Program Manager, Europe

As Program Manager, Europe, you will play a leading role in delivering People Powered’s contribution to Nets4Dem — a groundbreaking, EU-funded consortium of leading civil society organizations, cities, universities, and democracy innovators working to strengthen democratic participation across Europe. Nets4Dem brings together networks spanning 38 countries, across cities and dozens of civic organizations to build the infrastructure, knowledge, and partnerships needed for more inclusive, participatory, and resilient democracies.

Hired by People Powered, a global hub for participatory democracy, you will help governments and civil society actors adopt and improve practices such as participatory budgeting, citizen assemblies, participatory policymaking, and other forms of meaningful public participation. Our mission is to shift power toward communities — especially those historically excluded from decision-making — and to grow democratic power beyond elections.

In this role, you will design and manage high-impact programs, learning journeys, peer exchanges, partnership relations, and practical tools that equip public institutions and partners to engage citizens more effectively. You will work across borders and sectors with local governments, practitioners, researchers, funders, and movement leaders, translating cutting-edge ideas into real-world democratic change.

This is a role for someone who thrives in complexity, builds trust across cultures, and is energized by collaboration. You will help steward partnerships within a major European consortium, manage grants and budgets, contribute to fundraising and strategic growth, and support a vibrant community of practitioners committed to renewing democracy from the local level up.

If you are motivated by the belief that democracy can be more participatory, equitable, and responsive — and you want your work to have impact across Europe and beyond — we would love to hear from you.

You must be legally residing in the EU and authorized to work in the EU at the time of employment. People Powered does not provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applications from the Republic of Ireland are highly encouraged!

Responsibilities

Capacity-Building and Resources (70%)

• Plan, design, and manage support program activities with other staff and partners, integrating People Powered’s resources, tools, and materials into these programs.
• Oversee development of learning curriculum, webinars, asynchronous courses, and resources in various formats (videos, graphics, presentations, and blog posts), in collaboration with partners and contractors.
• Oversee the development of curricular tools, new technology, and resources, with the support of other team members.
• Plan and coordinate the recruitment and selection of program participants, in collaboration with other global partners.
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation activities, as well as program impact and feedback data, with the support of other team members.  
• Monitor program budget and reporting in collaboration with other team members.
• Engage with partners and build partnerships that support programmatic activity 
• Coordinate project and budget management responsibilities related to EU Horizon-funded projects, with the support of other team members and partners 
• Create multimedia content such as blog posts, graphics and videos to promote capacity-building activities and resources.

Partnerships and fundraising (15%)

• Identify EU-based funding opportunities and develop joint funding proposals with members and partners. 
• Manage People Powered’s role and relationship with EU-funded consortia, and be the lead staff member managing EU-funded work, including grant and budget reporting for programs.  

Organizational management and general (15%)

• Participate in organization-wide meetings, retreats, and other activities. Contribute and review content, provide feedback on plans and proposals, and have fun with our team!

Experience and Skills

Essential

• Permanent residence in the EU, as well as legal working status.
• Deep commitment to People Powered’s mission and passion for participatory democracy, community empowerment, and equity. Demonstrated interest or experience in participatory democracy.
• At least three years of relevant work experience in project management for multiple projects in capacity-building or resource development. 
• Demonstrated experience coordinating EU Horizon projects and managing EU funding in line with grant requirements. Experience working with EU fundraising, consortia, and partnerships. 
• Excellent project management skills, including organizing, prioritizing, and effectively delegating large volumes of work.
• Demonstrated working proficiency in English. Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information in clear, compelling, and accessible ways that translate well across languages and contexts.
• Excellent judgment, decision-making skills, and creativity; ability to exercise discretion.

• Excellent teamwork skills and the ability and desire to collaborate with people from diverse cultures, being mindful of and sensitive about cultural differences and power dynamics.
• Strong computer skills, especially with Google Workspace products. Experience with Asana, Zoom, and learning management systems is ideal.
• A flexible and growth-oriented mindset.
  

