Job Description

Operations Officer, Europe. Berlin. Posting Date: 05/29/2026. Deadline: 06/11/2026

Role Title: Operations Officer, Europe

Contract Type Regular

Workstyle Arrangement: On Site

Reporting To: Associate Director, Europe

Department Global Operations

Location: Berlin, London

Team Name: Global Operations

Opportunity or Team description

This is a key site-facing operations role supporting the day-to-day running of OSF’s European offices. You will help keep essential workplace operations, facilities services, vendor relationships, and regional support processes running effectively across a complex global environment.

Role Purpose

Operations Officers work with the Associate Director of Operations to drive cohesion among geographically located staff (at a local level) and create ownership of operations issues across the localized geography.

This role plays a vital role in enabling the development, implementation, and monitoring of day-to-day operations, processes, and practices to provide visibility into the goals, progress, and obstacles of key initiatives across the organization. The role also works in supporting cultural transformation initiatives across the geographies. Covering multiple offices in the region, the role serves as a back-up for the Associate Director in the same region and features as their partners in providing local knowledge and insights.

Key responsibilities

Facilities Management & Workplace Operations

• Lead on and work closely with the Associate Director, responsible for overseeing the management and coordination of the outsourced facilities management vendor (where relevant) and lead in reviewing and processing vendor invoices/reports, tracking budgets for outsourced facility management services, and maintaining accurate records of vendor contracts and service agreements.
• Responsible (with the Associate Director of Operations) for understanding local requirements and support with location specific operational questions, issues, and requirements.
• Work closely with the SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment & Quality) Officer, location-specific support on health and safety activities.

Vendor, Contract & Procurement Management

• Lead on the management of contracts and vendors for local outsourcing where needed to ensure alignment with global policies.
• Co-lead with the assurance and review of local procurement and contracts prior to signing.
• Serve as local signatory in various operational processes where required, including approving bank payments, processing vendor contracts or submitting documents related to local requirements.

Finance, Budgeting & Invoice Administration

• Lead on processing and monitoring invoices for rent and other business critical payments in all locations for the region
• Work closely with the Associate Director of Operations (and Front of House Supervisors, where relevant) in all aspects of budgeting, cash flow monitoring, expense monitoring, and evaluation. This will require coordination with Finance and answering budget related inquiries.

Operational Systems, Processes & Compliance

• Co-lead on the development, implementation, and monitoring of day-to-day operational systems and processes to provide visibility into the goals, progress, and obstacles of key initiatives across the organization.

Regional Operations Coordination Events, Culture and Stakeholder Support

• Support the coordination of local requirements with local Operations Directors for all Operational activity e.g., events management, travel, logistical onboarding of new starters etc.
• Lead special projects in Global Operations as required.
• Support the implementation of Office culture initiatives across geographies.
• Lead on internal events, third party events and Global Operations events. Be a thought partner and collaborator for events organised by program and other operations colleagues

The ideal candidate

Essential Qualifications:

• Educated to a degree-level (or equivalent)

Essential Experience:

• Experience in facilities, workplace, office operations, or generalist operations within a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Experience managing or coordinating vendors, service providers, contracts, invoices, or facilities-related services.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities independently.
• Proven ability to build relationships across different levels of seniority and functions.
• Experience supporting operational administration such as invoice processing, payment tracking, procurement, records, or budget support.
• Ability to work on-site regularly due to the facilities and office-facing nature of the role.

Desirable Experience:

• Prior experience of operations support in a similar role.
• Prior experience in working in a non-profit

Functional Competencies:

• Have a basic understanding of real estate management principles.
• Ability to communicate clearly, efficiently and between audiences of varying seniorities.
• Experience managing contracts and vendor management.
• Basic understanding of local compliance and regulations.
• Ability to analyze complex data sets and draw insights to inform the local operations.

Personal Competencies:

• Organizational proficiency, being able to work across competing priorities while proactively responding to incoming requests/communications.
• Able to communicate appropriately across diverse audiences/stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills; good listening and communication skills with sensitivity to cultural communication differences.
• Commitment to listening and working with humility; ways of working that are respectful to all people; and that support space and voice for all diverse perspectives in our workplace.
• Demonstrates commitment to OSF’s core values of humility, commitment, collaboration, respect, inclusivity and integrity.
• Willingness to adjust working hours to include calls and discussions with colleagues and vendors located in various geographic regions.
• Commitment to continuous learning and growth in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and social justice.
• Drives a customer service focused culture throughout the team to deepen relationships leveraging systems and knowledge.
• Ability to drive operational efficiency through building effective interpersonal relationships.

Languages:

• Fluent in the local language where the role is based and an excellent working knowledge of English
• Travel is required. Travel frequency depends on the role requirements.

What we offer

• Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
• Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including:
• Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
• Employer-paid health insurance * and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).
• Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance.
• Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and much more.
• A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.

Who we are.

Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time-limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging needs. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems.

Guided by our founder’s values and the belief in the art of the possible, we engage directly with global entities, individuals, and policymakers through grants, advocacy, impact investing, and strategic human rights litigation to drive positive change. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to rights, equity, and justice, inspiring every action we take.

Competitive rates of pay apply.

Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.