: Promoting WIIS and the “1325 @ 25” project by enhancing and elevating the organization’s evidence-based research, policy analysis, data collection, activities, and outreach. This will include strategically identifying and communicating with target audiences for various events, briefings, and campaigns. 
  • Research: Undertaking and/or coordinating the development and dissemination of research and policy recommendations on the future of the WPS agenda to government officials, U.S. Congress, scholars, and the public. 
  • Convenings: Executing cornerstone events of the “1325 @25” project, including a Fall 2025 conference (DC), U.S. Capitol Hill Briefings, a UN CSW side event (NY/Hybrid), and assisting as needed with the Next Generation Symposium and other events.
  • Donor Engagement: Elevating ongoing WIIS research and activities on funding the WPS agenda while also working to strengthen and diversify the organization’s funding streams by developing targeted messaging to existing and potential members and donors. 
  • Day-to-day tasks: Helping WIIS to achieve the highest level of organizational effectiveness by managing its external communications, conducting/supporting research and analysis, helping execute public and private events, cultivating and maintaining strategic partnerships, supporting high-level membership and donor servicing, reporting on social media and website analytics, utilizing the Salesforce database, and providing additional administrative and logistical support as requested. 

 

Qualifications:

Applicants who meet some, but not all, qualifications or have relevant lived experience are encouraged to apply.

  • Relevant master’s degree, such as international relations/affairs, security studies, women’s/gender studies, non-profit management, or communications. Knowledge of Women, Peace, & Security is highly desired.
  • At least three years of progressive, relevant work experience, including in non-profit organizations, communications, membership, development, or research. 
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills and experience providing clear guidance to a range of audiences, such as members, donors, and the public. 
  • Policy analysis, including tracking developments, identifying trends, understanding “policy moments,” and developing actionable recommendations.
  • Experience and desire to implement diverse, equitable, and inclusive work practices; and have historically faced marginalization based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
  • Experience monitoring key performance indicators in different program areas and refining the strategy and implementation as needed. 
  • Planning, coordinating, and managing public events, teleconferences, and webinars.
  • Confidence working with high-level officials (government, diplomats, private sector leaders, etc.).
  • Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to effectively problem solve and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proficiency and comfort in facilitating in-person and virtual meetings using Zoom and other platforms. 
  • Experience organizing and implementing a comprehensive social media content calendar and campaigns on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
  • Familiarity with CRM such as Salesforce (NPSP), as well as Campaign Monitor, and WordPress is highly desired. Knowhow with design software like Canva, Adobe Photoshop, or Illustrator is desired.
  • Fluency with Microsoft Office suite, cloud-based document management software, and online project management tools, including G-Suite and Google Workplace.
  • Willingness to support administrative and operational tasks for the organization.

 

Eligibility

The Fellowship requires candidates to have U.S. work authorization. 

Candidates must have completed their relevant master’s degree by December 2024 or demonstrate they possess the equivalent knowledge and/or work experience in strategic communications, international relations, Women Peace & Security, research and/or development. Applicants must be familiar with research methods and able to write and edit quickly and effectively. As such, they may be subjected to testing to demonstrate during the interview process.  

This hybrid position is located in Washington, D.C. Preference will be given to candidates residing in the DMV area who can attend meetings and events in person at least two days per week. Occasional travel in the U.S. and overseas may be required. 

 

Compensation & Benefits

The selected fellow will receive an annual salary of $50,000 to $60,000 commensurate with experience, paid vacation and Federal holidays, and health insurance benefits. 

 

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit (1) a cover letter that includes a discussion of the applicant’s qualifications, professional experience, and career goals and how those interests and goals align with the mission and ethos of the Brembeck Fellowship and WIIS to support the fellowship works to promote equity in the field through supporting young professionals who have historically faced marginalization based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Priority will be given to applicants from these backgrounds; (2) a CV; and (3) contact information for three references- at least one should be from a non-academic source. Applications should be emailed to: [email protected]. Applicants should attach their cover letter, references, and CV to the email with a subject line that includes their full name and the phrase “Brembeck Fellowship Application.” 

 

Applications are due by October 1st at 11:59 PM ET. Applicants under consideration will be contacted for an interview—no phone calls.

 

Start Date: 2 January 2025

 

The Fourth Freedom Forum

The Fourth Freedom Forum is a nonprofit foundation established by Howard S. Brembeck to produce and support research and policy relevant recommendations for governments, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral institutions on a number of international peace and security issues. For the past 40 years, we have worked on sanctions, incentives, and diplomacy; nuclear nonproliferation; counterterrorism and countering violent extremism; human rights and the rule of law; and international cooperation. 

Our definition of security encompasses an integrated cooperative approach. The scope of work for this fellowship is not limited to traditional views of state-centric international security, rather we encourage applicants to embrace the concept of Integrated Cooperative Security. That is: the collective promotion and attainment of sustainable peace, dignity, and well-being for all of humanity including active measures to safeguard the health of the environment. It involves a holistic, inclusive, and multi-stakeholder approach to preventing and addressing threats from intimidation and violence in all forms and from humiliation and human rights violations. It requires providing civilian-led protection from economic, food, health, ecological, personal, community, digital, and political inequities and insecurities, through the use of good governance initiatives, diplomacy, peacebuilding, harm reduction, development, advocacy, technology, and other peaceful means of governmental and non-governmental action without overreliance on the use of military force.

Women In International Security (WIIS)

Women In International Security’ (WIIS) mission is to achieve gender equality by promoting leadership opportunities for women in the international peace and security sector.

Founded in 1987, WIIS is a non-governmental organization dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and intersectional approach to the Women, Peace & Security agenda. We provide professional development opportunities, lead gender equality research projects and policy engagement initiatives, host important events, and nurture a community of powerful mentors, advocates, experts, and leaders.

WIIS has helped women secure representation at the highest levels of private and public service as security leaders, ambassadors, secretaries of state, special representatives, and defense ministers in the United States, the European Union, NATO, and Fortune 500 companies. Our network spans over 50 countries across six continents and includes over 15,000 members who are all committed to one ambitious goal: closing the gender equality gap worldwide.

WIIS is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for our staff, volunteers, program participants, and community. WIIS seeks and values diversity and inclusion in its activities and encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and members of other historically underrepresented groups to apply. WIIS will not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training, and other terms or conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability status, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, political affiliation, genetic information, protected veteran status, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.