Finance and Administration Director

EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations

About the Organisation

EGMONT – The Royal Institute for International Relations is an independent think-tank based in Brussels. As a platform for in-depth analysis and a forum for debate in the field of international politics, the Institute has the ambition to make a useful contribution to the policy-shaping process through its publications, conferences, and seminars. Along with its three Research Programmes and a specialised Education & Training Programme, the Institute is supported by a Communication Department and a Finance and Administration Department.

About the role

The Finance and Administration Director will lead the Finance and Administration department from both a human resources perspective and a contents perspective, ensuring compliance to regulations and contracts, accuracy and timeliness of financial information, sound financial management and procurement and provision of best practice HR policies and procedures to support other departments and programmes in implementing the strategy. He/she will network with donors and external contacts to remain up to date of relevant regulatory changes and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Define, in co-construction with the Director General and Programme Directors, the financial strategy of the Institute and consolidate its overall annual and pluri-annual budget. Present the financial results and give financial advice regarding the development of strategic decisions in order to make sure that the management has sufficient information to make decisions;
• Manage the overall budget of the Institute in order to best support the different activities of the departments and programmes and organise procurement of general equipment and services to achieve optimal results for the Institute in a compliant, cost-effective, and qualitative manner;
• Develop Human Resources policies and coordinate projects to improve compliance regarding well-being at work, to optimize the human capital, to foster professional development, and to support the change processes within the entire organisation. Maintain formal and informal contacts with the employees of the various programmes of the Institute in order to create a positive social climate;
• Coordinate/support/advise other departments and programmes with their legal, compliance, human resources, fundraising, grant management, procurement, and operational issues to ensure compliance and consistency across the organisation and smooth delivery of activities;
• Manage external partnerships with key service providers, banks, and external accountants, and develop a network of relations to proactively be kept informed of relevant developments. Establish relations with the administrative personnel of donors and partner organisations to ensure smooth exchange of information and contract management.
• Contribute to building, within the entire organisation, a solid team of qualified employees and encourage the collaboration between them in order to guarantee the smooth functioning of each department/programme;
• Share one’s expertise within the administrative management and other departments and programmes in order to disseminate relevant best practices, contribute to employees’ professional development, and guarantee compliance and long-term continuity;
• Contribute to the preparation of the meetings of the Management Board (CA).

Skills, Competencies & Experience

Experience:

• 10 years of relevant professional experience, including 5 years in a senior administrative management position;
• 5 years’ experience in project/grant management, preferably of European Union-funded Research Projects in think tanks or development cooperation;
• Experience in writing subsidy requests, tender proposals, and project applications;
• Experience with financial management software and tools;
• Experience in fundraising is desirable.

Skills:

• Client-oriented approach;
• Strong analytical thinking and writing;
• Team player with strong intercultural competencies;
• Capacity to develop smooth collaboration with external partners;
• Ability to deliver results within tight time frames, manage multiple assignments, and track progress on several processes simultaneously;
• Resistance to stress;
• Ability to empower, train, and supervise his/her team;
• IT-savvy (Microsoft suite, Outlook, ERP/Accounting software).

Knowledge:

• Good understanding of Project Cycle Management and major donors’ requirements;
• Good understanding of Belgian social regulations and financial matters;
• Excellent knowledge of French and English, both written and oral. (Knowledge of Dutch is an asset).

Required Qualifications

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant management domain;

Compensation & Benefits

• Monthly salary in accordance with experience
• Extra holidays
• Public transport allowance
• Meal vouchers
• Hospitalisation insurance
• A multicultural and challenging working environment;
• A large network within the Institute and with our partners;

Working locations

• Remotely working in Brussels, Belgium

How to apply

• A CV and a motivation letter compiled in a PDF file named "Last Name & First Name – Finance and Administration Director" should be emailed to [email protected] by 8th July 2025, mentioning in the subject line "Finance and Administration Director"
• Applications should be considered as unsuccessful if no answer has been received by 31st July 2025.

Interviews

• Applications will be examined on a rolling basis, and shortlisted candidates may be contacted for interviews before the deadline. Only shortlisted candidates may be contacted. 

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