What are the responsibilities and job description for the Summer 2025 SDI Research Trainee position at The German Marshall Fund of the United States?
Reports To: Research Analyst or Program Assistant, GMF’s Strategic Democracy Initiatives
Job Summary:
GMF’s Strategic Democracy Initiatives (SDI) is seeking a part-time trainee for the period from June 2025 through August 2025 to assist with research on international wartime support for Ukraine and democratic backsliding in Europe and the United States. The trainee will support the SDI team with essential operational, outreach, and administrative activities relating to programming around democratic backsliding and support for Ukraine. Specifically, this role will assist with logistics, partner coordination, and research on reconstruction and resilience efforts led by civil society organizations in both Ukraine and the United States.
Trainees will benefit from exposure to GMF’s experts and network, and will gain valuable research, analysis, and writing experience. The traineeship will consist of both in-person and remote work. Only applicants who are graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2025 will be considered.
The position will be compensated at a rate of $17.50 per hour with a flexible time commitment of 20-30 hours per week. Trainees are offered an ideal opportunity to acquire substantive professional experience for those interested in a career in public policy or international affairs.
Potential Key Areas of Responsibility:
- Coordinate convenings of SDI networks of civil society coalitions in Ukraine and other Eastern European democracies
- Research experiences of democratic backsliding in European countries such as Poland and Hungary
- Support the establishment of a new program related to US civil-military relations
- Assist with planning of logistics of expert convenings, including coalition working group meetings, private roundtables, and public events in Washington, DC, abroad, or virtually
- Monitor political developments, civil society perspectives, and relevant policy issues in struggling democracies, from Eastern Europe to the United States
- Provide research, writing, and editing support on SDI publications related to Ukrainian civil society and political developments in the United States relating to Ukraine
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Excellent analytic, writing, and speaking skills in English
- Demonstrable research skills, preferably with research experience on issues related to democratic backsliding, anti-corruption reform, civil-military relations, or Ukrainian civil society
- Knowledge of or demonstrable interest in issues of transatlantic democratic backsliding, Ukrainian anti-corruption reform efforts, and Eastern European or ex-Soviet civil society
- Graduating in spring of 2025 with a bachelor's degree in international relations, political science, history, security studies, or a related field
- Previous experience in a think tank, foundation, NGO, government body, media outlet, or similar organization preferred but not required
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
- Comfortable multi-tasking and working independently
- Knowledge of Ukrainian preferred but not required
Start and Length of Traineeship:
- Preferred start and end: June 2025-August 2025
- Preferred time commitment: 20-30 hours per week, Monday–Friday between 9 AM to 5 PM (EST preferred)
Due to a high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
GMF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Salary : $18
