What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fall 2025 Civil-Military Relations Program Trainee position at The German Marshall Fund of the United States?
Reports To: Senior Fellow
Job Summary:
GMFs Strategic Democracy Initiatives workstream is seeking a part-time program trainee for the period from September 2025 January 2026 to assist with program support, research assistance, and network coordination associated with the establishment of a new initiative on the Military, Democracy, and Society (MDS). The trainee will support the team with essential operational, outreach, and administrative activities relating to programming around the intersection of civil-military relations and democratic resilience.
Trainees will benefit from exposure to GMFs 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 college graduates 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 policymakers, civil society groups, current and former members of the military, and other civil-military relations experts and practitioners
- Research civil-military relations across a wide range of national and international contexts
- Assist with planning of logistics of expert convenings, including the formation of a distinguished advisory council of US civil-military thought leaders
- Monitor civil-military relations developments at both the state and federal levels
- Provide research, writing, and editing support on publications related to the military, democracy, and society
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Strong analytic, writing, and speaking skills in English
- Excellent organizational skills and attentiveness to detail, experience with program management or event planning preferred
- Knowledge of or demonstrable interest in issues of transatlantic democratic backsliding and civil-military relations
- Graduating in spring of 2025 with a bachelor's degree in international relations, political science, history, security studies, or a related field (this requirement is more flexible if the applicant is a military veteran)
- Demonstrable research skills, preferably with research experience on issues related to democratic backsliding, civil-military relations, or immigration
- 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
- Military experience or experience with veterans issues preferred but not required
Start and Length of Traineeship:
- Preferred start and end: Sept 2025 Jan 2026
- Preferred time commitment: 20-30 hours per week, MondayFriday 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.
We highly encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Historically, underrepresented groups include (but are not limited to) Black, Latinx/o/a/e, Indigenous, Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander, biracial, multiracial, female-identifying, the disability community, LGBTQIA , and other marginalized identities.
Dont meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At GMF we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your experience does not align perfectly, we encourage you to apply. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles at GMF.