International Relations Assistant Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

DEPARTMENT: Government Relations

REPORTS TO: Senior International Policy Analyst and Director of Government Relations

LOCATION: Washington, DC 

STATUS: Fulltime; Time-limited 2-year fellowship

Bread for the World is a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger. Our mission is to educate and equip people to advocate for policies and programs that can help end hunger in the U.S. and around the world.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To support the Government Relations team in advancing U.S. international development, global health, nutrition, and humanitarian policy. 

This two-year fellowship offers an exceptional opportunity for an early-career professional to gain practical experience in policy research, legislative advocacy, coalition building, and strategic engagement with Congress, the Executive Branch, and leading faith-based and humanitarian organizations. 

Working closely with the Senior International Policy Analyst and Government Relations leadership, the Fellow will contribute to policy development, legislative strategy, advocacy initiatives, and relationship-building across Capitol Hill that advance Bread's mission to end hunger around the world.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES: 

1. Conduct policy research and analyze legislative and regulatory developments related to global health, humanitarian assistance, food security, nutrition, and international development, including programs such as PEPFAR, Gavi, global nutrition initiatives, and other U.S. foreign assistance priorities. 
2. Support the Senior International Policy Analyst and Government Relations leadership in developing and executing advocacy strategies with Congress, the White House, federal agencies, and coalition partners that advance Bread’s international policy priorities. 
3. As appropriate and assigned by the Government Relations leadership, register as a lobbyist represent Bread for the World on Capitol Hill and in the administration with lobbying meetings and building strong relationships with Congressional Members and staff to support efforts on global health and nutrition. 
4. As a new registered lobbyist, learn to carry out all the necessary trainings and paperwork that come with that registration. 
5. Assist with coordinating high-level congressional meetings for Bread leadership, listening sessions, issue briefings, and stakeholder engagement opportunities with Members of Congress, congressional staff, Administration officials, and external partners. 
6. Coordinate closely with other Bread departments, including the Organizing and Faith Engagement team for advocacy meetings and strategy in the field on global health and nutrition, as well as other Bread international policy priorities. 
7. Monitor congressional activity, committee actions, appropriations, authorizing legislation, and Administration policy developments affecting Bread's international priorities. 
8. Represent Bread for the World in coalition meetings, working groups, policy forums, and legislative meetings to help build consensus among diverse organizations and stakeholders. 
9. Support educational efforts by preparing policy updates, briefings, and written materials for Bread staff, advocates, churches, and coalition partners regarding congressional impacts on policy developments and opportunities for legislative action. 
10. Collaborate with internal departments—including Organizing, Church Relations, Strategic Communications, Development, and the President's Office—to develop advocacy resources and campaign materials. 
11. Review publications and communications for legislative policy accuracy and consistency. 
12. Respond to legislative inquiries from internal staff and external stakeholders. 
13. Maintain accurate records of advocacy activities, meetings, and reports, including timely data entry into organizational systems and completion of required administrative responsibilities. 
14. Perform other duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED: 

• Bachelor's degree in political science, international relations, public policy, international development, public health, or related field. 
• Demonstrated interest in international development, global health, humanitarian assistance, or anti-hunger policy. 
• Excellent research, analytical, and writing skills. 
• Strong verbal communication and presentation abilities. 
• Ability to synthesize complex policy issues into concise written and oral communications. 
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. 
• Commitment to Bread for the World's Christian mission and advocacy approach. 

 Preferred:

• Master's degree or equivalent graduate study in political science, international relations, public policy, international development, public health, or related field. 
• Internship or professional experience on Capitol Hill, within the Executive Branch, a nonprofit advocacy organization, or an international development organization. 
• Strong grasp of congressional processes and federal policymaking. 
• Experience working in coalitions or advocacy campaigns. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT ISSUES: 

• This fellowship provides intensive, hands-on experience in federal legislative advocacy; international development policy; global health and nutrition policy; coalition leadership; congressional engagement; executive branch advocacy; policy research and analysis; faith-based public policy; and strategic communications. 
• Attendance at various lobby visits on the Hill and other meetings in Washington, DC will frequently be required.
• Work will require some evening and weekend hours to assure organizational responsiveness to assigned issues area.
• This position is based in Washington, D.C. 
• Bread is a hybrid organization. 

CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS: 

Bread is committed to advancing racial equity externally and internally, all staff members play a vital role. In the course of our work, each staff person should work to apply a racial equity lens to their work and practices; and participate in racial equity on-going training. Bread is also committed to being an equal opportunity employer. 

OUR VALUES: 

1. We value our faith. Our faith in Christ is the foundation for our hope, story, mission, and values, and compels us to love our neighbors near and far.
2. We value human flourishing. We believe that every human being, created in the image of God, has inherent dignity that affords an opportunity to be in right relationship with God, self, neighbor, and the environment, and to freely access enough nutritious food for good health.
3. We value justice. We seek to establish effective systems, structures, and policies that affirm equality and advance equity among all human beings and protect people who experience hunger and poverty from oppression.
4. We value courage and prophetic voice. In a spirit of wisdom and love, we will be bold in articulating and pursuing our vision of a world without hunger.
5. We value nonpartisanship. We believe that effective and sustainable public policies are made when, in good faith, we employ a civil and politically unbiased approach to develop and implement laws and programs to achieve our mission.
6. We value collaboration. We believe in working alongside and building community with diverse churches, institutions, and individuals, including people experiencing hunger, to achieve our mission.
7. We value impact. We strive for excellence in our work and hold ourselves and our nation’s leaders accountable in the pursuit of public policies that render measurable results and meaningful change for those affected by hunger.

DISCLAIMER: 

Background and reference checks will be conducted on all final candidates. The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.