This is a one year contract position from the date of hire with possible option to extend and will be located in Warsaw or Berlin.

GMF Cities works with and for cities in Europe and North America to further and fortify democracy; see that there is agency for all residents; promote justice in the social, economic and climate realms; and drive enterprise and entrepreneurship to social good. The team works alongside a wide variety of content and funding partners on topic-specific projects to bring the innovation of local actors on global issues and solutions. GMF Cities facilitates the transatlantic exchange of knowledge for building inclusive, sustainable, and globally-competitive cities – connecting local leaders, maintaining a robust international network of urban practitioners, and highlighting individual innovation and new policies and models. GMF Cities has a broad portfolio of projects that explore key issues through high-impact gatherings, peer exchanges, and applied research, working across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

A new flagship initiative of GMF Cities is the Ukraine Cities Partnership (UCP) for Sustainable Urban Recovery, a cross-sector transatlantic partnership that seeks to equip small Ukrainian cities with the knowledge, capacity, and networks to redesign and redevelop in green, sustainable, and inclusive ways. The exemplar designs will demonstrate what is possible, develop local capacity, prototype new practices and systems, and serve as models for replication and scaling across Ukraine.

Job Summary

The Program Manager is the primary lead on the operations of the UCP and supports Senior Fellows/Senior Managers in developing the activities of the partnership. The key logistical and administrative tasks of the Program Manager include the coordination of UCP activities, liaising with UCP partners, cities and stakeholders, preparing and maintaining project budgets, managing and overseeing the UCP webpage, and developing materials for fundraising proposals and to disseminate innovative practices and impact of the UCP. The Program Manager also contributes to GMF’s thought leadership on Ukraine’s local recovery by tracking developments and debates around the sustainable rebuilding of Ukrainian cities and by creating high-quality written content that effectively communicates GMF’s impact. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with proven experience managing large and complex projects and with a deep understanding of sustainable urban planning. Preferred knowledge and expertise would include the areas of the local energy transition, energy-efficient and affordable housing, circular and low-carbon building practices, local economic development, and sustainable urban transport. This position requires excellent writing, editing, and speaking skills in English as well as speaking and writing proficiency of Ukrainian.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Primary lead on all UCP project management and administrative tasks, including the coordination of UCP activities, liaising with UCP partners, cities, and stakeholders, UCP communications, and reporting requirements.
• Hold full responsibility of UCP budgets and grants, including budget development and execution
• Support the implementation of project-specific monitoring and evaluation criteria.
• Serve as the main PoC for UCP and liaise internally to involve other GMF colleagues where needed.
• Plan and facilitate regular virtual and in-person meetings with the UCP cities, the UCP coordinating committee, partners and donors. Research and develop original content for issue-specific UCP meetings and convenings. Format examples include webinars, in-person meetings, practitioner workshops, major conferences, and funder roundtables.
• Collaborate with GMF’s Development team to cultivate partnerships with key funders/stakeholders and to organize in-person and virtual funder roundtables and other UCP fundraising activities.
• Collaborate with Senior Fellow/Senior Manager to identify and write proposals and related reports to donors and partners, including proposal narratives, methodology and budget memoranda, and grant reports.
• Support the development and lead on the implementation of the UCP communications strategy, including the management of the UCP webpage.
• Research and develop written and multi-media materials including blog posts, social media messages, etc., that identify and lift innovative practices of the UCP and that respond to Ukraine-related news events.
• Represent GMF and GMF Cities at internal and external meetings, conferences, webinars, guest panels, and work groups.

Knowledge and Skills Needed

• Five to eight years of full-time prior work experience in a think tank, the public sector, or a non-profit setting with proven experience managing projects with minimal support from internal contributors.
• Strong logistical and administrative skills with superb attention to detail and the ability to coordinate large and complex projects, develop and execute project budgets, and meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Adept at putting creative ideas forward, taking initiative and solving problems with creative approaches.
• Ability to manage workflows and communications with diverse stakeholders and across time zones in an intercultural team environment.
• Working knowledge of urban and regional policy with specific expertise in urban planning, the local energy transition, circular building, and low-carbon transport or other relevant areas. Candidates with experience in cross-sector and public-private partnerships are highly desired.
• Good understanding of the situation and developments in Ukraine to support the UCP’s strategic vision
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent writing, editing, and speaking skills in English and speaking and writing proficiency of Ukrainian.
• Analytical skills and ability to work independently and with a team remotely and in an office environment.
• Strong computer skills are essential.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, including to Ukraine.

Education

• BA in urban planning, public policy, public administration, international relations, or another related field is required, MA in a related field preferred OR relevant experience in knowledge and skills.

Salary:€41,811 – 52,264 (Berlin) 79,713.91 – 99,642.39 PLN (Warsaw)

We highly encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Historically, underrepresented groups include (but are not limited to) Black, Latinx/o/a/e, Indigenous, Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander, biracial, multiracial, female-identifying, the disability community, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized identities.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At GMF we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your experience does not align perfectly, we encourage you to apply. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles at GMF.