National Security Fellowship

Company Description

The Steady State is a nonprofit advocacy organization composed primarily of former senior national security professionals from across the U.S. government. We are committed to defending constitutional democracy, upholding the rule of law, and advancing principled national security leadership. Our members bring decades of experience from agencies including the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense, DHS, and the Intelligence Community.

Role Description

The Steady State is expanding its Fellows Program and seeks highly motivated undergraduate students, graduate students, or recent graduates with a strong interest in national security, law, democracy, communications, and public service. Fellows will work directly with senior staff and former government officials to support the organization’s core work across operations, communications, advocacy, and legal initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, Fellows will undertake project-based work on an independent basis, including:

• Assisting in the coordination and operations of The Steady State’s core teams, including
• Partnerships, Communications and Content, Development and Finance, and Law Working Groups
• Supporting the Executive Director and Steady State members in research, meeting preparation, and follow-up
• Drafting and editing internal and external documents, including memos, press materials, and reports
• Contributing to public-facing content, including social media posts, web updates, and publications
• Bringing social media, digital, and computer skills to bear by helping create, edit, schedule, and analyze content across platforms, and by supporting website updates, databases, and internal workflows
• Participating in periodic team meetings and strategic planning sessions
• Collecting, monitoring, and presenting metrics to track engagement and impact, including the use of tools such as Canva, Adobe, Excel or Google Sheets, CMS tools, and social media scheduling platforms

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate
• Demonstrated interest in national security, democracy, communications, law, or nonprofit management
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to manage tasks independently
• Familiarity with digital communications, including social media and website management
• Ability to maintain discretion and professionalism
• Commitment to the mission and values of The Steady State

Compensation and Work Environment

• Start Date – February 2026
• $20 per hour, as an independent contractor
• Fellows will work in person at our Bethesda, MD office, though remote work is possible
• Fellows are responsible for providing their own internet access and equipment if working remotely
• Occasional evening or weekend availability may be required for special events, urgent tasks, or priority campaigns.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and brief cover letter (no more than one page) explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position to hqs@thesteadystate.org, with the subject line: Application – Steady State Fellow, [Last Name, First Name]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.