ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is the Midwest's premier global affairs think tank and a leading independent, nonpartisan forum for debate on the forces shaping our world. Based in Chicago, the Council convenes policymakers, business and civic leaders, scholars, and the public for high-level public programs, policy dialogues, and expert roundtables. Its research, analysis, and convenings address the defining issues of our time, from geopolitics and the global economy to technological change, global food security, and immigration, bringing the world's leading voices to Chicago and a vital Midwestern perspective to national and international debates.
THE ROLE
The Senior Editor/Writer is a specialized role at the Council, dedicated to curating and shaping the Council's expert commentary and thought leadership. This person should have expertise and experience working in the field of international affairs. This person will work closely with the President & CEO and the Council's Research Committee to conceive and develop and edit writing across multiple outlets. This requires someone who thinks seriously and independently about global affairs, who reads widely, follows the policy and expert debates, and can work with our CEO and senior fellows to identify, curate, and edit key contributions to US foreign policy, geopolitics, and geoeconomics, and who can translate that knowledge into writing that is rigorous, relevant, and accessible. The right candidate brings subject matter depth to the partnership, ensuring that the Council's expertise is positioned for maximum impact in today's most important debates. The role reports to the President & CEO and collaborates regularly with the Council's research, editorial, and programs teams to draw on the full depth of the institution's expertise.
The Chicago Council operates on a hybrid working environment. Please note that this role may require work outside of normal hours, including on weekends. RESPONSIBILITIES Writing & Content Development
- Serve as the Senior Editor for the Council.
- Oversee a small editorial team to ensure rigor and relevance in the Council's expert commentary.
- Work proactively with the communications team to ensure the Council's written work is innovative, excellent, and communicated effectively.
- Work closely with the President & CEO, and the Council's Research Committee, to conceive and curate relevant and rigorous content.
- Support the CEO and other members of senior leadership as needed for high-stakes external documents.
QUALIFICATIONS Required
- Master's degree in international relations, political science, journalism, history, or a related field.
- A minimum of 5 years of professional writing experience, howeer the best candidates are most likely to have many more years of experience with a demonstrated portfolio of published or produced work on foreign policy, global affairs, or related subjects.
- Genuine subject matter knowledge in international affairs.
- Exceptional writing ability across registers: analytical and academic, accessible and public-facing, spoken and scripted.
- Willingness to be available for rapid-response moments on fast-moving news events, and ability to produce high-quality content on tight deadlines without sacrificing accuracy or rigor.
Preferred
- Demonstrated experience as a senior writing collaborator to an executive, senior official, or public intellectual; someone adept at serving a leader's voice, ideas, and public presence rather than their own.
- Experience in or close familiarity with think tanks, foreign policy institutions, international NGOs, government, or academia.
- Familiarity with the Chicago Council Survey and the broader landscape of US public opinion research on foreign policy.
- Experience writing for or advising leaders in international affairs, diplomacy, or senior government roles.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a thought leadership content strategy, including identifying issues, sequencing content, and building a coherent public narrative over time.
- Comfort with podcast scripts, video content, and formats beyond traditional print is a plus; willingness to work across an evolving media landscape is expected.
- Willingness to be based in Chicago. This is not designed to be a remote position unless there are exceptional circumstances.
APPLICATION PROCESS We strongly encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. The search will remain open until the position is filled. Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000
The pay range included represents a good faith estimate of the possible full-time compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
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The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
$150,000-$180,000 - There are many benefits to working at the Council, including a flexible remote/in-office work environment (in-office 3 days per week), employer-subsidized medical/dental/vision insurance, generous paid time off, retirement match, half-
Jul 18, 2026