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).

Position Summary:

The Program Assistant will provide day-to-day administrative and programmatic support primarily to the Central and West Africa program staff.

This is an opportunity to join an ambitious institution and team committed to the cause of our time. The ideal candidate will be energized by the idea of being part of an expanding team supporting our brave partners on the frontlines of the fight for freedom and democracy around the world.

Responsibilities:

Assist the Africa Program directors and managers with general administrative duties.
Assist with intake, processing, and review of grant proposals from nongovernmental organizations working on democracy support programs in Central and West Africa.
Assist with drafting and editing project summaries and budgets for approval by the NED board.
Maintain the team calendar, schedule internal meetings and monitor deadlines.
Maintain and track internal budgets and generate data and identify trends for team planning purposes.
Organize events and meetings.
Communicate with grantees and applicants about the NED Africa program and the proposal application process.Attend and report on relevant meetings and other events.
Conduct research on current political developments in the region.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, Political Science, History, or a related discipline is required.
Knowledge of political and social issues in Africa.
0-2 years office experience required.
Administrative support experience.
Proficient in French.
Proficient in the use of MS Office Suite, including Microsoft Excel.
Proficiency in other relevant languages of the region is a benefit.
Experience working with databases.
Experience in grant making and democratic development is desirable.
Previous work or study in Africa is a plus.
Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
Attention to detail, and ability to multi-task.
High degree of organization and initiative.
Works well in a team environment.
Authorized to work in the United States.

To Apply:

Apply Online. 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.

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 amongst 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.