Program Director (f/m/d) Lebanon and Middle East, DW Akademie Office Beirut

About the Position

Program Director (f/m/d) Lebanon and Middle East, DW Akademie Office Beirut

We are seeking a Program Director (f/m/d) Lebanon and Middle East for the DW Akademie office in Beirut, Lebanon as of 1 August 2026 or as soon as possible on the basis of a full-time local staff employment contract limited until 31 December 2028.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for planning and implementation of DW Akademie projects in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern countries, particularly the BMZ-funded project "Freedom of Opinion and Media Development in the Middle East".
• Overseeing the planning, controlling, and steering of project budgets.
• Responsibility for monitoring, evaluation, and achievement of project goals as well as strategic development/expansion of the portfolio.
• Coordination of a diverse program team based in Lebanon, neighboring countries, and Germany.
• Management of DW Akademie's office in Beirut in close cooperation with the DW Beirut Bureau Chief.
• Representation of DW Akademie vis-à-vis local, international, and German institutions in Lebanon and the region.
• Reporting to DW Akademie management in Germany.
• Ongoing monitoring and analysis of the media sector and political environment in Middle Eastern countries to further develop DW Akademie's regional strategy.

Requirements

• University degree in the field of media or development cooperation or another relevant field.
• Longstanding professional experience in the field of journalism or media management, preferably in the Middle East and North Africa region.
• Demonstrated experience in project management in international development cooperation, including budget responsibility, ideally with German implementers and donors.
• Proven experience in project design and proposal writing.
• Excellent knowledge of the media situation and political developments in the Middle East, including Egypt and Gulf States.
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills in the context of diverse international program teams; high level of intercultural competence and respect for diversity.
• Excellent communication skills with professional language proficiency in both Arabic and English (written and spoken, min. level C1) required; German language skills desired and a strong advantage.
• High level of resilience and ability to work in crisis and conflict contexts; willingness to travel in the region.

We Offer

• Inspiring and challenging tasks in an international media company.
• Collaboration in interdisciplinary and diverse teams.
• An organizational culture characterized by New Work and Digital Leadership & Collaboration.
• Promotion of diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.

About the Company

As employees of Deutsche Welle, we identify with the values laid down in the Deutsche Welle Act. We are especially opposed to every form of discrimination, racism, and antisemitism.

We promote diversity and equal opportunities. We welcome your application regardless of your nationality, cultural, ethnic, or social background and affiliation, religion or belief, disability, sexual identity, gender identity, or age. We strive for gender parity at all levels of the Organization.

Have we piqued your interest? Then we look forward to receiving your complete application, including CV and cover letter in English, by 29 June 2026.

Contact:

Tamar Neuwirth

People

Deutsche Welle