Program Officer, Southeastern Europe

Company Overview

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the world through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy and is 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, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Anti-Corruption & Ethics, and Trade.

Position: Program Officer, Southeastern Europe (based in the region)

Reports to: Program Director, Europe

Scope: CIPE is seeking a full-time position based in one of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, or Slovenia. This Program Officer for Southeastern Europe position will lead CIPE’s programs in the region. This position is also responsible for the development and implementation of CIPE’s strategic focus on democratic governance through private sector collective action initiatives to improve business participation, economic freedom, and opportunity across the region by developing regional and country strategies, communications strategies, project implementation, and support grants to local business organizations, think tanks, and chambers of commerce. 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.
• Provide oversight of CIPE country representatives across the assigned portfolio, including supervision and leadership on all project activities, budgets, and expenditures.
• Responsible for the financial management and stewardship of funds, including monitoring project spending, projecting future expenses, approving expenditures, and developing accurate budget for new projects.
• Establish and maintain relationships with other donor organizations to identify linkages with CIPE strategies, monitor trends, and assess new funding opportunities. Work with the U.S. State Department, USAID, and other assistance programs to develop joint projects, grants and/or contracts to further democratic and economic reform initiatives.
• Collaborate with multiple CIPE departments to achieve programmatic goals, including Communications, Grants and Finance, Policy and Program Learning, and other regional teams.
• Monitor current events, including political and economic changes, and US relations in region and assess the impact on ongoing and planned CIPE projects.
• Adhere to appropriate CIPE, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce policies and procedures.
• Supervise, develop, and manage junior program staff, such as Program Associates and Associate Program Officers.
• Contribute to external communications; author blogs and other publications to advance CIPE’s thought leadership.

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 3-6 years of professional experience with international assistance programs, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, and/or associations in region, preferably in the assigned countries.
• Minimum 3-6 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, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, Slovenian, or another regional language strongly preferred.
• Experience with international development and topics consistent with CIPE’s mission, including anti-corruption and 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.
• Demonstrated project management in NGOs.
• 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.
• Contribute to an organization-wide culture of innovation, integrity, inclusion, and respect.

CIPE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sexual orientation, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity or expression, and marital status or any other legally protected class or characteristic covered by applicable law. CIPE is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business need. CIPE believes diversity and inclusion across our organization is critical to our programs, mission, and success as a globally operating business. We strive to recruit, develop, and retain talent from a diverse candidate pool.