Why Council on Foreign Relations
FY2024 · Form 990Its mission and biggest programs, as filedAnalyzes critical foreign policy issues and provides non-partisan digital resources to help members and the public better understand global affairs.
- The david rockefeller studies program: cfr's think tank analyzes pressing global challenges and offers actionable steps that policymakers and citizens can take to address them. The more than seventy full-time and adjunct fellows in studies cover all the world's major…$35.4M spent in FY2024
- For over 100 years, Foreign affairs has been the leading forum for serious discussion of american Foreign policy and global affairs. IT is now a multiplatform media organization with a print magazine, a website, a mobile site, a podcast, apps…$13.7M spent in FY2024
- Product, design, and engineering (pde) designs, develops, and maintains products that serve the council's mission to impart a better understanding of the world among its members and other interested citizens. We collaborate with departments across the Council to set and…$12M spent in FY2024
Before you apply
FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the orgAbout the role
The org's own posting, as writtenPosition Summary
POSITION SUMMARY The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is seeking a Communications Specialist to support the planning and execution of earned media strategies for CFR’s Studies department, helping to advance the visibility of their work. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, this role will draft and edit press releases, media advisories, and targeted pitches; develops resource materials for journalists, editors, producers, and bookers; and maintains press distribution lists and media mention tracking.
The Communications Specialist contributes to the full range of team operations such as staffing events, supporting virtual media briefings on breaking news, monitoring the communications inbox, and assisting with intern recruitment and supervision. This position is based in CFR’s Washington, DC office at least three days per week. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite. Effective Monday, September 14, 2026, CFR employees will be based on-site at least four days per week. CFR’s remote working schedule is subject to change.
Essential Functions/Responsibilities ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES Support planning and execution of earned media strategies in support of CFR scholarship, specifically the work of CFR fellows and the Studies Department as a whole. This includes engaging fellows in D.C. and coordinating with counterparts in Meetings, Publications, and Events. Under the guidance of the D.C.-based AVP and in collaboration with the Senior Specialist and colleagues across the team, help promote Studies products (such as CFR books and reports) and announcements (for example, of events and new fellows and initiatives), including through the drafting and editing of news releases and media advisories.
In coordination with the Senior Specialist, engage Research Assistants to help track fellows’ availability and media appearances, update expert pages, and maintain a running catalog of media mentions. Work with the Senior Specialist and AVP to map media targets based on issues and audiences. Help craft resource guides and materials for media targets (reporters, editors, columnists, bookers, producers) with CFR content, fellows profiles, and other collateral to position CFR as a resource consistently and during key news cycle moments.
Alongside other members of the team: Staff DC-based events and book photography Add media mentions for the weekly report for Leadership Help update media highlights on CFR.org Help monitor and act on media inquiries in the Comms inbox Assist with onboarding new members of the comms team Help manage DC-based events and help book photography Help interview, select, and supervise DC-based interns Take turns with team members to organize and manage virtual media briefings on fast-breaking global news Compile and update press distro lists covering various topics/regions Draft and send targeted media pitches for events…
About Council on Foreign Relations
From its Form 990- Budget $99.1M · International, Foreign Affairs & National Security
- Staff 380 · founded 1921
- Pays its leaders $360K–$1.4M (12 reported)
- Open jobs 19 · Jobs at Council on Foreign Relations · Full 990 report