Program Officer/Program Manager, Southeastern Europe

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy and an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and civil society to build the institutions vital to a democratic society. CIPE’s key program areas include enterprise ecosystems, democratic governance, business advocacy, and anti-corruption & ethics. 

Position: Program Officer/Program Manager, Southeastern Europe 
Reports to: Director

Scope: CIPE is seeking a full-time position based in one of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia, to work under the National Endowment for Democracy-funded “Strengthening Business Advocacy, Phase II” and “Advancing Economic Freedom and Resilience” programs. These programs aim to strengthen economic freedom and resilience throughout the region by enhancing the voice of business membership organizations (BMOs) in advancing reforms and leveling the economic playing field. The Program Officer or Program Manager will support the assessment of the capacity of BMOs across the region and will oversee and support the implementation of targeted workshops, trainings, and mentorship to strengthen their capacity to advocate for economic freedom and resilience. Furthermore, the Program Officer or Program Manager will oversee program management and implementation of advocacy campaigns developed by BMOs across the region and will foster cross-regional connections to promote shared learning among BMOs in Southeastern Europe and the Europe and Eurasia region more broadly. This position involves frequent travel across the region. 

Responsibilities:  

• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategy for accomplishing CIPE’s objectives on improving democratic governance and advancing market reforms across the region.  

• Design, implement, and manage a portfolio of projects and grants for Southeastern Europe, supportive of CIPE’s overall goals and strategies for target countries. Project responsibilities have the following dimensions:  

• Develop project concept papers, proposals, reports, and correspondence. 

• Act as CIPE’s representative to promote democratic market-oriented institutional reforms in the region, including developing and implementing training programs, public speaking at events, and facilitating meetings with partners, potential partners, and other stakeholders. 

• Analyze, research, and be familiar with the region’s political and economic landscape, identifying opportunities for CIPE programs and partners. 

• Identify potential partner organizations and beneficiaries in the region and collaborate to design effective democratic and economic-reform programs. 

• Analyze both solicited and unsolicited project proposals in the context of the regional socio-political context, CIPE strategy, grant guidelines, and criteria. 

• Collaborate with partners to refine project proposals, monitoring and evaluation plans, and project budgets. 

• Implement, monitor, and manage all project activities, in collaboration with local partner organizations and CIPE team members. 

• Establish and maintain regular communication with project partners and other stakeholders. 

• Maintain correspondence and operational records regarding CIPE-funded programs in the assigned portfolio. 

• Monitor grantees, contractors, and consultants’ performance to ensure full compliance with objectives, financial and reporting requirements, and evaluation plans. 

• Evaluate projects through on-site visits, file reviews, and coordination with independent evaluators, where appropriate. 

• Develop project reports, summaries, and assessments. 

• Oversee program management and implementation and in-country activities, including the implementation of targeted workshops, trainings, and mentorship with oversight by CIPE Program Officer.   

• Jointly with CIPE Program Officer conduct stakeholder mapping and organizational capacity assessments using CIPE business associations capacity assessment and diagnostic framework. 

• Support the facilitation of advocacy campaigns to be led by country partner associations, including roundtables and launch events engaging key stakeholders. 

• Establish and maintain relationships with other donor organizations to identify linkages with CIPE strategies, monitor trends, and assess new funding opportunities. 

• Collaborate with multiple CIPE departments to achieve programmatic goals, including Communications, Grants and Finance, and other regional teams.  

• Monitor local political and economic developments in Southeastern Europe, as they pertain to the program.  Report on these developments in weekly staff meetings, monthly written reports, and more frequently by email when the situation requires it.    

• Draft monthly and weekly internal reports to CIPE’s Washington, D.C. office and contribute to funder reporting, translating documents when necessary.   

• Update and oversee the maintenance of a database of business associations, entrepreneurs, civil society, academicians, government representatives and other key stakeholders. 

• Adhere to appropriate CIPE, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce policies and procedures. 

Program Officer Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields is required: International Relations, International Business, Economic Development, Political Science, Regional/Area Studies or Public Policy. 

• Master’s degree, or the equivalent experience in International Relations, International Business, Economic Development, Political Science, or Public Policy is preferred. 

• Minimum 3-7 years of professional experience with international assistance programs, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, and/or associations in region  

• Minimum 3-7 years of experience with program management and program implementation at the strategic level, preferred 

• Background in Balkan or international affairs with an emphasis on political and economic issues and/or democracy development programs required. 

• Fluency (written and spoken) in Albanian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Serbian, or another regional language strongly preferred. 

• Experience with international development and topics consistent with CIPE’s mission, including business ethics, democratic governance, business association advocacy, entrepreneurship, and others. 

• Demonstrated ability to develop, establish, and maintain good relationships with international partners, donors, and colleagues. 

• Strong public speaking and writing skills with attention to detail. 

• Proposal writing skills are required. 

• Demonstrated thought leadership skills are required. 

• Demonstrated strong critical thinking and analytical skills. 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment, as well as independently with minimum supervision; ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks. 

• Strong project management skills. 

• Ability to supervise, develop and manage young professionals and other staff, when applicable. 

• Prior experience with USG run programs is preferred. 

• Proficiency in MS-Office, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 

• Must be able and willing to travel for extended and multiple periods. 

• High degree of cultural competence. 

• Commitment to free market principles and the democratic ideals of freedom, participation, prosperity, and growth. 

Program Manager Qualifications:  

• Minimum of 4-7 professional experience with international assistance programs, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, and/or associations in region 

• Minimum of 4-7 years of experience with program management and program implementation at the strategic level, preferred  

• Background in Balkan or international affairs with an emphasis on political and economic issues and/or democracy development programs required. 

• Fluency (written and spoken) in Albanian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Serbian, or another regional language strongly preferred. 

• Experience with international development and topics consistent with CIPE’s mission, including business ethics, democratic governance, business association advocacy, entrepreneurship, and others. 

• Demonstrated ability to develop, establish, and maintain good relationships with international partners, donors, and colleagues. 

• Strong public speaking and writing skills with attention to detail. 

• Proposal writing skills are required. 

• Demonstrated thought leadership skills are required. 

• Demonstrated strong critical thinking and analytical skills. 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment, as well as independently with minimum supervision; ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks. 

• Strong project management skills. 

• Ability to supervise, develop and manage young professionals and other staff, when applicable. 

• Prior experience with USG run programs is preferred. 

• Proficiency in MS-Office, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 

• Must be able and willing to travel for extended and multiple periods. 

• High degree of cultural competence. 

• Commitment to free market principles and the democratic ideals of freedom, participation, prosperity, and growth.