Location: Middle East, North Africa, or Europe
Full Time Contract: Remote telework, with occasional travel
Salary Range: $30–60,000 annually, based on experience and geographic residence
ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY:
The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to examining how genuine democracies can develop in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and how the United States can best support that process. POMED is a small organization of about 12 full time staff across three main teams – advocacy, research, and regional engagement. The work of these teams is publicly supported by a communications team and is led by a Managing Director and an Executive Director.
POMED advances a vision of a democratic and human rights-respecting MENA region supported by pro-democracy and anti-autocracy policies of the United States through three interconnected goals. We: 1) support pro-democracy actors across MENA to advocate for why democracy matters; 2) influence the U.S. government and its democratic allies to prioritize democracy and human rights in MENA as a core national security interest; and 3) expose and counter authoritarian tactics, trends, and narratives of MENA governments and their enablers.
POSITION SUMMARY:
POMED is hiring a Program Coordinator to join its Regional Engagement Team. The purpose of this team is to develop relationships with fresh, dynamic and diverse pro-democracy voices in MENA; to serve as POMED’s hub for fostering reflection, analysis, action, and planning amongst these actors; and to develop comparative lessons learned with activists and experts from other regions of the world facing similar challenges. The Program Coordinator will report directly to the Regional Engagement Director.
The Program Coordinator will help launch and lead POMED’s new “Why Democracy Matters Initiative.” The Program Coordinator will lead the day-to-day work of the new Initiative, collaborating virtually and in-person with leading MENA pro-democracy advocates to carry out innovative programming and research on the importance and benefit of democratic governance in the region.
The primary responsibilities of the Coordinator will be to develop and maintain active working relationships with a diverse set of MENA pro democracy advocates and support the successful execution of the Initiative’s activities and deliverables. The Initiative will produce collaborative dialogues, public events, research products, and public advocacy on three themes: 1) making the case for democracy and human rights: why does this matter?; 2) pushing back against anti-democratic actors and narratives: how do we do it?; and 3) strategies of communication and mobilization.
LOCATION:
This is a contract-based position, executed through remote telework in the Middle East, North Africa, or Europe. There is flexibility on location depending on the candidate’s residence. Travel to/within MENA and to the U.S. will be required.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Serve as the regional focal point for the Why Democracy Matters Initiative.
- Help build the Initiative’s advisory group and other relevant stakeholder networks.
- Promote regular collaboration and exchange of expertise among the Initiative’s advisory group.
- Help identify dialogue and event participants and experts, and contribute to design and execution of program activities.
- Maintain regular communication with Initiative participants, and liaise with experts on events, publications, and other deliverables.
- Provide substantive input on programmatic output and activities.
- Ensure submission of high quality outputs and deliverables.
- Help convene and facilitate virtual meetings, events, and an in-person conference.
- Help identify authors for relevant publications and written output.
- Provide substantive input on programmatic output and activities.
- Track, manage, and keep an organized record of the Initiative’s finances, budget, expenses.
- Provide additional support across POMED programming, as needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree in law, public policy, social sciences, or a related field; Master’s preferred.
- Minimum 3 years of progressive work experience in managing complex projects, preferably in the human rights and democracy field.
- Experience organizing events, including private dialogues and panel discussions, preferred.
- Demonstrated expertise on human rights and democratic reform in the MENA region and a strong commitment to POMED’s mission and principles.
- Access to strong and diverse networks across MENA of pro-democracy stakeholders.
- Native (or equivalent) fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English is required. Proficiency in French is also highly desirable.
- Strong writing and editing skills are highly desirable (Arabic & English).
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to maintain relations with diverse individuals and organizations in the Arab world.
- Ability to work independently, regularly take initiative to drive the program toward continued growth and success, and work with minimal supervision. Multi-tasking, prioritization, and time management skills are also necessary.
BENEFITS:
The pay range for a contracted Program Coordinator is $30,000–60,000 annually, based on experience and geographic residence. Additional benefits include:
- Additive stipend for privately procured health insurance for employee
- 15 days paid annual leave per year
- 15 days paid sick leave per year
- Paid leave on all national holidays in place of residence, and on U.S. federal holidays as specified by the Office of Personnel Management
- Paid leave between December 25 and January 1
- 2 paid floating holidays
- 12 weeks paid parental leave
- Paid bereavement leave
- Compensatory time accrual and time off
TO APPLY:
Please submit a resume and cover letter to hiring@pomed.org with “Program Coordinator MENA Regional Engagement” in the subject line. We will begin reviewing application materials on June 26th, and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The Project on Middle East Democracy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Project on Middle East Democracy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, or because he or she is a protected veteran.
