Background
We are looking for a Programmes Assistant to join our team in August 2025, for a traineeship with a prospective period of 6 months. The position will focus on project management and project development. The Programmes Assistant will have the opportunity to get involved in several projects managed by the programmes team within the EPD Secretariat. This traineeship takes place within the framework of a Convention d’Immersion Professionnelle.
Accountabilities and key relationships
The Programmes Assistant will be based in Brussels and report to the Head of Programmes. The Programmes Assistant will also have regular working relationships with the other EPD staff in Brussels, particularly with Programme Managers, who will contribute to the supervision of the Programmes Assistant, as well as with other team members.
Duties and responsibilities
Project management
- Providing assistance on project management (monitoring and evaluation, narrative and financial reporting, implementation of activities, etc.);
- Support monitoring and evaluation tasks (identification and verification of outcomes, drafting summary reports, updating logical frameworks);
- Liaising with project partners in target countries and other stakeholders.
Project development
- Identifying and reviewing funding opportunities;
- Providing assistance in fundraising activities, including in writing project proposals;
- Supporting conceptual work, e.g. on developing programmatic approaches;
- Assisting with background research (e.g. on (country) contexts as well as thematic areas of democracy support).
Crosscutting
- Attending and writing reports/minutes of relevant EU events in Brussels;
- Assisting in the daily functioning of the organisation, including administrative and logistical tasks (e.g., support in the organisation of events);
- Providing other kinds of assistance as requested.
Benefits and learning opportunities
- Valuable experience for future career opportunities in project management jobs within non-profit organisations;
- Trainees are fully involved in all aspects of our work and given considerable responsibility and independence; they are part of an international team that supports them in acquiring skills to work in an international organisation and hands-on knowledge of how major international actors inter-relate, at EU and global levels;
- Possibility to attend workshops, lectures, training sessions and other (online) events within and outside of EPD.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in political science, international development, social sciences, or a relevant field is required;
- Strong interest and sound knowledge of EU policies and/or programming, ideally in the field of democracy support is required;
- Excellent written and spoken English is required;
- Portuguese, French, or Spanish language skills are an asset;
- Previous experience in the non-profit sector is an asset;
- Knowledge of democracy literature is an asset;
- Candidates must be entitled to work in Belgium/EU.
Conditions
- 6-month traineeship (with a possibility of an extension to 12 months) on a Convention d’Immersion Professionnelle. EPD will compensate the trainee by paying a monthly allowance of EUR 1.056,72;
- Lunch vouchers of a unit value of EUR 8,00 (personal contribution by the trainee is EUR 1,09) will be granted for each day worked;
- A monthly public transportation card in Brussels will be reimbursed at EUR 52,00;
- In the context of its structural teleworking policy, EPD compensates remote working via a monthly teleworking allowance of EUR 154,74, combined with EUR 20,00 for the professional use of a private internet connection;
- 10 days off for a 6-month contract/20 days off for a full year of work (1,5 days per month) with 3 days off between Christmas and New Year (these days are confirmed by the management team at the beginning of each year).
Application procedure
Interested applicants should send a CV and the completed application form below, together in one document, to [email protected] by Sunday, 6 July 2025 (23:59 CET).
Please submit your application with the following email title: “LAST NAME – FIRST NAME – Programmes Assistant Application”.
Interviews will take place between 7-10 July 2025. Candidates selected for an interview will be asked to complete an exercise of approximately 30 minutes (online or in person). Only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted. The indicative start date is on 11 August 2025.