Projektmanager*in Understanding Europe

The Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe strives to empower young people from all backgrounds to be active European citizens who contribute to a pluralistic, democratic society of mutual understanding, solidarity and peaceful collaboration across Europe. With the work to empower young people, it seeks to promote a pan-European understanding and combat right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and racism.

One of the foundation’s programmes is Understanding Europe, a peer network for diversity-oriented democratic citizenship education which is currently active in 11 European countries. Youth organizations and local associations implement and run the project on the ground. They are led by young so-called Coordinators who manage teams of Trainers and liaise with teachers, schools and other partners, adapting the project to local needs, circumstances and topics.  At the biannual Coordinators’ Meeting they receive further training on how to run the project in their region, and discuss projects, current affairs as well as the strategic development of the network. For the management of the network of Understanding Europe member organizations we are searching for a new project manager (100%) with a starting date as soon as possible.

Your main responsibilities

• Network management, supervision and counselling of young volunteers who are responsible for the local project management (e.g. team management, fundraising, budgeting, reporting, school contacts, social media, training organisation)
• Conceptualization and organisation of the biannual Coordinators’ Meetings (in Berlin and in the project countries), support of further network events and educational formats for schools
• Coordination with project partners, evaluation of project activities as well as budgeting, controlling and reporting of project funds
• Networking and cooperation with international partners and European civil society
• Staff responsibility for a student assistant

Your profile

• A university degree in social sciences, education, humanities, or comparable qualification
• Relevant professional or volunteer experience in education and/or comparable work with young people, experience in civic education and peer education is a strong asset
• Relevant professional or volunteer experience in project management and event planning, especially structured overview over multiple budgets and reportings
• Expertise in the fields of Europe, democratic citizenship education and diversity and inclusion is an asset
• Very good expression as well as creation and editing of texts for different target groups in English (C1 required), German language skills are an asset
• Social and communication skills and diversity competences
• High motivation and ability to work in a team as well as the ability to work under pressure and independently, result-orientation

We offer

• An evolving organisation that continuously addresses diversity and sustainability, in a dynamic and international working environment in Berlin Mitte
• Active involvement and creative opportunities regarding the strategic development of the Understanding Europe Network
• BPoC space for team members affected by racism and reflection spaces for team members not affected by racism & Critical Whiteness Reflection Spaces for white colleagues
• A team of committed colleagues who support each other and meaningful work with volunteers from all over Europe
• Opportunities for mobile-flexible working and for further training and supervision
• 30 days of holiday per calendar year with a 5-day week
• Salary according to internal tariff

We look forward to receiving applications from people of all nationalities, religions, genders, sexual identities, different ages and people with disabilities. For all team members we offer possibilities of mobile-flexible work. Our office spaces and entrances are not completely barrier-free. We would like to exchange with you about what we can do to remove still existing barriers.

The position, to be filled as soon as possible, encompasses 40 working hours per week (full-time). The contract is running until 31.12.2024, with a possible prolongation. Please submit your application in English as one PDF file (cover letter, CV, any references you want to share as well as your soonest availability) until 01.06.2023 to info@understanding-europe.org. Interviews might already be coordinated before the application deadline and will be organized between 29.05. and 09.06.2023 in our office in Berlin or online. We cannot cover any travel costs related to the interviews. For questions, please contact Lena Strehmann, through l.strehmann@schwarzkopf-stiftung.de.

We are looking forward to your application!