Program Officer – Public Programs & Membership

Aspen Institute Deutschland e.V.; Berlin; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Hybrid working arrangements

Modern Berlin office

Job summary

Aspen Institute Deutschland e.V. in Berlin seeks a Program Officer to shape its public program and grow the Friends of Aspen Germany. You will plan high‑level events, recruit speakers, and strengthen ties with members, partners, and supporters.

You will also manage membership processes, develop recruitment and retention strategies, and contribute to newsletters and communications. Flexible/hybrid arrangements and a dynamic international team await.

Qualifications

• Completed university degree (preferably Master’s) in Political Science, IR, Communications or related field.
• Strong interest in international affairs and transatlantic relations.
• Experience in project or event management within think tanks, foundations, or international organizations.
• Ability to build networks with members, partners and supporters.
• Experience with CRM systems and data-driven membership processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop, design and deliver public event formats and membership activities.
• Identify timely policy topics and recruit distinguished speakers and participants.
• Build relationships with policymakers, business leaders, academia, media, and civil society.
• Manage membership recruitment, retention strategies, and records.
• Improve CRM processes and explore digital/AI-enabled tools.

Skills

Event management

Membership engagement

Public speaking & communication

CRM systems

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

German & English (fluent)

Education

Master’s degree in Political Science/IR/Public Admin

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Program Officer – Public Programs & Membership

Full-time (40 hours/week) | Berlin | 1. Oktober 2026 – 30. September 2028 (with intension to extend)

At Aspen Institute Germany, we bring people together. We convene leaders from government, business, academia, media, and civil society to discuss the defining political and societal challenges of our time – from European security and transatlantic relations to geopolitics, democratic resilience, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.
We are looking for a Program Officer to help make these conversations happen and strengthen the community behind them. In this role, you will develop and deliver high-level public events, build relationships with members, partners, speakers, and stakeholders, and help grow the Friends of Aspen Institute Germany. Working at the intersection of public programming and membership engagement, you will play a key role in expanding Aspen Germany’s network, strengthening our community, and advancing our mission.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop, design, and deliver Aspen Germany’s public event formats, including International Press Roundtables, Deep Dive Discussions, Aspen Fireside Chats, the Aspen Summer Reception, the Aspen Gala, and new public dialogue formats.
• Identify timely policy topics and recruit distinguished speakers and discussion participants from government, business, academia, media, and civil society.
• Build and maintain relationships with international correspondents, partner organizations, policymakers, business leaders, and civil society representatives in Germany and internationally.
• Produce Aspen’s newsletter from concept to publication, including content selection, copywriting, editing, coordination with internal teams, and distribution.
• Leverage Aspen’s public events to recruit new members for the Friends of Aspen Institute Germany, strengthen member engagement, and build long‑term relationships. You will develop new engagement opportunities for members and organize exclusive networking and member events.
• Develop and implement membership recruitment and retention strategies in close cooperation with the Institute’s leadership.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Friends of Aspen Institute Germany, its leadership body, prospective members, and partners.
• Manage membership administration, including admissions, membership fees, invoicing, donation receipts, and member records.
• Continuously improve our CRM and membership processes and introduce digital and AI‑supported tools where appropriate.
• Organize the Annual General Meeting and meetings of our governing bodies and coordinate the Friends Association’s annual financial administration and reporting together with external partners.
• Support the communication and follow‑up of our events and contribute to website content, publications, newsletters, and social media.

Your Profile

• A completed university degree (preferably a Master’s degree) in Political Science, International Relations, Communications, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.
• A strong interest in international affairs and current developments in transatlantic relations, European security, democratic resilience, and geopolitics.
• Experience in project or event management, ideally within a think tank, foundation, association, international organization, or public institution.
• A passion for bringing people together, building networks, and developing long‑term relationships with members, partners, and supporters.
• Experience in community building, membership management, fundraising, alumni relations, or supporter engagement.
• The ability to identify partnership and membership opportunities and engage prospective supporters with confidence.
• A structured, proactive, and independent working style with excellent organizational skills.
• An affinity for working with numbers and, ideally, first experience in finance or accounting, such as budgeting, invoicing, membership administration, or association management.
• Experience working with CRM systems and databases and an interest in improving processes through digital tools and AI‑supported applications.
• An existing professional network in government, business, media, or civil society would be an asset.
• Excellent written and spoken German and English.

What We Offer

• A responsible position with significant scope for initiative in an internationally active public policy organization.
• The opportunity to shape Aspen Germany’s public program while helping build a vibrant community of members, supporters, and partners.
• Close collaboration with leading figures from government, business, academia, media, and civil society across Germany, Europe, and the United States.
• A varied role at the intersection of public affairs, community building, event management, and organizational development.
• An engaged international team with short decision‑making processes and an open, collaborative working culture.
• Excellent opportunities to expand your international network and develop professionally and personally.
• Flexible working hours, hybrid working arrangements by agreement, and a modern office in the heart of Berlin.
• A competitive salary commensurate with your qualifications and experience.