Program Associate, Europe and Eurasia

Program Associate, Europe and Eurasia

Location: Washington, DC

Position Summary

The Program Associate will join our growing Europe and Eurasia team to provide programmatic and administrative support to Freedom House’s work on Turkey and other countries in the region. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly-motivated rising international development professional who seeks to build their program management, research, and analysis skills by working on complex projects in constantly changing environments. This position is based in Washington, DC and reports to the Program Officer for Europe and Eurasia.

Note: Freedom House is transitioning to a hybrid working envrionment. The successful candidate will be expected to be able to maintain in-person presence at the Washington, DC office on a regular schedule.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations, public affairs, nonprofit management, or related field.
• At least one year of professional experience in a large nonprofit or international development company, or a similar combination of education, training, and professional background.
• Professional or academic experience in/on the Eurasia region.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively and professionally in English and Turkish, both verbally and in writing, is an absolute requirement.
• Demonstrated knowledge of human rights principles and mechanisms. Appreciation of and commitment to supporting democratic transformations is a must.
• Knowledge of basic accounting principles and grant-related compliance requirements.
• Mastery of MS Office Suite, specifically Excel and Word. High degree of comfort with spreadsheets and data analysis required; experience working with budgets and accounting data highly desired.
• Impeccable grammar and proven copy-editing skills, including visual document formatting, required.
• Experience coordinating travel logistics for multiple travelers at a time, organizing meetings, and arranging public events.
• High degree of comfort in regular networking, creating new and nurturing established relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment, take on responsibility, and meet all goals and deadlines.
• Meticulous attention to detail, ability to plan and organize work and track progress both of individual tasks and team efforts.
• Proactive, self-starter attitude and ability to deal with difficult situations maturely.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in political science, international relations, public affairs, nonprofit management, or related field.
• Experience living in and working on or in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the broader Black Sea – Caspian Sea region.
• Fluency in the Azerbaijani language.
• Fluency in the Russian language.
• Experience working on USG foreign assistance programs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Take the lead on the day-to-day implementation of specific project activities and tasks, as assigned.
• Work closely with other team members and field staff on the implementation of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Coordinate activity implementation with field offices, local partners, and contracted vendors.
• Serve as the primary POC for subgrantees on financial reporting and compliance. Conduct and document contract procurement.
• Conduct desk research for policy analyses, assessments, proposals, budget narratives, and news updates.
• Draft regular narrative reports on project activities for donors. Liaise with other program staff and program partners to obtain the necessary information.
• Assist in the development and updating of regional and country-specific program strategies.
• Closely monitor project expenditures and liaise with other program staff and Finance Department to resolve discrepancies.
• Draft activity and project budgets; conduct cost-price analyses for proposed expenditures in the U.S. and in the field.
• Prepare expense reports and payment requests in a timely fashion; track their processing.
• Schedule and arrange meetings and events, and liaise with internal and external contacts appropriately
• Assist with travel plans including flight and hotel research and booking, travel authorization, visa applications, etc.
• Conduct media monitoring in English and local languages for news pertinent to the Eurasia region and produce a regular internal news digest.
• Create, maintain, and update databases for contacts and vendors.
• Participate in cross-team initiatives and internal learning and evaluation exercises.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

Essential functions are typically performed in an office setting with a low level of noise. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer: This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in the job description and that other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. Freedom House may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

Qualified and Interested Applicants

We invite qualified candidates to complete an online application and submit a resume, and cover letter with salary history and desired salary (only candidates who send salary requirements will be considered for the position).

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

Only candidates authorized to work in the U.S. without any restrictions need apply.

EOE M/F/D/V