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Council Assistant Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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Council Assistant information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a council assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Council Assistant, you need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a background in administrative support, often backed by a relevant diploma or experience in public administration. Familiarity with office software (such as Microsoft Office Suite), meeting management systems, and local government protocols is typically required. Excellent communication, discretion, and the ability to multitask are important soft skills for managing sensitive information and supporting elected officials. These skills are crucial for ensuring efficient council operations, effective communication, and timely completion of administrative tasks.

What is a council assistant?

Council Assistants are professionals who support elected city council members or legislative bodies by managing administrative tasks, conducting research, and coordinating communication between council members, constituents, and city departments. Their responsibilities may include scheduling meetings, preparing reports, responding to public inquiries, and assisting with policy analysis. Council Assistants play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of local government and helping council members serve their communities effectively.

How does a council assistant typically collaborate with council members and other departments?

Council Assistants work closely with elected council members to support their daily activities, such as scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, and managing constituent communications. They often serve as a liaison between council members and various municipal departments to ensure information flows smoothly and requests are followed up efficiently. Collaboration and strong communication skills are essential, as Council Assistants frequently coordinate joint projects, compile research, and help draft reports or resolutions that require input from multiple parties within the municipal government.

What is the difference between Council Assistant vs Administrative Assistant?

AspectCouncil AssistantAdministrative Assistant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma; some roles may prefer associate degreeHigh school diploma; often some college or certification
Work EnvironmentGovernment offices, council chambers, public meetingsCorporate offices, government agencies, various industries
Employer & Industry UsageLocal government, municipal councilsPrivate companies, government agencies, nonprofits
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The main difference between a Council Assistant and an Administrative Assistant lies in their work environment and specific duties. A Council Assistant primarily supports local government councils, handling public meetings and official correspondence. An Administrative Assistant works across various industries, providing general administrative support. While both roles require similar credentials, their focus and work settings differ significantly.

Council Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Council Assistant job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution.

Program Assistant, Global Energy Center

Atlantic Council

Washington, DC • On-site

$55K - $60K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Program Assistant, Global Energy Center

Atlantic Council Headquarters - Washington, DC 20005

Overview

Salary Range $55,000.00 - $60,000.00 Salary/year Position Type Full-Time

Description

The Atlantic Council seeks a creative, hard-working, and detail-oriented individual for a fulltime Program Assistant position to serve in its Global Energy Center (GEC).

The Program Assistant's main responsibilities will include providing executive support for the Vice President of Energy and Infrastructure and supporting the day-to-day program management of the Global Energy Center. This includes managing scheduling, travel arrangements, creation of briefing materials and supporting the execution of the Center's strategic engagements. Furthermore, the Program Assistant will help advance the Center's ambitious programming agenda covering bodies of work such as the geopolitics of the energy transition, critical energy supply chains, and emerging technologies through assistance with research, drafting briefings, speaker coordination and event execution.

The successful candidate will have an entrepreneurial spirit, superb communication skills, and enjoy the complexity of helping to build a rapidly growing program. The candidate should have a background in energy and environmental studies, political science, international relations, economics, history, area studies, or a related field. Interest and/or experience in energy markets/geopolitics will also be given special consideration. The position requires excellent administrative and communication skills, superior writing ability, extraordinary attention to detail, and a proven aptitude to make sound judgments, assume responsibility, and work independently in a fast-paced Center with tight deadlines and competing priorities.

The successful candidate for this position will be committed to the Atlantic Council's core mission to galvanize US leadership and engagement in the world, in partnership with allies and partners, to shape solutions to global challenges, including through the Global Energy Center's efforts to help the global community navigate the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly changing global energy landscape.

This position will be based in Washington, DC, requiring a minimum of 4 days per week in office. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and education, with offers from $55,000 to $60,000. Applications submitted by July 13, 2026, will be prioritized for consideration.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or higher, in energy and environmental studies, political science, international relations, economics, history, area studies, or other relevant fields.
  • 1-2 years of relevant work experience.
  • Superb organizational skills, time management, attention to detail, and project management skills, including the ability to identify, balance, and rapidly shift priorities as needed.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including an ability to work well in a team and to communicate effectively with others ranging from interns to government and business leaders in the United States and abroad.
  • Discretion to handle confidential information with professionalism while demonstrating both maturity and trust.
  • Ability to work well both independently and with a team in a dynamic environment.
  • Strong interpersonal skills appropriate for operating effectively in a multicultural, international team environment.
  • Interest in geopolitics, energy policy, energy security, and climate policy.
  • Experience in organizing and staging events is highly desired.
  • Digital literacy using MS Office products, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and SharePoint, and ability to quickly learn new software and platforms.
  • Superior English language writing skills and analytical ability.

To produce quality work and to successfully achieve our mission, we recognize the need for our staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a work/life balance. Our comprehensive benefits package helps to keep costs low for our staff and their families. Benefits include, but are not limited to comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, 403(b) plan, FSA options, pet insurance, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, and wellness benefits.

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