Citizen Engagement Fellow

Issue One • Washington, DC

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Citizen Engagement Fellowship is a six-month long, part-time fellowship designed for accomplished professionals in the global democracy and governance community who seek to bring their international experience to bear on strengthening democracy here in the United States. Created at a moment of significant transition in the international democracy space—with an abundance of practitioners seeking domestic opportunities—the program provides a structured pathway for experienced leaders to pivot into the U.S. democracy reform ecosystem.

This six-month fellowship invites 2–3 seasoned democracy practitioners, each with at least 10 years of experience in international democratic development, civil society strengthening, election integrity, governance, or related fields. Fellows will dedicate up to 20 hours per month to independent and collaborative work with Issue One, serving as thought partners, strategic advisors, and contributors across the organization’s programmatic and operational priorities.

Situated within Issue One’s network of bipartisan reform advocates, policy strategists, and democracy experts, the Democracy Fellows Program provides a collegial environment and an intellectually rich setting for cross-national learning, professional development, and democratic innovation. Fellows engage deeply with Issue One’s mission, contribute specialized expertise, and translate lessons learned abroad into insights that strengthen democratic practice in the American context.

Requirements

• Minimum of approximately 10 years of experience in the international democracy, governance, or civil society sector
• Demonstrated expertise relevant to democracy strengthening.
• Strong writing, analysis, and conceptual framing abilities
• Ability to translate international experience for domestic audiences
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work independently
• Strong judgment and an eagerness to contribute strategic insights

Responsibilities

• Producing research, analysis, or strategic memos that frame U.S. democracy reform within a global comparative context.
• Advising Issue One teams on best practices drawn from international democracy development
• Supporting targeted projects, convenings, or initiatives related to elections, civic engagement, accountability, or public trust
• Participating in knowledge-sharing sessions, internal briefings, or cross-team discussions
• Developing a written or conceptual product that aligns with the fellow’s area of focus

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees