Assistant Program Officer, Eastern Europe

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a 501(c)3 grantmaking foundation that receives an annual Congressional appropriation in excess of $310 million and is governed by a private, bipartisan Board of Directors. This unusual arrangement positions NED to play a unique role as America’s leading foundation for freedom, empowering the institution to be nimble, innovative, and risk-taking in support of democratic activists, civil society organizations, independent media, and the NED family core institutes (the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the Center for International Private Enterprise, and the Solidarity Center).

We seek a motivated, energetic, organized, and resourceful Assistant Program Officer Eastern Europe who is a mission-oriented team player, and who would be excited to join a fast-paced Europe programs team. This position is based in Washington, D.C.

Position Summary:

The Assistant Program Officer (APO) will work with the regional director and senior program staff to manage the Endowment’s grant programs in the Eastern Europe region, particularly focusing on Belarus and/or Ukraine. This role entails managing projects, conducting monitoring and evaluation, and providing political analysis.

Responsibilities:

Work closely and flexibly with a diverse range of civic activists in the areas of civic engagement, human rights, education, independent media, accountability and governance, and other areas.
Oversee the implementation of NED-approved projects, including analysis of reports, providing feedback on implemented activities, maintaining continuous communication over the grant cycle, and conducting field visits when possible.
Provide funding recommendations to NED’s leadership through presentations and written materials
Monitor and analyze political developments in the countries relevant to the portfolio to inform NED strategies through a variety of sources.
Build and maintain relationships with like-minded organizations, including other donors, NED partners, and regional organizations.
Travel to monitor grantees, and analyze the political situation. The visits include meetings with NED grantees, meetings with NED’s core Institutes (NDI, IRI, CIPE and Solidarity Center), potential civil society partners, other donors, and political analysts and opinion-makers.
Contribute to team’s effectiveness and cohesiveness. Actively coordinate with other Europe team members on their country portfolios.
Explore innovative approaches to enhance team effectiveness, refine grantee-reporting guidelines, and streamline communication with other teams at NED.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, Political Science, International Development or a related discipline is required; relevant Master’s degree preferred.
Significant experience in nonprofit work.
2+ Years of experience in democracy-related projects and programs required.
1+ years of relevant living or working experience in Eastern Europe.
Experience in financial monitoring and reporting.
Knowledge of program evaluation techniques.
In-depth understanding of political issues and trends in Eastern Europe.
Familiarity with civil society issues and knowledge of civil society organizations and individual activists in the region.
Excellent written and oral communications skills in English.
Full professional fluency in Eastern Europe language/s.
Solid analytical skills.
Ability to maintain professionalism under pressure.
High degree of organization and initiative.
Demonstrated ability to work as a team player, including coordination and facilitation skills.
Ability to travel to countries in the portfolio.
Authorized to work in the United States.

This position is part of the NED Bargaining Unit.

To Apply:

Applications must include a cover letter, resume, desired salary, and contact information for three professional references, of which one should be a supervisor. Please, no phone call inquiries.

Located in Washington, D.C., the salary range for this role is $ 51,750 – 73,125 USD, plus benefits. The final offer for a successful candidate will be determined by a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations.

At NED, we recognize that our most important asset is our people. We value the diversity of skills and perspectives our team brings to our work. We believe an inclusive and supportive work environment fosters a culture of respect and appreciation for all individuals. NED is committed to creating a workplace that allows everyone to be their authentic selves and make meaningful contributions to our organization, our grantees, and our world.

NED strives to create a work experience that supports the well-being and healthy work-life balance of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package offers health insurance (includes no copay for mental health services), a generous retirement savings plan, paid parental, vacation, and sick leave, a hybrid workplace model, flexible work schedules, and wellness initiatives to ensure a positive work-life balance.

NED is dedicated to creating an environment of respect and collaboration where everyone is encouraged to participate and take ownership of their work. We offer flexible work schedules and, for most positions, the opportunity for weekly telework days. This hybrid approach allows our employees to balance their work and personal lives while still participating in the collaborative process at the heart of our mission.

The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics covered by applicable law. The NED is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for all qualified individuals and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business need. The NED believes that diversity and inclusion among our team members are critical to our success as an organization operating globally and seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

For more information, please visit our website at www.ned.org or careers@ned.org.