Digital Policy Consultant
About the Company
APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm helping leading corporations, foundations and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact. Founded in 1984, with one woman’s vision and bold action, APCO has grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm of more than 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is comprised of strategic advisers, consultants and creators, working together across borders and functions, to provide services and expertise on financial, competitive, political and societal issues.
APCO is a trusted partner to bold purpose-led leaders, lawmakers, government officials, NGOs, the media and other stakeholders in the health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure and food & consumer products sectors. For 40 years, the firm has provided public affairs, crisis & reputation, impact, corporate reputation and global solutions services. APCO is renowned for its ability to champion clients’ interests and permission to operate, build their reputation and strengthen their standing. APCO’s integrated approach and team of tenacious and empathic talent create connections and winning strategies that accelerate progress and deepen impact.
By bringing diverse people and ideas together, and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO builds the un/common ground upon which progress is made.
About the Job
We have an immediate full-time opportunity for an experienced government affairs professional to work with the diplomatic community in New York on international artificial intelligence and cybersecurity policy. The ideal candidate will be based in New York, but it would also be acceptable for you to live remotely with travel to work out of APCO’s New York offices for external meetings on a regular basis.
Qualifications
Key Experience & Background:
6-12 years of experience working in multilateral cyber and/or artificial intelligence policy with a government ministry. Similar relevant experience working with an international NGO or private sector stakeholder in this policy domain would also be acceptable
Understanding of and experience in Internet related international peace and security issues and its policy venues, such as the Cyber OEWG. Familiarity with the multilateral landscape on artificial intelligence policy and governance is highly desirable
Extensive contacts with government policy leads and international organizations’ staff working in one or both of these fields with the ability to reach out to the key officials directly from a position of trust. Having relationships in intergovernmental organizations like UNIDIR, UNODA, UN OSTP, DESA, UNESCO, or ITU would be helpful
Additional Skills & Experience:
Comfort and experience working in an advocacy context with member-state delegates and international organization officials
Able to distill technical material on a multilateral policy subject or process into briefing papers for clients and potential clients that grabs the attention of non-experts and contextualizes why they’re important for the private sector
Experience taking reports of a process or meeting and distill the key outcomes and sticking points for non-expert audiences and provide strategic analysis of what positions mean
Adept at taking a concept note for an event and working with colleagues to design the event around key outcomes, sourcing speakers and helping APCO colleagues handle required logistics, RSVP handling, agenda production and dissemination
Support administrative colleagues organizing meetings across multiple time zones with government and non-government participants, using the right tone in communications to address senior people (Ambassadors, Ministers)
Able to research activities taking place in these policy domains across multiple international organizations’ online resources and where necessary through email exchanges and phone calls and distil key elements for business audience
Highly developed communication and persuasive skills and the ability to distil complex technical subjects and arguments so they resonate with diplomats who (frequently) do not have a deep understanding of the substance of the issues they’re working on
Preference for candidates fluent in another UN language in addition to English
