Program Assistant, Media Relations & Social Media

The Atlantic Council seeks a creative, hard-working, and motivated Program Assistant to support a joint portfolio across Media Relations and the Social Media team in a dynamic, global policy environment. This full-time role is jointly shared between the two teams, with the Director of Strategic Communications serving as the direct manager and day-to-day tasks coordinated closely with the Social Media team.

The ideal candidate is remarkably well-organized and detail-oriented, brings strong writing and digital savvy, and is eager to learn the craft of media outreach and social publishing at scale. You will help amplify the Atlantic Council's thought leadership by coordinating press engagement, tracking coverage, drafting and distributing press materials, and executing social media publishing, live event coverage, and analytics reporting. This position will work closely with programs and centers across the Council, as well as editorial and digital colleagues.

This position is based at our Washington, DC headquarters and requires 5 days per week in-office. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, education, and organizational equity, with offers from $55,000 to $60,000. Applications submitted by April 22, 2026, will be prioritized for consideration.

Job Responsibilities

Media Relations

• Support development and execution of media relations strategies across programs and centers.
• Maintain and update media contact lists; assist with pitching Council experts, publications, and events to journalists and producers.
• Coordinate press logistics for in-person and virtual events (press briefings, media calls, interviews), including day-of media check‑in and liaison duties.
• Monitor, compile, and distribute daily media clips and rollups; track coverage and produce weekly/monthly media engagement reports.
• Maintain forward-planning calendars and deconflict outreach to ensure consistent journalist engagement across the organization.
• Provide general administrative support for the Media Relations function, including contact management and expense processing as needed.

Social Media

• Draft high-quality social copy and create graphics tailored to platform norms (X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), including headlines, captions, and thread/post sequencing; ensure timely publishing aligned with editorial calendars.
• Execute live-clipping and posting during events and major moments (e.g., panels, keynotes, releases), coordinating with Media Relations on real-time press amplification. Assist in social listening, trend monitoring, and community management; surface opportunities for rapid content and expert promotion.
• Assist in creating short videos for social media platforms.
• Support basic asset coordination (images/video) with the editorial/digital team; ensure brand and style consistency in posts.
• Contribute to monthly analytics reports (reach, engagement, top-performing content), translating insights into recommendations for both teams.