International security

Pay in the destination countries

Monthly, in US dollars. Each country is an Imora admission package — open one for that route's fees, language requirement and deadline.

What does the day look like?

Your day is mostly reading and writing. NATO notices list drafting policy papers, reports, briefing materials, speaking points and background notes, monitoring political and military developments, coordinating committees and working groups, and representing the organisation at conferences and workshops. At the United Nations there is sensitive political analysis and diplomatic correspondence, work plans and project documents, and front-office support to senior officials. At the International Institute for Strategic Studies there is open-source research and analysis, contributions to the Military Balance Plus electronic database, written scholarship and commentary, roundtables and fundraising.

The tools are office and research systems, not instruments: NATO information technology solutions and document storage, statistical sources, election results, public opinion surveys, historical papers, case law and press sources. About 80% to 90% of working time is reading, writing, editing, meeting and coordinating, with a small share spent on travel to conferences, workshops and seminars. NATO requires readiness to travel and to work outside normal office hours when needed, and United Nations work runs on short deadlines. There is no fixed night shift in these civilian grades, but crises, ministerial meetings and summits mean extended hours.

Where does this lead?