Director of the Secretariat (gn) Global Diplomacy Lab

The Global Diplomacy Lab (GDL) is a platform for exploring a more inclusive diplomacy which goes beyond traditional foreign politics. It is based on the idea that for inclusive diplomacy, creative professionals from various fields are needed to explore new tools and forms of collaboration to address global challenges on the basis of mutual trust, shared agendas, and collective action.

The GDL is a collaborative initiative between the German Federal Foreign Office in partnership with the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, the German-American Fulbright Commission, and the International Alumni Center. These institutions have created a secretariat within the GDL responsible for the overall strategic direction and members’ involvement in organizing, implementing, and reviewing GDL events, as well as in the further developing the GDL products, impact-orientation, and network. The secretariat is also responsible for managing public relations and overseeing the budget of the GDL. The secretariat team is employed by the iac Berlin. Its office is located within the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.

We are looking for a Berlin based

Director of the Secretariat (m/f/d) of the Global Diplomacy Lab 

ready to start as soon as possible. The role would initially be contracted until December 31, 2025, with a strong commitment of all partners to prolong the contract.

Based on the diversity of responsibilities of the secretariat and the challenges ahead of us, we are looking for candidates with strong management skills, an inclusive leadership style, and a deep passion for inclusive and innovative diplomacy.

• Overseeing the strategic development of the GDL, its activities and network development in close collaboration with GDL members and partners
• Creating and developing new partnerships with international philanthropic and diplomatic institutions to contribute to the financial sustainability of the GDL
• Representation and relational management of the GDL, in particular within the Federal Foreign Office, and within the networks of the other partners
• Managing operations, including leading a team comprised of three part-time project managers, as well as working students, interns and volunteers
• Responsibility for budget and coordination of the Steering Committee and Advisory Council

• A passion for inclusive diplomacy and a strong commitment to help future-proof the GDL in a dynamic and ever-changing environment
• Strong strategic skillset connected with an entrepreneurial mindset
• Proven leadership experience in an international working environment (preferred public-private partnerships) with strong commitment to members’ engagement
• Excellent knowledge of trends and developments in international diplomacy and social transformation
• Strong representational skills, confident appearance in multi-sector settings, ability to engage people
• Familiarity with agile methods of online, offline, and hybrid collaboration
• Strong digital media skills and a passion for fact-based storytelling
• Excellent proficiency in English and good working knowledge in German
• A highly motivated and reliable team player, ready to be based in Berlin at the German Foreign Office and willing to travel for work purposes 

• A varied and exciting leadership role with the opportunity to actively co-shape the future of diplomacy
• A friendly, agile, and highly motivated team in Berlin, as well as many partners worldwide
• An insight into the activities of the Federal Foreign Office, where the GDL is located, as well as other partner organizations and their networks
• Flexible working hours, ability to work from home, and support for personal and professional development based on the regulations of the iac Berlin
• A strong commitment to sustainability in all aspects of what we do
• A competitive salary, in line with the German wage agreement for Public Service (TVöD-L)