Position: Junior Fellow – Climate Security Programme
Duration: 6 months, ideally from June 2 to November 30, 2025 (start and end dates are flexible). Possibility of extension.
Commitment: Approximately 20 hours per week. Additional hours may be needed during peak periods.
Salary: 23$/h
Location: Candidate must be based in Ottawa (hybrid in-office/remote model) or Montreal (remote with occasional in-person meetings)
Application deadline: May 9th, 2025 (23:59 EST)
About the Role
The Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDA Institute) is seeking a Junior Fellow to support its Climate Security Programme for the period from June – November 2025. This part-time opportunity is ideal for a dynamic graduate student or early-career professional with a strong interest in Canadian climate and defence policy, who is eager to gain direct experience in research, policy engagement, content development and event coordination at the intersection of climate change and national security.
The CDA Institute is a leading Canadian think tank focused on promoting informed, evidence-based dialogue on national security and defence policy. Through research, education, and events, the Institute engages stakeholders across the Canadian Armed Forces, government, industry, and the broader policy community.
Among its areas of focus, the Climate Security Programme positions the Institute at the forefront of efforts to understand and address the complex intersections between climate change and Canadian security and defence. The Programme aims to inform national and global policy efforts on the topic, strengthen the Canadian climate-security community, and support the development of practical solutions to emerging defence and security challenges shaped by climate change – including issues ranging from disaster preparedness, infrastructure resilience, Arctic security, and the decarbonization of military operations. The Programme’s core work involves producing high-impact, policy-relevant research and publications on climate security, and leading the planning and content development of its flagship event – the Montreal Climate Security Summit – co-organized with the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE).
As a Junior Fellow, you will work closely with the Director of the Climate Security Programme to support the planning of the Montreal Climate Security Summit, support the development of thematic content for publications and expert engagements, and assist with other projects aimed at advancing interdisciplinary approaches to climate security.
This role combines research and analysis with coordination and communication responsibilities, offering meaningful exposure to the national and international climate-security dialogue and unique opportunities to gain experience working with Canadian and international defence and climate policy stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
1. Montreal Climate Security Summit
- Conduct background research to support and participate in the conceptual development of session themes and panel discussions in collaboration with the Programme Director and the NATO CCASCOE.
- Manage speaker invitations sending and tracking; and coordinate communications.
- Support the organization of pre-panel meetings and logistics.
- Participate in-person at the Summit (in Montreal) to assist with on-site coordination and rapporteuring; and contribute to the post-event report.
2. Publications and Research Outputs
Support the tracking and coordination of the Programme’s publications:
- Conduct comprehensive background research on emerging climate security issues and trends; summarize findings and key themes, providing insights into ongoing literature debates.
- Support the editorial and production process of the Programme’s publications, in collaboration with the Programme Director and the CDA Institute’s Research Coordinators.
- Support the production of climate-security episodes of the Institute’s Expert Series podcast, including drafting guiding questions and preparing briefing materials.
3. Additional Support Across the Programme
- Support coordination for other climate security-focused events, workshops and webinars, including as part of the Institute’s National Security Dialogues.
- Support work on upcoming collaborative projects with international partners, including early-stage coordination for an emerging interdisciplinary research initiative on climate security.
- Provide general research, communications, and administrative support across the Programme’s growing portfolio as needed.
- Other duties as required to support the Institute’s activities.
Qualifications
- Graduate-level background (or undergraduate-level with minimum 2-year work experience) in political science, international relations, environmental studies, disaster risk management, public policy, or a related field.
- Familiarity with Canadian defence and/or climate policy is required; experience in or demonstrated knowledge of the climate-security nexus is a strong asset.
- Strong research, writing and copyediting skills with an ability to clearly synthesize complex information.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Comfortable with administrative coordination and external communication.
- Self-motivated and positive demeanor with an ability to prioritize and provide rapid and tactful responses to stakeholders.
- High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office – Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
- Prior experience with events, academic coordination, or stakeholder engagement is an asset.
- Fluency in English is required. Bilingualism (English/French) will be strongly preferred.
To Apply:
Please submit your CV and a cover letter (max 1 page) with the subject line “Application – Junior Fellow CSP” outlining your interest in the position, relevant qualifications, and current location to Pauline Baudu, Director of the Climate Security Programme, at pauline@cdainstitute.ca
Applications submitted using “Easy Apply” will not be considered.
We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.
The CDA Institute thanks all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
