Pour Demain

(Senior) Operations Specialist (60%–100%)

Start: April–June 2026

Build the operational backbone of a European think tank shaping AI safety policy and global development. Own critical functions across compliance, finance, and processes — and help a lean, ambitious team punch well above its weight on some of the most consequential policy questions of our time.

→ Express your interest in only 5–10 minutes with this form

Due date: 15 March 2026 · We continue to screen incoming applications after the due date.

Your Impact as (Senior) Operations Specialist

Pour Demain is a European think tank advancing the safe development of artificial intelligence and high-impact global development cooperation. Our work on EU AI governance — from shaping the Code of Practice for frontier AI models to preparing the Swiss AI Summit 2027 — has real consequences at the European and global level. Our development cooperation work helps redirect millions toward the most cost-effective programmes in global health and poverty alleviation.

To do this well, we need operational excellence. You'll work directly with our Operations Lead and Executive Lead, ensuring a fast-moving, multi-country setup stays legally compliant, financially sound, and operationally efficient — freeing our policy teams to focus on impact.

You'll own critical functions across

⚖️

Legal & Compliance

Sound governance across three legal entities (CH, BE, DE), contractor compliance, and cross-border employment law

📊

Finance & Bookkeeping

Financial reporting, expense documentation, budget vs. actuals and grant compliance with major institutional funders

✍️

Fundraising & Grant Administration

Support grant writing and reporting processes that sustain and grow the organisation's work

📅

Events & Retreats

Coordinate team retreats, policy events, and Swiss AI Summit 2027 logistics

🛠️

IT & Tools

Manage our tech stack and operational systems (Asana, shared drives, communication tools)

⚙️

Process Optimisation

Build and refine SOPs that scale as we grow to 15+ staff across three countries and entities

We'll calibrate the exact focus areas to your strengths — we don't expect you to cover everything.

We Are Looking For

Essential

•Operational Ownership: Proven ability to independently manage complex operational tasks — you take something unclear and make it work, with diligence and follow-through

•Compliance & Financial Acumen: Solid grasp of non-profit finance, accounting basics, and/or legal compliance (Swiss, German, or Belgian context is a plus)

•Structured Problem-Solving: You love building systems, spotting inefficiencies, and fixing them — without over-engineering

•Reliability Under Complexity: Comfortable managing multiple jurisdictions, stakeholders, and priorities simultaneously

•Communication: Clear, professional communication in English; German is a strong plus

•Autonomy: High degree of self-organisation — you define the next step, not just execute it

Desired

•Experience in a think tank, NGO, foundation, or similar mission-driven organisation

•Familiarity with Swiss, German, or Belgian non-profit law, employment law, or tax regimes

•Experience with grant reporting for philanthropic funders

•Comfort with project management tools (Asana or similar) and OKR-style planning

We Offer

🎯	Real Influence In a lean team, operations is a strategic lever — your work directly enables our policy impact on AI safety and global development
🤝	Substantial Autonomy ~90% of decisions stay with the person owning the relevant work; own your domain from day one with close support from experienced leadership
🌍	Mission That Matters Contribute to AI safety policy and global health through rigorous, evidence-based work at a European and global level
📍	Flexible Setup Based in Bern, Berlin, Brussels, or Zurich (co-working), with 2–3 days in-office (preferred) or remote flexibility for the right candidate
🌱	Flat, Collaborative Culture A young, ambitious organisation with fast decision-making, flat hierarchies, and an egalitarian ethos
🔗	Strong Network Collaborate with EU institutions, international organisations, and major philanthropic funders
💶	Competitive Compensation Attractive salary within our egalitarian pay structure, fair and competitive for the European think tank sector. Plus a training budget and additional IT, office and transport stipends.
⏱️	Flexibility 60%–100% FTE · Flexible hours · Annual travel for retreats and conferences · Start April–June 2026

Application

Unsure if this role is right for you? If you meet many — but not all — of the essential criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. Submit the form or reach out at info@pourdemain.ngo.

We've kept this form intentionally brief — it takes just 5–10 minutes to submit. Early applications are explicitly encouraged.

Due date: 15 March 2026 · We continue to screen incoming applications after the due date.

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Name and Email* This field is required.
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CVPlease add your LinkedIn profile or CV (with a shareable link).
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OverviewDescribe your interest for this role in 2-3 bullet points, mentioning relevant experience (including title and organisation). Very brief bullet points are fine.
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Your passion/talent for...Experience is not relevant here, see next question. This is about what you love doing. It is fine to be picky. We do not expect a successful candidate to cover all areas. Examples: - Bookkeeping: coordinating with external bookkeeper, reviewing classification of receipts, optimizing receipt process, managing bank transfers - Financial planning: annual financial reporting and tax compliance, budget vs. actual assessments, room for funding calculations - Legal: assessing options on legal questions, interacting with lawyers, preparing and optimizing contracts - Grant writing: identifying potential donors, designing suitable projects for donors, writing grant proposals - Event Management: organising virtual and in-person events, managing office space - IT Management: managing the IT setup and team member accounts, writing guidelines on how we use our applications, automating certain processes with No-Code tools - Setting up processes: developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for key processes in the organisation, expanding/optimizing the staff handbook, ...
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Your experience in...How many years of experience do you have in the following areas (in years)? Examples: - Bookkeeping: coordinating with external bookkeeper, reviewing classification of receipts, optimizing receipt process, managing bank transfers - Financial planning: annual financial reporting and tax compliance, budget vs. actual assessments, room for funding calculations - Legal: assessing options on legal questions, interacting with lawyers, preparing and optimizing contracts - Grant writing: identifying potential donors, designing suitable projects for donors, writing grant proposals - Event Management: organising virtual and in-person events, managing office space - IT Management: managing the IT setup and team member accounts, writing guidelines on how we use our applications, automating certain processes with No-Code tools - Setting up processes: developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for key processes in the organisation, expanding/optimizing the staff handbook, ...
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Country Operations ExperienceHow many years of legal/finance/ops experience do you have in the following countries?
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LanguagesWhat is your level in mastering these languages? (For an explanation of the levels, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for_Languages)
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IT SkillsHow many years of experience do you have in these IT fields? (This is not a hard requirement.) Examples: - Web design: creating websites with tools like Wix, creating and editing graphics and logos - Superuser: advanced work with typical applications (e.g. advanced formulas in Google Sheets, set up a reminder system in a CRM like Hubspot) - No-code tools: automations with Zapier/Make.com and similar (e.g. auto summarizer tool that links Slack to ChatGPT) - Coding: writing code
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Ideal Days per WeekHow many days per week would you ideally want to work?
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Minimum Days per WeekWhat is the minimum number of days per week that you would seriously consider? (This should be a sustainable arrangement for you for at least a year.)
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City & CountryIn which city and country would you most likely be based? (Remote work is fine for exceptional candidates. We offer co-working in Bern, Brussels, Berlin and Zurich.)
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Salary ExpectationsWhat are your approximate gross salary expectations (in USD per HOUR)? This is not final but helps us understand your approximate requirements. Thanks for indicating at least a rough number!
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Work PermitDo you have a work permit for the EU or Switzerland?
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Operations Best PracticesWhich 2-3 best practices on financial management and legal setup have you found particularly important/underrated in your experience? Bullet points are sufficient.
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Thought LeadersWhich thought leaders have influenced your opinions on AI safety or international development cooperation? List 2-3 thought leaders using bullet points.
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Comments/Questions/ReferralsFeel free to add comments and questions. Here, you can also indicate any person who recommended you to apply (if applicable).
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