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TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position: Program and Research Trainee, Strategic Democracy Initiatives (SDI), Ukraine Program 

Starting Date: September 2026

Duration of Assignment: September 2026 – January 2027, with a possibility of extension and/or promotion to a Program/Research Assistant role, conditioned on availability of funding

Monthly compensation expectations:

• EUR 1,000–1,200 net per month, depending on the candidate's relevant experience and qualifications

• Full-time arrangement: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM CET, with a possibility of remote work up to two days a week

Background

GMF's Strategic Democracy Initiatives (SDI) is seeking a full-time trainee to join GMF's office in Brussels to assist with various aspects of Ukraine programming and research on Ukraine's EU accession efforts, governance reforms, and civic participation.

The trainee will support GMF's Brussels-based Senior Fellow with essential operational, outreach, administrative, and research activities relating to Ukraine reform and accession programming, including assistance with the logistics of in-person and virtual high-level events, as well as partner coordination and coalition building. The trainee will benefit from exposure to GMF's experts and network, and will be able to gain valuable research, analytical, and writing experience.

Objectives and Tasks

• Monitor political developments, civil society perspectives, and relevant policy issues in Ukraine 

• Provide research, writing, and editing support on SDI publications and analytical outputs related to Ukrainian EU accession, reform progress, and civil society's access to policy-making

• Contribute background research, monitoring summaries, and briefing materials that inform SDI's policy analysis, coalition-building, and thought-leadership as relates to advancement of Ukraine's reform trajectory and European accession 

• Coordinate SDI's networks of civil society leaders and other partners in Ukraine and globally 

• Assist with the planning and logistics of expert convenings, including coalition working group meetings, private roundtables, and public events in Brussels, abroad, or virtually

• Other duties as assigned

Key Expertise and Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree in International Relations, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Law, European, Regional and Security Studies, or a related field

• Previous research experience or demonstrable interest in issues of transatlantic democracy, Ukrainian democratic reform efforts, and Eastern European or ex-Soviet civil society

• Excellent analytical, writing, and editing skills; fluent written and spoken English is required, as English is the main working language of the position

• Working proficiency in Ukrainian is a strong asset; preference will be given to Ukrainian-speaking candidates given the program's close coordination with Ukrainian civil society and government partners

• Previous experience in a think tank, foundation, NGO, government agency, media outlet, or a similar organization preferred but not required

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office

• Comfortable multi-tasking, prioritizing, and working independently