Jobs and Internships

Unless otherwise noted, all positions listed below are with the National Endowment for Democracy. Please read the descriptions and follow the instructions when applying.

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a congressionally funded, private, nonprofit grant making organization that works to support freedom around the world. Read more about the NED.

Applicants must include a cover letter, resume and completed application. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Full-time positions

Internships

Grants Assistant, Africa
Posted: June 12, 2013

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a congressionally funded, private, nonprofit grant-making organization that works to support freedom around the world, seeks a Grants Assistant based in Washington, DC.  This position reports to the Manager, Grants Administration. 

Position Summary

Assist grants staff with reviewing, processing, and tracking grant agreements, amendments, payments, and other financial documentation, and preparing routine correspondence and reports.

Responsibilities

In accordance with Grants Management office policies and procedures, the Grants Assistant shall:

  • Review and process final grant agreements, amendments, and routine correspondence, including receipt, database log-in, copying, distribution, tracking and filing. As required, ensure that appropriate grants staff members are kept abreast of progress of agreements/amendments/correspondence. 
  • Appropriately scan and save grantee narrative and financial reports, reviewing the financial reports for accuracy, timeliness, compliance with format requirements and consistency with prior reports and include observations in risk assessment worksheets for new grants.
  • Promptly identify, log into database, and appropriately route grantee payment requests upon receipt of proper documentation.
  • Update the grants database as required and produce assigned reports in an accurate, complete and timely manner.
  • Assist with meeting and special event planning.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience;
  • Attention to detail and ability to multi-task;
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision;
  • Strong oral. written communication, and analytical skills;
  • Strong team player, preferably in a multicultural environment;
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; knowledge of MicroEdge Gifts or other relational database helpful;
  • French language skills and interest in the Africa region are desirable but not required.

To Apply: Applications are due no later than June 30, 2013 and must include a cover letter, resume, a writing sample, salary history, and contact information for three references. Please send to jobs@ned.org, with your name and Grants Assistant, Africa – Job #1319 in the subject line. The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, please visit our website at www.ned.org. Please, no phone call inquiries.

Research Associate, Forum
Posted: June 3, 2013

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a congressionally funded, private, nonprofit grant making organization that works to support freedom around the world, and is seeking a Research Associate for the Forum.  The position is based in Washington, D.C.

The International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy is a leading center for research, discussion, thought, and analysis on the theory and practice of democracy around the world.

The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is an international exchange visitor program that offers democracy practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world the opportunity to spend five months in residence at the International Forum for Democratic Studies, in order to reflect on their experiences and consider lessons learned; conduct research and writing; develop contacts and exchange ideas with counterparts; and build ties with a global network of democracy advocates.

The International Forum seeks a full-time paid research associate for a year-long joint appointment within the Research and Conferences Program and the Fellowships Program. Successful candidates will be recent college graduates with an understanding of democracy and international politics. The research associate position provides candidates with an excellent opportunity to improve their knowledge of democratization and international affairs, advance their research and writing skills, and introduce them to the democracy assistance community.

Research associates work with Forum staff to monitor important developments in the democratizing world and support Fellows with their research and outreach.

Responsibilities:

  • assisting with the production of Forum electronic and print publications, including material for the Forum website
  • helping develop the Network of Democracy Research Institutes through Internet research and writing  
  • assisting the Forum vice president and executive director with special research projects, as needed
  • consulting with Fellows on the shape and direction of their fellowship projects
  • providing Fellows with research, written, and editorial support and assisting them with their fellowship products
  • facilitating Fellows’ networking, outreach, and presentations
  • other related tasks, as needed

Qualifications:

  • B.A. in political science or a related field required; M.A. preferred
  • 1–2 years of work experience
  • Computer proficiency, especially in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
  • Knowledge of one or more foreign languages preferred
  • Experience living, working, or studying abroad a plus
  • Legal authorization to work in the United States

The successful applicant will (1) have a keen interest in democracy and human rights; international development, the social sciences, or area studies; (2) possess excellent research and writing skills; and (3) demonstrate professionalism and strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well in a team setting and with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Duration: The program seeks to hire one full-time Research Associate at 40 hours per week, from September 24, 2013 through July 31, 2014. RAs are expected to commit to work for the entire duration of the ten-month fellowship year. RAs serve as temporary full-time employees, with benefits.

