Temporary Audience Editor

Overview

Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a leading nonprofit membership organization, research center, and publisher, with headquarters in New York, an office in Washington, DC, and programs nationwide. It is dedicated to increasing America's understanding of the world and contributing ideas to U.S. foreign policy. CFR's 5,000+ members are leaders in international affairs and foreign policy. CFR also publishes Foreign Affairs, the preeminent magazine on global issues, and provides up-to-date information about the world and U.S. foreign policy on its award-winning website, CFR.org.

Position Summary

The Audience Editor will play a crucial role in expanding CFR's digital reach and deepening engagement with diverse audiences across platforms. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Audience Strategy & Growth, this position bridges editorial expertise with audience insights to enhance the impact of CFR's authoritative analysis and research. The Audience Editor will inform content decisions, develop distribution strategies, and use data-driven approaches to grow CFR's audience, particularly in supporting our strategy of providing both timely analysis and deep, authoritative content.

The ideal candidate is analytically minded but editorially focused, with a passion for international affairs and CFR's mission. The Audience Editor should thrive in a collaborative environment and be comfortable translating complex foreign policy topics for different audience segments. The ideal candidate will help CFR balance its authoritative voice with the demands of digital platforms, ensuring our content reaches the audiences who need it most.

This is a temporary, full-time position for 6 months. This position is based in CFR’s New York City or Washington, DC office on a hybrid basis. CFR currently defines hybrid status as working at least three days a week onsite, with Tuesdays and Thursdays considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite.

The major responsibilities of this position will include (but are not limited to):

• Partner with editorial teams to inform coverage decisions, suggesting timely stories and evergreen topics that align with audience interests and CFR's research priorities
• Develop and execute comprehensive audience plans for content distribution, including search optimization, social media programming, newsletter strategies, and notifications
• Track and analyze audience data, providing actionable insights to editorial teams on content performance and audience behavior
• Collaborate with Studies department to help extend the reach and impact of research content
• Optimize content framing and packaging to maximize discoverability and engagement
• Work cross-functionally with social media, newsletter, and SEO specialists to ensure a coordinated audience strategy
• Identify opportunities to reach new audiences and deepen engagement with existing ones, as well as emerging platforms and channels to reach target audiences
• Contribute to regular reports on audience growth and engagement metrics
• Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned or required

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree required
• Degree in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, or related field preferred

Experience

• At least 3 years of experience in digital audience development, preferably in news, policy, or international affairs
• Demonstrated experience using analytics tools to inform content strategy
• Experience working in a fast-paced editorial environment
• Strong understanding of SEO, social media, and other digital distribution channels
• Experience collaborating with editorial teams to shape content for digital audiences

Required Application Materials

• Please submit a résumé and cover letter stating your interest in the position.

Compensation and Benefits

• The full-time annual compensation range for this position is $80,000 – $90,000, depending on experience.
• In addition to competitive salaries, CFR provides employees with an outstanding benefits package.

About CFR

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is committed to fostering a foreign policy community in the United States that is more representative of American society, recognizing that diverse backgrounds and perspectives contribute to broader, more informed participation in the foreign policy debate and lead to an enhanced understanding of the world and the United States’ role therein. To that end, CFR is dedicated to continuing to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its work and workplace by building a more diverse membership and staff, producing and dispensing thoughtful analysis on a broad range of foreign policy issues, and developing relevant, wide-reaching programming that also serves to expand the foreign policy talent pipeline to underrepresented populations.