Fellow/Senior Fellow and Program Director

Position description

About the Middle East Council on Global Affairs 

The Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) is an independent, non-profit policy research institution based in Doha, Qatar. It conducts policy-relevant research, convenes meetings, and dialogues, and engages policy actors on geopolitical and socioeconomic issues facing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  

ME Council serves as a bridge between the MENA region and the rest of the world, providing a regional perspective on global policy issues and establishing partnerships with other leading research centers and development organizations across the MENA region and the world. 

Responsibilities 

The Program Director and Fellow/Senior Fellow will lead a multi-faceted program of research, analysis, meetings, and policy engagement to provide a better understanding of transitions (political, social, armed conflict, and others) within the MENA region. In particular, the Program Director and Fellow/Senior Fellow will focus on one or more of the following substantive areas: political transitions and regime stability; global and regional geopolitical tensions; conflict mediation and peacebuilding; post-conflict stability, recovery, and reconstruction. 

The primary responsibilities of the Program Director and Fellow/Senior Fellow will be to provide intellectual leadership to the program; organize, oversee, and manage the program’s research agenda and fellows; and supervise events, meetings, and policy engagements under the program. In addition, the Program Director and Fellow/Senior Fellow will conduct original research and analysis; participate in the Middle East Council activities on; lead issue-focused meetings; and interact with policymakers and the national and international media through interviews and other media appearances. The Fellow/Senior Fellow will also contribute to other MECGA activities.  

Alongside their individual research and programmatic activities, ME Council Fellows are expected to be active members of the Council’s community, contributing to other Council’s activities; engaging with colleagues, and participating in ME Council research projects, public events, monthly meetings, discussion forums, and policy roundtables; and contributing to the Council’s online publication (Afkār) with analysis covering relevant, current policy issues. Fellows also engage with policymakers, academics, diplomats, government officials, and journalists, as well as regional business leaders. 

Qualifications

Education/Experience Requirements 

Applicants should have an M.A. or Ph.D. in political science, international relations, economics, conflict resolution, history, Middle Eastern Studies, or a related discipline and several years of professional experience in a relevant field. They must have an in-depth understanding and practical experience in one or more of the substantive areas outlined above and must have a demonstrated ability to conduct and publish professional, in-depth research. 

In addition to academic credentials, competitive candidates must have experience in contributing to policymaking, conducting policy analysis, or a proven record of publishing books and articles in professional or academic journals, think tanks and news outlets, or both. The Program Director and Fellow/Senior Fellow also must have a demonstrated ability to organize meetings and dialogues, including with and among parties in conflict, and an ability to build trust and develop partnerships. They must also be able to design and undertake issue-focused engagement and outreach strategies with high-profile audiences, in collaboration with communications staff. A proven ability to build and develop partnerships is preferred. 

Knowledge/Skills Requirements 

• The candidate must have a proven ability to conduct original policy research and analysis and to disseminate it to audiences to achieve public policy impact.  
• The candidate must be able to lead and undertake both large-scale research projects and issue-focused meetings, conferences, and other events with little supervision.  
• Fluency in English is required and working knowledge in Arabic is strongly desired, along with outstanding written and oral communication skills.  
• The successful candidate must be motivated yet flexible, diplomatic, creative, trustworthy, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.  

Strong candidates should have extensive contacts among the policy, academic, and business communities, and must be comfortable working with and communicating with policymakers, partner organizations, funders, and other colleagues.  

Application instructions

How to Apply 

Applicants must apply by submitting the following documents by May 31, 2023:  

• A CV including professional and educational experiences, citizenship, three references, and full contact information. 
• A writing sample (no more than 8,000 words) in English. Writing samples should, if possible, be in a format similar to the policy papers published by the Council and must not be co-authored.  
• A writing sample (no more than 2,000 words) in Arabic. 
• A list of publications. 
• A cover letter, along with any additional information you wish to convey. 

 Only applicants meeting the minimum qualifications for the position will be considered.