Organizer Information
The Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts is a partnership of 13 leading philanthropic foundations across Europe, formed to champion socially engaged arts as a driver of positive social change. The Alliance describes itself as a group of arts philanthropic foundations uniting substantial resources and building a collaborative network to help socially engaged arts thrive, addressing the sector's undervaluation in policy and funding. The Steering Committee, made up of representatives from each partner foundation, is chaired by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and sets the Alliance's strategic direction. Its flagship initiative is an 18-month Fellowship programme, launched in 2025, that supports around 15 leaders of socially engaged arts organisations across Europe with organisational development grants and a shared learning programme. The Fellowship itself is designed and delivered by The Audience Agency in partnership with Fitzcarraldo Foundation and Culture Action Europe.
The Alliance is hosted by the Network of European Foundations (NEF), a Brussels-based nonprofit that incubates and coordinates pooled philanthropic funds. NEF is not a membership organisation itself but a joint initiative of a small number of foundations, working each year with more than 60 foundations from over 20 countries; its main governing body is a General Assembly, with day-to-day operations run by a Secretariat based in Brussels. NEF provides the financial, legal, and administrative infrastructure that allows the Alliance to operate as a pooled fund rather than a standalone legal entity.
Title & Description
Project and Communications Officer — Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts
The Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts is seeking a Project and Communications Officer to support the coordination, operations, and communications of its programmes. Working closely with the Senior Programme Manager, the postholder will contribute to the smooth running of the Alliance across grants and contracts administration, financial and procurement processes, meetings and events, internal systems, and communications and content management. The role sits within a small, dynamic team and is intended to strengthen the field of socially engaged arts across Europe by supporting the Alliance's Fellowship programme and broader advocacy, communications, and sector-engagement work.
The position is offered as a remote role for an initial six-month period, with the possibility of extension, and involves close collaboration with philanthropic foundations, arts organisations, and practitioners across Europe.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Part-time (3 days per week; specific working days agreed at contract start)
- Contract Type: Six-month initial period, with possibility of extension. Employees based in Belgium, France, or Germany receive a local employment contract; candidates based elsewhere are engaged as freelancers
- Salary: €180 gross per day (total fee payable to the selected candidate; any applicable VAT must be calculated within this amount)
- Reports To: Senior Programme Manager
- Department / Programme: Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts (hosted by the Network of European Foundations)
- Preferred Start Date: October 2026, with flexibility for an earlier or later start depending on the selected candidate's availability
- Travel: Occasional travel required for meetings and events across Europe (approximately 2–4 trips during the contract period)
Position & Tasks
- Grantmaking
- Support the administration of grants throughout the grantmaking cycle, including documentation, tracking, reporting, and record-keeping
- Monitor contractual obligations and follow up on reporting requirements and deliverables
- Contribute to the preparation and dissemination of open calls and support with coordinating selection processes
- Programme Financial Coordination
- Handle payment requests and expense reimbursements in line with NEF policies and procedures
- Liaise with NEF on financial disbursements, ensuring accurate recording of expenditure and income
- Provide administrative assistance to Fellows and partners on financial processes and requirements
- Contracts Administration
- Support the preparation and administration of agreements with Fellows, suppliers, and funding partners
- Coordinate tender and procurement processes, including drafting and circulating requests for proposals and communicating with applicants
- Liaise with NEF to support administering contracts and related documentation
- Assist with the preparation and submission of reports to funding partners
- Operations, Logistics and Events Management
- Provide operational and administrative support for meetings, workshops, events, and other programme activities
- Prepare and coordinate meeting materials, agendas, and minutes
- Contribute to the improvement of internal systems, data management, and filing processes
- Provide general administrative and project support across the Alliance's activities as needed
- Communications and Content Management
- Manage the Alliance's general inbox, responding to or directing enquiries as appropriate
- Support in drafting and planning newsletters, website news and updates, social media content, and other communications materials related to events and annual reports
- Assist with communications to Fellows, funding partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders
Categories
- Arts Administration
- Programme Coordination
- Philanthropy & Grantmaking
- Communications
- Nonprofit Operations
- Cultural Sector Management
Eligibility
- Must be based in the EU or the UK
- Must have the right to travel for work without requiring visa sponsorship (the organisation is unable to provide immigration or visa support for this role)
- Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in project coordination, programme support, administration and/or financial coordination, communications, or a related role
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously, with strong attention to detail
- Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to draft clear and engaging communications for different audiences
- Confidence using digital communication tools, including website content management systems, newsletters, and social media platforms
- A collaborative and relational way of working, with a strong ability to build and nurture productive relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds, both in person and online
- Ability to work independently and manage priorities within a part-time structure
- Proficiency with PC and MS Office applications
- Preferred but not mandatory: strong interest in socially engaged arts or community-driven practice, and a good understanding of the European arts and cultural sector
- Preferred but not mandatory: knowledge of, or experience working within, philanthropy, grantmaking, or the charitable and non-profit sectors in a European environment
- Preferred but not mandatory: experience working across international or multi-partner projects
- Preferred but not mandatory: experience with design and producing multimedia content (video, graphic design, illustration, or audio)
Program Benefits
- Pay rate: €180 gross per day
- Contract structure: local employment contract for candidates based in Belgium, France, or Germany; freelance engagement for candidates based elsewhere
- Flexible, part-time structure (3 days per week)
- Fully remote working arrangement
- Funded travel for approximately 2–4 in-person meetings/events across Europe during the contract period
- Health/medical insurance, dental/vision coverage, pension contributions, vacation days, statutory holidays, and other standard benefits: Not specified in the source
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 4 September 2026
- Online interviews: week commencing 21 September 2026
- Preferred start date: October 2026 (flexible)
Location
Brussels, Belgium
Additional Details
- The Alliance is a pooled fund between 13 philanthropic foundations across Europe, hosted by the Network of European Foundations (NEF), which provides its financial, legal, and administrative infrastructure
- Each partner foundation sits on the Steering Committee, which sets the Alliance's strategic direction
- The Alliance's flagship Fellowship programme is an 18-month initiative supporting around 15 leaders of socially engaged arts organisations across Europe
- Candidates should note that immigration or visa sponsorship is not available for this role