Deadline: 02 September 2025

Location: This position may be based in Tirana, Belgrade, Skopje, Podgorica, Prishtina, or Sarajevo, with a strong preference for candidates based in Prishtina or Belgrade.

Role Title

Program Assistant , OSF-WB .

Sector

European Integration and Regional Cooperation

Role Purpose

The Program Assistant for European Integration and Regional Cooperation is an early-career professional with a keen interest in EU integration processes, regional dynamics, and civil society engagement in the Western Balkans. In this role, you will contribute to OSF-WB initiatives by providing essential support across research, coordination, communications, and implementation of activities.

Working under the supervision of program staff, you will assist in organizing outreach activities, preparing background materials, managing stakeholder communication, and ensuring the smooth execution of project tasks. The Project Assistant is expected to be highly organized, proactive, and collaborative, and to bring strong communication and analytical skills to support meaningful regional cooperation and integration efforts.

Job Summary:

As Program Assistant, you will:

Prepare background research, thematic policy memos, and meeting briefings.
Prepare articles, reports, and presentations.
Produce communication and outreach content.
Maintain professional communication with elected and appointed officials, public administration representatives, civil society, and media.
Set up, organize, participate in, and take meeting minutes during project meetings.
Collect data, information, and insights to assist in proper monitoring and tracking of activities.
Collaborate with the program team to plan events, including communicating with potential speakers and participants, managing day-to-day execution of events, and onsite organizing.
Ensure events are organized timely and professionally by providing support to experts and participants.
Report on the progress of grants and operational projects, budget, and resources.
Assist in mitigating issues and challenges related to program implementation.
Manage relationships with partners, institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.

Key Internal Relationships

The Program Assistant works under the supervision of program staff and in close coordination with the Team Leader and operations team. The role involves regular collaboration with other colleagues across OSF-WB to ensure effective coordination of activities, events, and communications.

Key External Relationships

The Program Assistant supports interactions with a range of external stakeholders, including civil society partners, local and regional institutions, event participants, service providers, and representatives of international organizations. While external engagement is guided by senior staff, the Project Assistant plays an active role in facilitating communication and logistical coordination.

Functional Competencies

Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in social sciences, international relations, European studies, law, public administration, or a related field.
Basic understanding of EU integration processes and regional cooperation efforts in the Western Balkans.
Some experience (at least 2 years of experience through internships, volunteer roles, or active employment) in nonprofit, public sector, academia, or international projects is preferred.
Ability to support the organization and coordination of events, prepare project documentation, and assist in project-related communication.
Good writing, communication, and research skills, with attention to detail and clarity.
Willingness to learn about program implementation, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring processes.

Personal Competencies

Openness to learning and adapting in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.
Commitment to the Open Society Foundations’ values of diversity and inclusion.
Team-oriented attitude with a proactive and respectful approach to collaboration.
Ability to work with diverse stakeholders and foster relationships across various sectors and fields.

Other Skills and Abilities

Solid organizational and time management abilities, with the capacity to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
Proficiency in computer literacy.
Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team and manage tasks with minimal supervision.
Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset when engaging with colleagues, partners, and external stakeholders.
Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other European languages is an advantage.
Proficiency in at least one Western Balkan local language relevant to the role is required.

Other Details

Start Date: October 2025.

Salary: Competitive rates aligned with European salary scales. The final offer will consider the candidate's skill set and level of experience.

Commitment to Diversity: OSF-WB is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues, and communities our mission serves.

Open Society Foundations | Western Balkans jobs

Program Assistant, European Integration and Regional Cooperation, OSF-WB