Job vacancy: Senior Programme Officer
Department: Grants (with cross organisation responsibilities)
Reports to: Programme Director – Grants
Type of employment: Full-time
Location: Prague
Application deadline: 12 June 2025
The Prague Civil Society Centre works to support and empower changemakers, journalists, and thinkers in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Our powerful blend of grants, events, and exchanges aims to provide our partners with a one-stop-hub for their needs. Designed to operate in the harshest of conditions, we do everything we can to support those working for more open, free, and democratic futures. No matter how far away that may seem today.
About the role:
The Prague Civil Society Centre is launching a new initiative to support civil society and independent media in a country facing rapid democratic backsliding. This role offers an exciting opportunity to drive and shape a strategic intervention whilst contributing to strengthening democracy and civic resilience at a critical moment for the country in question. We are looking for a senior professional with strong judgment, ability to see the bigger picture, experience in complex environments, and a passion for civil society and media freedom.
This is not a traditional project management role. It is a unique opportunity for an experienced professional with a deep understanding of civic space, media freedom, and international development to play a leading role in shaping and executing a strategic response to one of the most pressing democratic crises in the region the Prague Centre works in.
Key responsibilities:
- Strategic leadership: Serve as the Prague Centre’s lead on the country portfolio, working closely with the Director of Grants to continuously refine our engagement strategy based on evolving political dynamics and civic space developments.
- Portfolio oversight: Supervise a small team managing the grants portfolio and serve as the liaison with our other teams contributing to the project.
- Coordination: You will be leading the coordination with a small consortium and will be responsible for aligning approaches, sharing learning, and ensuring unified delivery of the initiative’s objectives.
- Donor engagement & representation: Act as the primary liaison with the donor, overseeing strategic communication, reporting, and high-level visits.
- Integrated work planning: Develop and maintain a cross-functional workplan, aligning efforts across Grants, Events & Exchanges, Outreach & Communications, and Finance & Admin teams.
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL): Establish and oversee a robust MEL framework (rooted in our existing practices) to track results, assess impact, and generate insights for internal learning and external dissemination.
- Financial and operational oversight: Work closely with our finance team to ensure sound financial management, compliance with donor regulations, and strategic resource allocation.
- Organisational coordination: Promote information sharing and collaboration across teams to drive synergies and a shared understanding of goals and outcomes.
Core competencies:
- A minimum of five years of experience in managing complex projects
- Experience in grant-making is a significant plus (philanthropic or government funding)
- Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, timelines, and deliverables with a solution-focused mindset
- Strategic and critical thinking, ability to simplify complex issues
- Results orientation and accountability
- Excellent English writing and speaking skills, knowledge of Czech is a plus
Benefits:
- 25 days of vacation annually and up to three additional days during the Christmas week when the office is closed
- 50% contribution towards language courses and selected media subscriptions
- Opportunities for professional and personal development (courses, workshops, training sessions)
- Annual contribution of up to CZK 10,000 for psychotherapy, coaching, or mentoring
- Fully covered phone tariff (including unlimited data, messaging, and calls)
- In the absence of work commitments that require office presence, the possibility to work from home on Wednesdays
- Fully paid sick days
- Additional benefits (for example additional days off, development, and wellness contributions) are unlocked at selected milestones of time with the organisation
The salary is based on the Prague Civil Society Centre’s salary scale, with an expected gross monthly range of 55,000–65,000 CZK for a full-time position (40 hours per week), depending on skills and experience.
How to apply:
Interested candidates should complete the application form, where they will submit their CV in English (max. 2 pages) and a motivation letter explaining how they meet the criteria and what strengths they bring to the table.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. Incomplete applications (including applications without a motivation letter) will not be accepted. Should you have any questions, write to us at jobs@praguecivilsociety.org.