Job Description
Executive Director
Council of American Ambassadors
Washington, D.C.
The Council of American Ambassadors is the association of non-career U.S. Ambassadors. Established in 1983 and located in Washington, D.C., the Council organizes foreign affairs-related events – conferences, roundtable discussions, and periodic overseas missions -- for its members. It carries out two endowed fellowship programs and sustains one endowed prize for the most outstanding non-career Ambassador, aiming to support the U.S. Department of State in its diplomatic functions. Its websites – AmericanAmbassadors,org and AmericanAmbassadorsLIVE.org – keep members in touch with each other and with the Council’s Fellowships’ alumni. They also publish members’ views and insights -- via podcasts, commentary and an on-line journal -- for public edification.
Responsible to the Council’s Officers and Board of Directors, the Executive Director:
- organizes and carries out the Council’s annual program of activities;
- supports the Board of Directors, preparing its semi-annual meetings and implementing its decisions;
- supports the Investment Committee in stewarding the Council’s financial assets and endowments;
- administers membership records -- recruitment, status, renewals -- and dues and annual fund-raising appeal receipts;
- prepares and administers an annual budget and ensures that financial records, tax compliance and audit results are maintained in good order;
- supervises one staff member – the Director of Communications;
- Assisted by the Director of Communications, plans, organizes and executes:
- two semi-annual conferences;
- four to six Ambassadors’ Roundtable luncheons featuring leading foreign Ambassadors accredited to Washington;
- periodic overseas missions, when scheduled;
- the annual activities for the Council’s two Fellowship programs;
- the selection and award process for the Ambassador Sue Cobb Award for the outstanding non-career Ambassador.
The position requires a self-starter with ample initiative; broad familiarity with foreign affairs and U.S. national security institutions; strong organizing and detail-conscious implementation skills; facility with small-organization budgeting and financial record-keeping/compliance; sound judgement; impeccable ‘people skills.’ Compensation commensurate with experience.
Submit cover letter and resume to search@americanambassadors.org by 4/15/25
In email subject line state “Application: Executive Director” before uploading cover letter and resume.