To Apply: Applications must include a cover letter, resume, salary history and requirements, and contact information for three references.  Please send to jobs@ned.org, with your name and Research Associate – Forum – Job # 1316 in the subject line.  Please no phone calls.

Senior Director, Center for International Media Assistance
Posted: May 22, 2013

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Each year, with funding from the U.S. Congress, NED makes more than 1,000 grants in support of projects carried out by non-governmental groups working for democratic goals in more than 90 countries. NED’s Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) supports and strengthens media assistance initiatives and highlights the indispensable role independent media plays in the creation and development of sustainable democracies around the world.

The Senior Director will be responsible for the strategic direction of the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA); for directing its administrative and operational functions; and for supervising the team. The Senior Director will also build relations with other NED programs, departments, and initiatives, as well as partner with counterpart organizations involved in the development of free and independent media.    

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Director will: 

  •  Provide leadership and strategic direction for CIMA, thus strengthening the support of free and independent media throughout the world. 
  • Enhance the overall level of research and evaluation in the field of media assistance and development. This includes establishing the scope and purpose of periodic CIMA reports on independent media development and ensuring the most effective outcomes through the highest degree of excellence in the selection of researchers and writers, the oversight of the editing and publishing process, and the promulgation of next steps. In addition, commission and oversee the publication of a comprehensive survey report on the state of the field every several years.
  • Foster the establishment and utilization of networks that bring together funders, media assistance organizations and independent media groups to share experiences and information on independent media topics and to foster an overall collaborative environment.
  • Through community-wide leadership, foster the involvement of the nongovernmental sector in the field of media assistance.   
  • Coordinate and fully utilize the CIMA Advisory Council, which provides guidance on the Center’s major projects.
  • Oversee the collection of relevant information and the leveraging of social media and the Internet in advancing CIMA’s overall mission.
  • Oversee the administrative component of CIMA, to include its budget. 
  • Supervise, mentor and coordinate the work of the CIMA staff.  

Qualifications:

Knowledge/Experience (formal degree requirements and years of relevant job experience required):

  • Masters in international relations, journalism or a related field required.   
  • Significant executive experience, including a minimum of 15 years of experience in creating and launching new organizations, in journalism/communications, government and nonprofits. 
  • Excellent writing and editorial skills, to include formal publications.
  • Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
  • Self-motivation with respect to prioritizing and meeting critical project milestones and deadlines.
  • Highly innovative in establishing the scope and purpose of conferences, meetings, and other fora.
  • Able to work effectively with all levels of staff to build good working relationships.  
  • Proven ability to act as a leader in communicating strategies and ideas.

To Apply:

Applications must include a cover letter, resume, salary history and requirements, and contact information for three references. Please send to jobs@ned.org, with your name and Senior Director, CIMA – Job #1309 in the subject line. The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, please visit our website at www.ned.org. Please no phone calls.

Program Assistant, Middle East and North Africa
Posted: May 21, 2013

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a congressionally funded, private, nonprofit grant making organization that works to support freedom around the world, seeks a Program Assistant. This is an entry-level position on our Middle East and North Africa regional program team. The position is based in Washington, D.C.

Position Summary:
Provide day-to-day administrative and programmatic support to the Middle East and North Africa program staff.

Responsibilities:

  • Ensure logging in of grant proposals.
  • Draft budgets and assist with writing project summaries.
  • Provide support for considering and awarding grants to nongovernmental organizations working on democracy building programs in the assigned region/country.
  • Assist senior director and staff with general administrative duties.
  • Organize events for visiting grantees.
  • Attend and report on relevant conferences, meetings, and other events.
  • Research information on current political developments in the assigned region/country.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
  • Fluency in Arabic (reading, writing and speaking) is required. Preferred candidates will also have language proficiencies in other languages used in the region, including French, Turkish and Farsi.
  • Minimum of 1 year of work experience in an office environment.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
  • Knowledge of major political and social issues in the MENA region.
  • Administrative support experience.
  • Attention to detail and the ability to multi-task.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
  • Authorization to work in the United States.

