Department(s): Citizen Engagement 

Job Title: Program Assistant 

Reports to: Program Director

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Application Deadline: November 21, 2021

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) is a non-profit organization working to strengthen democracy worldwide. NDI programs are supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), UK, Sweden, Canada, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and other donors. NDI and its partners have been working in Ukraine since 1992.

Position Summary:The National Democratic Institute (NDI) seeks a Program Assistant (PA) to support its Citizen Engagement (CE) programs in Ukraine. NDI’s CE programs work with Ukrainian civil society to promote citizen engagement in political processes and national reforms. They also foster dialogue with various stakeholders in order to increase citizen participation and impact on local and national decision making. The PA will be responsible for providing logistical and administrative support for the implementation of program activities under the supervision of the program director, and ultimately the Resident Country Director. These positions require a high degree of discretion, strong organizational skills, good judgement, and an interest in political analysis. Working proficiency in English is required.

Job Responsibilities:

• Work under close supervision to support the implementation of NDI’s CE program in Ukraine at the national and local levels;

• Arrange logistics for NDI activities, such as workshops, conferences, meetings, and other events. This could include communicating with participants, supporting visiting consultants, coordinating participant travel, arranging activity venues and accommodations, preparing supplies and printed materials, among other tasks; 

• Work with NDI’s Administration and Finance team to prepare payments and reconciliations of program expenditures;

• Maintain tracking documents, contact databases, electronic filing;

• Contribute to analysis of political and civic context and status of reforms in Ukraine;

• Contribute to regular program reports of the Citizen Engagement team; 

• Facilitate regular communication with staff and program partners for the purpose of activity preparation and follow-up;

• Contribute to the review of partners’ reports and ensure their timely submission; 

• Assist with basic monitoring and evaluation data-entry efforts to track program activities, in line with NDI’s performance monitoring framework;

• Provide oral interpretation and written translation from English into Ukrainian and vice versa  as required; and

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Director, or other senior leadership.

Qualifications/Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Sociology, Linguistics or Public Administration or related field;

• Keen interest in civil society development, political processes and national reforms;

• Good understanding of political and civic landscape in Ukraine;

• Work experience or an internship in a related field is a plus;

• Fluency in Ukrainian is required; Strong written and oral communication skills in English are required;

• Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask;

• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment; and

• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office Programs, Google suite, Google Meet, Zoom and other online platforms).

NDI offers a competitive package of remuneration and benefits. Salaries will be negotiated with successful applicants based on qualifications and experience.

Submission Guidelines: Suitable and qualified candidates are requested to send a CV and motivation letter in English to the following email address: [email protected], with the subject line (Ref: Program Assistant - CE). Your CV and motivation letter should demonstrate your interest and qualifications for this position, and be submitted as a single PDF file. 

Deadline: The deadline for submitting applications is November 21, 2021. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the written assessment, and finalists only will be invited for an interview.

NDI welcomes and supports a diverse, inclusive work environment. As such, our commitment is to promote equal employment opportunities for all applicants seeking employment and employees. NDI makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to any grounds such as age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, etc.