International Program Manager Capacity Strengthening

Do you want to help build a more equal world where the rights of LGBTQI people are respected Do you have experience working in international development cooperation human rights or civil society strengthening Then you may be the colleague we are looking for.

RFSL is seeking an International Program Manager to support partner organisations in the EaP region with a strong focus on capacity strengthening and sustaining long-term partnerships. You will play a key role in ensuring quality relevance and results in advancing LGBTQI movements in a dynamic and sometimes restrictive regional context.

About RFSL and the International Unit

RFSL (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Intersex Rights) founded in 1950 is one of the worlds oldest non-profit organizations working on advancing LGBTQI rights. RFSLs mission is to ensure LGBTQI individuals human rights are respected both nationally and internationally. Our international work focuses on supporting partner organizations in Eastern Europe Asia and Africa through regranting and partnerships capacity-strengthening and facilitating access to international advocacy platforms.

Your role with us

As International Program Manager you will work closely with partner organisations across the EaP this role capacity strengthening is the primary focus and main contribution to the programme. Your primary responsibilities will be to plan and implement capacity-strengthening initiatives that support activists grassroots groups and established organisations. It includes managing scholarship grants facilitating access to relevant international events supporting professional skills building of individual activists organising and facilitating capacity strengthening activities such as training workshops and gatherings.

You will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating capacity strengthening activities to ensure that they remain relevant responsive and adapted to the regions rapidly changing contexts. Building trusted long-term relationships with partners is central to the role.

Through your work you will help ensure that funds are used efficiently and responsibly to achieve project objectives and deliver impact.

You will be part of the International Unit based in Stockholm and report to the Head of Program. This is a permanent position with a six-month probation period.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain a close dialogue with partners to identify needs strengths and opportunities for capacity strengthening and professional development and plan the support activities accordingly;

• Assess and review requests for scholarships and capacity strengthening support prepare agreements decision memos disbursements in accordance with internal and donor-specific requirements;

• Carry out procurement of services and goods in accordance with internal and donor-specific requirements;

• Organise and implement capacity-strengthening activities such as online and in-person workshops trainings courses gatherings;

• Facilitate access to international events;

• Communicate and coordinate with external stakeholders and trainers in providing safe and high quality support to partners;

• Support partners in complex environments where LGBTQI organisations face additional barriers including identifying safe and viable ways to channel support.

• Work closely with the Head of Program Controller and Finance Team on financial follow-up;

• Contribute to annual reporting processes with donors such as narrative reports financial and audit processes documenting impact and change etc.

• Contribute to the on-going monitoring and evaluation processes in the program by documenting the impact of the capacity strengthening work and in accordance with the PMEL framework.

• Support the drafting of new program applications and proposals for funding.

• Coordinate with other funders and donors in the region.

• Contribute to unit-wide processes internal meetings and cross-organisational activities at RFSL.

• Participate in and contribute to RFSLs federation-wide activities and events.

Who are you

We are looking for a solution-oriented structured and collaborative professional with a deep commitment to strengthening LGBTQI movements in the EaP region. You are motivated by long-term capacity strengthening and by supporting partners in building resilient transparent and accountable organisations. You understand that sustainable movement-building relies not only on funding but also on organisational health governance financial routines and activist wellbeing. You are comfortable working closely with both individual activists informal grassroots groups and more established organisations and you bring the curiosity patience and interpersonal awareness needed to meet partners where they are in their development.

You are able to work effectively in complex and politically sensitive environments where a nuanced and cautious approach to partnership support is essential. You can identify safe compliant and effective ways to provide support in such contexts and you approach this work with humility respect and a strong commitment to safeguarding and non-stigmatising partnership practices. You are comfortable managing detailed administrative processes while building trust-based relationships and you value co-creation shared learning and long-term engagement that enables partners to lead their own change processes.

You are a proactive and self-driven finance professional with strong self-leadership and high personal integrity. You thrive in an international environment and enjoy collaborating across cultures languages and teams. You communicate clearly value accountability and transparency and are motivated by purpose-driven work.

You share RFSLs values of anti-racism feminism accessibility and intersectionality.

To succeed in this role you need:

• A strong commitment to strengthening LGBTQI movements and advancing human rights justice and equality through long-term partner-led development.

• Demonstrated understanding of the lived realities of LGBTQI persons and LGBTQI activism in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus through personal and/or professional experience.

• A Bachelors degree in social sciences international development human rights public administration or equivalent qualifications gained through relevant work experience.

• At least 3 years of relevant experience within national or international NGOs development cooperation civil society support preferably in Eastern Partnership countries.

• Understanding of the security implications related to LGBTQI activism in different contexts across the Eastern Partnership.

• A proven track record in strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations including organisational development leadership or team support programme design event organisation risk management financial management and planning or delivering capacity-strengthening activities such as workshops peer-learning processes coaching or tailored organisational support.

• Strong analytical and administrative skills including the ability to assess organisational capacity budgets and financial routines programme reports and risk analyses.

• Solid IT skills including good knowledge of Google Suite.

• Proficiency in English both spoken and written.

• Willingness and ability to travel within the EaP region.

• Ability to work from Stockholm Sweden.

Desirable qualifications:

• Experience working with LGBTQI movement and organizations in Eastern Partnership region including grassroots organizations

• Experience working in politically sensitive or shrinking civic spaces

• Experience with civil society organisations human rights work or LGBTQI movements in the EaP region or in a similar regional or socio-political context (e.g. Central Asia) is considered relevant and valuable.

• Proficiency in Swedish and/or relevant regional languages spoken in the Eastern Partnership region (such as Ukrainian Russian or other regional languages).

Employment terms

• Employment type: Full-time permanent position with an initial six-month probation period.

• Location: RFSL office in Stockholm with some hybrid work possible. Occasional travel for program activities is expected.

• Start date: As agreed.

• Contract terms: Covered by the Collective Agreement for Nonprofit Organizations.

Our offer

RFSL offers a dynamic and inclusive workplace that values professionalism growth and social impact. We provide competitive conditions including occupational pensions and parental benefits.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted by January 18th 2026. We use anonymous competency-based recruitment and require a background check and a work-related assignment as part of the process before employment. This recruitment process will be conducted in English.

For inquiries about the position please contact the hiring manager Christian Hellqvist at . For recruitment process questions reach out to HR Partner Tobias Jensen at .

Please note: Due to public holidays and scheduled leave response times may be longer than usual. We will not be monitoring email between 20 December and 11 January and will respond to inquiries as soon as possible thereafter.

As a feminist and anti-racist organization RFSL strives to be an inclusive workplace for everyone regardless of sexual orientation gender identity and expression sex characteristics religion race ethnicity country of origin disability status age and other grounds of discrimination. Candidates with diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.