Advisor on Eurasian Security and Arms Control

Location:

Vienna, Austria

Applications close:

19 October, 2025

Starting date: November 2025

HD has been active in inter-state diplomacy in Eurasia for several years, with a particular focus on the severe consequence for the European security architecture after the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Beyond the need for a new mechanism to deal with the new security threats in the region, there is also a need to include a series of agreements on regional security, arms control, demarcation of borders, trade, energy, and new threats (space, nuclear, cyber, autonomous weapons, AI). The Advisor on Eurasian Security and Arms Control will help HD with research and the organising of dialogue and backchannels to help find common ground, mitigate risk, and address long-term arms control and strategic stability questions in the Transatlantic and Eurasian (Europe-Russia) space.

The Advisor on Eurasian Security and Arms Control will support the activities of the ESAC project, which is housed within HD’s Eurasia Directorate.

Reporting to the ESAC Project Manager, the Advisor’s main responsibility will be to support the project with researching and designing dialogue activities related to European and Transatlantic security, strategic stability, and multilateral arms control.

In particular, the Advisor will:

  • Conduct research and analysis related to arms control, strategic stability, new technologies, and conflict risk management with a focus on Europe, US and Russia. And research on US-Russia nuclear and strategic affairs, regional proliferation, multilateral arms control, missile defence, emerging weapons technologies.
  • Design and implement dialogue initiatives, meetings and activities on issues related to the Transatlantic and European/US-Russian arms control, strategic stability, and threat reduction and/or conflict management.
  • Participate in conceptualising new avenues of work and outreach to institutional donors, both regionally and thematically.

The successful candidate should meet the following criteria:

  • Master’s degree ideally in political science, international relations, or a related technical field;
    • Minimum of 8 years professional experience working on US-Russia strategic stability and European security issues, including nuclear strategic stability, Transatlantic security and institutions, arms control, and/or conflict management in Eurasia.
  • Previous experience should ideally include established think tanks, government organisations and/or international organisations;
    • Demonstrated and strong writing and research skills in English; knowledge of Russian, Ukrainian, or German is considered useful but not essential.
    • Politically astute and strong communication skills specifically tailored to navigating complex diplomatic landscapes;
    • Commitment to conflict resolution, peace-making and related humanitarian issues.
    • Excellent organisational skills.

The candidate must have the right to work from Austria/Europe should be able to regularly travel regionally and worldwide.

If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV along with a short cover letter in a single PDF file to hrgeneva@hdcentre.org by 19 October 2025 Please indicate “ESAC Advisor ” in the subject line of your e-mail.

HD promotes equal opportunities in employment.