Programme Lead or Programme Manager

Location:
Brussels Contract: Full time, indefinite contract

Salary:
Programme Lead €4,900–5,400 gross per month. Programme Manager €4,300–4,800 gross per month. Paid 13.92 times a year. We will appoint at the level that matches your experience.

Benefits:
meal vouchers, group pension, DKV health insurance, home working allowance About Prosper Prosper is a new economic think tank working with leading economists, political parties, trade unions and civil society. We develop ambitious, evidence-based ideas for a fairer and more prosperous Europe, and turn them into practical proposals that decision-makers can act on. We are a small, ambitious team that is aiming to make a big impact. The role The role reports to the Executive Director. This position involves taking responsibility for important and complex projects. We are looking for someone who can think, write, manage projects and bring people together, and who is comfortable in policy debates, strategy discussions and working with our key stakeholders. You will:
• Manage projects from start to finish, including planning timelines, setting milestones, tracking progress and keeping authors, reviewers and partners to deadlines.
• Design, organise and chair workshops on key economic issues, bringing together academics, politicians, advisers, trade unions, civil society and business.
• Coordinate feedback from authors, reviewers, partners and politicians, keep an excellent overview of it, and keep the process on track.
• Lead the development of several chapters in our first major report, working with authors and shaping drafts.
• Write short synopses, briefings and talking points for each chapter, and coordinate with editors and designers on the report.
• Join meetings with politicians, advisers and partners, prepare briefings and follow up.
• Help plan the launch of the report with the comms partners.
• Help shape the strategy of the organisation as it grows.
• Over time, contribute to research beyond our first major project.
• Help manage and support new colleagues as the team grows. Who we are looking for You are probably a senior policy professional, political advisor, economist or political economist with experience in politics, a think tank, public institution, trade union, political foundation, NGO or academia. You have:
• A strong grasp of European economic policy and debates in one or more of the following policy areas: industrial strategy, competition policy, affordability, tech, the green transition and macroeconomics.
• Proven project management skills, including planning, prioritising and delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects on time.
• Skills in designing and facilitating workshops and meetings that produce concrete outcomes.
• Strong writing and editing skills, and the ability to turn complex arguments into clear, persuasive text.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, and the judgement to know what will persuade a decision-maker.
• Fluency in English. Other European languages are an advantage. We also warmly welcome:
• Experience with research projects, including the ability to do your own research and analysis, from gathering evidence to drafting a report chapter or paper.
• Some management experience, as we hope to hire a more junior colleague soon.
• Experience of fundraising and contributing to funding proposals.

What we offer
• The chance to help build a new organisation from an early stage and shape its first major project.
• Working closely with leading economists and politicians.
• A small, collaborative team with a culture of trust and flexibility.
• Flexible working, with occasional travel.
• A competitive salary, meal vouchers, a group pension, DKV health insurance and a work from home allowance.

How to apply
Please send a CV and a short letter explaining why you are interested and what you would bring, to sebastian.mang@prosper-europe.org by midday on Monday 30 November 2026. We will start interviewing strong candidates as applications arrive, and aim for a start date of early February 2027. Prosper is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and from across Europe. You must have the right to work in the EU.