Desired

• Preference for candidates with permanent residence and legal working status in the Republic of Ireland.
• Experience living and working in more than one country
• Demonstrated proficiency in French, Spanish, or Portuguese. Other European languages would be a plus.
• Experience working in research, support, or development with participatory democracy projects. Direct involvement in implementing participatory democracy projects or working with the government is a plus. 
• Experience working with the development of online learning tools or other technical tools, with progressively increasing responsibilities. Experience with AI project development is a plus. 
• Experience scoping out, developing, and supporting the development of applications for funding calls such as CERV, Horizon, and others.

Compensation and Benefits

You will join a supportive, culturally diverse and highly committed team. We are based all around the world, with the majority of us speaking English as a second language. We are grounded in our core values of collaboration, equity, inclusion, learning, and problem-solving. All of us participate actively in organizational planning and decision-making, including through in-person convenings and retreats. We prioritize the well-being and growth of our people, with an emphasis on learning and development and democratic participation in the workplace and in our member-led community. You can read more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion here and you can also check out our team and board members here. 

Salary: 

• €60,000 – €70,000 EUR -  annual salary adjusted for local cost of living. The salary advertised is for locations with the highest cost of living and may differ based on the candidate’s city and country, as well as years of experience and additional skills (for example, languages). 

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, vision, dental)
• Pension contribution according to national statutory requirements in the country of residence
• 3 weeks of organization-wide breaks per year (in August and December)
• 27 days of paid time off (15 vacation days, 12 floating holidays)
• 7 days of professional development leave per year
• 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave
• 1 month fully paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of service
• Opportunity to travel and collaborate with our members and partners at annual in-person events

Employment type

• This is a full-time salaried position based on a 40-hour working week

Location

• Europe / Ireland: Whilst this is a fully remote position, candidates must be legally residing in the EU and authorized to work in the EU at the time of employment. People Powered does not provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applications from the Republic of Ireland are highly encouraged!

Desired start date: 

• July 2026. Dates can be flexible depending on the right candidate.

How to Apply

Applications should include the following: 

1. Cover letter explaining your relevant experience and interest in the position (700 - 800 words maximum)
2. Resume / CV (please keep this to 1 - 2 pages maximum)
3. Answers to questions on the application form

People Powered is an Equal Opportunity Employer, strongly committed to building a team that represents the diversity of the communities we support. We especially encourage applications from women and gender non-conforming individuals; people from ethnic, national, or racial minorities; LGBTQIA+ individuals; people with disabilities and those who identify as neurodiverse; and those with lived experience of the issues we are trying to address.

Application Process

People Powered has a hiring committee of at least 3 people for each advertised job role and a 2-stage interview process, with a take-home assignment usually before the second stage interview. We provide a small stipend to compensate applicants for the time spent on home assignments. We ask for 2 references from shortlisted candidates. All interviews will be held online.

We value diversity and inclusion and are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need to ensure a fair and equitable recruitment process. Please make sure to include these in your application. 

AI Disclaimer

We can appreciate the use of AI in making the job hunt easier for everyone. To help aid your application for this role, here is what we consider acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in applying for this position, according to our own AI Policy. 

Acceptable AI Use

• Enhancing written applications: AI can be used to improve the grammar, structure, and clarity of written content
• Refining language and structure: AI can help applicants structure their responses, find synonyms, and improve the overall flow of their application. 
• Generating ideas and examples: AI can provide suggestions for structuring answers or finding examples to illustrate skills, but the content should be personalized with the applicant's own experiences. 

Unacceptable AI Use

• Fabricating experiences or skills: Using AI to invent information or claim expertise in areas where the applicant has no experience is unethical and can lead to disqualification. 
• Submitting AI-generated content without personalization: Applications that are entirely AI-generated and lack personal insights or examples are unlikely to be successful. 
• Using AI during assessments or interviews: AI should not be used to provide answers during any stage of the selection process that involves assessments or interviews.

Deadline: 29 May 2026

For more information, visit peoplepowered.org