To Apply:
Applications must include a cover letter, resume, salary history and requirements, and contact information for three references. Please send to jobs@ned.org, with your name and Program Assistant, MENA – Job #1313 in the subject line. The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, please visit our website at www.ned.org. Please no phone calls.

Web and Multimedia Communications Assistant
Posted: May 20, 2013

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a congressionally funded, private, nonprofit grant making organization that works to support freedom and democracy around the world, and is seeking a Web and Multimedia Communications Assistant.  The position is based in Washington, D.C.

Position Summary:
Responsible for shooting and editing event video and managing live streaming of events.  Assist in the day-to-day publishing of the organization’s web sites and help develop new media content, including video stories, photos, and audio.  Assist staff with coordinating social media content development, scheduling and publishing.

Responsibilities:  

  • Develop multimedia content.  Work with staff to develop video stories, event videos, podcasts and other multimedia as needed.
  • Shoot and edit video, capture and process audio, and manage event streaming.
  • Work with Communications staff to maintain and expand web 2.0 initiatives, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
  • Maintain information on sites and social media to ensure accuracy and timeliness
  • Assist in the planning and development of new web projects.
  • Research, write, and edit content for sites, including news, events, and Democracy Stories.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree (in Communications a plus); Minimum of 1 year of experience.
  • Demonstrated web and multimedia skills, including experience with Final Cut video editing software and compressing video for the web.
  • Shooting experience and familiarity with live video streaming a plus.
  • Strong familiarity with web-based technologies, including social networking tools, blogs, and video sharing sites.
  • Experience with Wordpress and Drupal preferred.
  • Excellent interpersonal, and verbal communication skills.
  • Able to manage a high level of detail across multiple projects.
  • Able to demonstrate flexibility and quickly adapt to changes while maintaining high levels of productivity and effectiveness under pressure.
  • Interest in international affairs highly desirable.

To Apply:
Applications must include a cover letter, resume, salary history and requirements, and contact information for three references.  Please send to jobs@ned.org, with your name and Web and Multimedia Communications Assistant – Job #1311 in the subject line.  The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Please no phone calls.

Assistant Program Officer, Middle East and North Africa
Posted: March 7, 2013

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a congressionally funded, private, nonprofit grant making organization that works to support freedom around the world, and is seeking an Assistant Program Officer for the Middle East and North Africa. The position is based in Washington, D.C.

Position Summary:

Assist with management, administration, development and expansion of grant programs in the MENA region. Support existing grantees and develop prospective grantees.

Responsibilities:

  • Assist in the evaluation of project proposals.
  • Draft summaries of proposals to present at quarterly board meetings.
  • Communicate regularly with existing grantees, often in Arabic.
  • Assist in monitoring the work of existing grantees, including review and analysis of any publications or other products.
  • Tracking political developments in the MENA region.
  • Help organize events to highlight specific democracy-related issues in coordination with the other MENA program members.
  • Travel to the region as needed, and occasionally under difficult conditions, to identify and work with potential new grantees and existing grantees.

Qualifications:

  • Knowledge/Experience:
    ­     Master’s level education or equivalent knowledge in international affairs, politics, or a related discipline is required.
    ­      —At least 3 years of experience in democracy-related work is required.
  • Other Qualifications:
    ­      —Field experience with NGOs in one or more MENA countries is preferred.
    ­      —Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
    ­      —Excellent written and oral communication skills in Arabic.
    ­      —Knowledge of political issues and trends in the MENA region.
    ­      —Proficiency in other relevant languages of the region, preferably French, is a benefit.
  • Competencies:
    ­      —Proficiency with MS Office is required.
    ­      —High degree of organization and initiative.
    ­      —Experience in grant-making and democratic development is desirable.
    ­      —Excellent interpersonal skills.
    ­      —Demonstrated ability to work in a team.

To Apply:
Applications must include a cover letter, resume, salary history and requirements, and contact information for three references. Please send to jobs@ned.org, with your name and Assistant Program Officer, MENA — Job #1304 in the subject line. The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, please visit our website at www.ned.org. Please no phone calls.

Internships

Intern, World Movement for Democracy
Posted: June 3, 2013

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a congressionally funded, private, nonprofit grant making organization that works to support freedom around the world, and is seeking an Intern for the World Movement for Democracy.  The position is based in Washington, D.C.  

The World Movement for Democracy is a global network that brings together democrats, including activists, practitioners, scholars, policy makers, and funders, to advance democracy around the world. The goal of the World Movement is to strengthen efforts to build democracy through sharing knowledge, information, and strategies. NED serves as the World Movement Secretariat and the intern will work with the Secretariat staff.

Position Summary:
The World Movement seeks an individual with strong research, writing, communication, and organizational skills who has a strong interest in democracy work internationally.  Energetic, flexible team players who take initiative and who have fluency in a foreign language (Arabic, French, Russian, or Spanish preferred) and overseas experience are encouraged to apply.   

Responsibilities: 

  • Conduct research to track democracy-advancement efforts;
  • Assist in updating the World Movement Web site, conduct research for the World Movement’s e-newsletter, DemocracyNews, and draft alerts for activists facing danger.
  • Support ongoing work on projects, such as Defending Civil Society and the Civic Space Initiative.
  • Attend lectures and roundtable discussions on democracy; and
  • Other tasks as requested.

Qualifications:
Candidates must be a registered student enrolled in undergraduate or graduate-level coursework in a related field; and able to receive school credit for your internship.  Qualified candidates should have excellent writing skills, strong analytical skills, good research skills, and a demonstrated interest in democracy issues.  

Travel Reimbursement:
This position is unpaid; however, a travel reimbursement of $10 per day is available to offset expenses.

Time Commitment:
Monday-Friday/30 to 40 hours a week, and must be willing to commit for 3 months.

Anticipated Start/End Date:
June - August 30, 2013

To Apply:
Applications must include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references.  Please send to jobs@ned.org, with your name and Intern – Job #1315 in the subject line.  The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Please no phone calls. 

Intern, International Forum for Democratic Studies
Posted: May 30, 2013

The International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is seeking a motivated individual to serve as an Intern from early July 2013 to the end of November 2013 (the end date is flexible). This unpaid internship provides an undergraduate/graduate student with the opportunity to assist with the research of a preeminent democracy scholar.

Responsibilities:

  • Conducting research on constitutional design and ethnic politics throughout the world
  • Assisting with clerical tasks, including typing and organizing materials
  • Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • We are seeking a college or graduate school student
  • Experience in (or study of) divided societies in Africa or Asia
  • Strong research, writing, editing, and communications skills
  • Excellent research skills
  • Candidate must be a registered student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate-level program; and be able to received college credit for their internship.

Travel Reimbursement:
The position is unpaid; however, a travel reimbursement of $10 per day is available to offset expenses.

Time Commitment:
M-F/30 to 40 hours per week. Flexible dates: July-November 2013

To Apply:
Applications must include a cover letter, resume, writing sample from a college term paper or something equivalent, and contact information for three references and be submitted to jobs@ned.org. Please include your name and IFDS Intern – Job #1314 in the subject line.

The National Endowment for Democracy is an independent, bipartisan, grant making organization funded by an annual Congressional appropriation. Its aims are to promote democratic reform and foster civil society worldwide. The Endowment is also the home of the International Forum for Democratic Studies, the Journal of Democracy, and serves as the secretariat for the World Movement for Democracy. The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is an international exchange program that offers practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world the opportunity to conduct independent research on democracy in a particular country or region. More information can be found at www.ned.org. The National Endowment for Democracy is an equal opportunity employer.