Long-Term Volunteer Opportunities

Coordinator Positions (2026-2027)

The BEST Management Team is looking for current university students, recent university graduates or young working professionals to join our team for the 2026-2027 school year.

Deadline: May 15th

Available positions:

  • Balkan Voices Co-Coordinator

  • Marketing Co-Coordinator 

  • Tournament Policy Coordinator

  • Debate (Program/Tournament) Co-Coordinator

  • Speech Department Coordinator

  • Student Leader Program Co-Coordinator

Interested? Here are a few things you need to know:

  • Coordinators must be at least 18 years old.

  • Coordinators must be at least a 2nd year in university. 

  • Application requirements differ for each position. 

To apply:

  • Send a CV and a cover letter to info@bestfoundation.bg explaining your motivation to be a BEST coordinator. Please tell us which volunteer position you are applying for, why you love BEST, and why you are a good fit for the position. You may apply for up to two positions. We will be accepting applications until the positions are filled but we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

  • Include the position that you are applying for in the subject line of the email (ie: “Debate Coordinator Application”)

  • Check each position for special requirements! If a position lists “Special Application Requirements” you must submit these with your cover letter.


Balkan Voices Co - Coordinator

Deadline - 30.05

Balkan Voices is an international public speaking tournament held once each academic year, typically in March. The event brings together students from across the Balkans, including Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and other countries in the region.

The tournament takes place over two days on the beautiful campus of the American University in Bulgaria. Students compete in two categories: Original Oratory and Extemporaneous Speaking.

Balkan Voices provides a valuable opportunity for students from the region to meet, exchange ideas, discuss the issues they care most about, and share their perspectives on how these challenges can be addressed. It also allows participants to build new friendships and gain meaningful cross-cultural experiences.

The position is shared with our current Balkan Voices Co-Coordinator (working online from the USA) - Kelsey Walock

Responsibilities:

• Review and enhance the Balkan Voices procedure manual;

• Research, reach and invite (in September) new schools from the Balkan Region to participate in the trainings and the tournament;

• Handle application and registration process for Balkan Voices;

• Ensure all application and registration material is sent out to coaches in a timely manner;

• Review coach training material and schedule training sessions;

• Follow up with team members about project tasks and remind everyone about upcoming deadlines

• Work closely with BEST Management and AUBG representatives on preparing suitable activities for the event

• Create a tournament schedule ensuring all speakers and workshops are assigned

• Regularly check the tournament website page and the portal and ensure all information is updated and links are active

• Administer pre and post event surveys and produce reports

• Write a final closing report for the BV grant.

Requirements:

• Be a communicative person;

• Have a knowledge in organizing events;

• Leadership skills;

• Basic knowledge of working with Microsoft programs.

Benefits:

• Gaining practical experience in tournament management and communication;

• Working in international and highly professional environment;

• Participation in all tournaments, trainings, camps of BEST Foundation (travel and food covered);

• Building leadership skills.

Suitable for:

• University students in various disciplines;

Marketing Co-Coordinator

Responsibilities:

  • Assist BEST Executive Director and marketing team with overall vision and communication strategy to drive increased engagement with existing and potential stakeholders;

  • Help the team in creating and telling stories on social media and other print media

  • Work closely with the team on setting project plans for material development 

  • Connect the foundation with media outlets for published stories and visibility

  • Handle post and video design for print and digital media

  • Manage and ensure timely delivery of all social media posts

  • Promote BEST events on social media and send press releases to media

  • Manage the department’s interns and distribute assignments as needed

  • Produce two major video projects one in December, and the other in May. 

Requirements: 

  • Basic knowledge in Social Media Management, Content creation and planning;

  • Basic knowledge in copywriting and writing in different journalistic genres;

  • Ability to work with softwares similar to Canva, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, CapCut etc

  • Team leadership abilities;

  • Time management abilities;

  • Creative and critical thinking. 

Benefits:

  • Gaining practical experience in tournament management and communication; 

  • Working in international and highly professional environment; 

  • Participation in all tournaments, trainings, camps of BEST Foundation (travel and food covered); 

  • Building leadership skills; 

  • Build connections with various people. 

Suitable for - university students in marketing disciplines

Tournament Policy Co - Coordinators

Responsibilities:

  • Handle reports and rule reinforcement during tournaments;

  • Handle all related communication to policies;

  • Run plagiarism check prior to tournaments;

  • Implementing any policy changes voted by MT in the summer 

  • Assist during judge and coach trainings

  • Support the Tournament Administrator/Debate Coordinator during tournaments when questions arise regarding resources/ citations or specific rules.

Requirements:

  • Behave unbiased towards everyone;

  • Basic knowledge in working with Microsoft programs;

  • Be part of every tournament; 

  • Be responsible.  

Benefits: 

  • Gaining practical experience in tournament management and communication; 

  • Working in international and highly professional environment; 

  • Participation in all tournaments, trainings, camps of BEST Foundation (travel and food covered); 

  • Building leadership skills.

Suitable for: 

  • Anyone with legal or speech & debate background


Debate Program Co-Coordinator

The position is shared with our current Debate Program Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

  • Serve as debate content and curriculum leader including training debate specifics to coaches and students;

  • Lead debate motions planning committee and submit debate motions to Management Team 1 month prior to tournaments at the latest;

  • Plan and lead online workshops and events during the academic year;

  • Lead and plan online debate cups during the year

  • Select and support the International Debate team 

  • Support the Bulgarian National Debate team created in collaboration with the Bulgarian Debate Association. 

  • Seek out and facilitate international debating opportunities;

  • During tournaments:

    • Answer any motion-related questions and concerns at the tournament;

    • Train judges for debate;

    • Announce motions;

    • Assist Debate Tournament Coordinator as needed

Requirements:

  • Have debate knowledge;

  • Argumentative person;

  • Basic knowledge of Microsoft programs. 

Benefits: 

  • Gaining practical experience in tournament management and communication; 

  • Working in international and highly professional environment; 

  • Participation in all tournaments, trainings, camps of BEST Foundation (travel and food covered); 

  • Building leadership skills.

Suitable for:

  • BEST and/or Bulgarian Debate Association alumnus with debating background and knowledge of parliamentary debating styles, particularly World Schools Debate, or

  • Law/Political Science university students



SL Program Co-Coordinator

OR SL Program Intern-requirements here (depending on the person interviewed) 

Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate equally (50/50) with the other Co-Coordinator to manage the Student Leadership Program.

  • Plan program activities, prepare training proposals/checklists, and coordinate booking of training sessions.

  • Organize Student Leader Training, Wrap-Up Seminar, mid-year conferences, and year-round remote engagement activities.

  • Organize workshops to help Student Leaders develop their Community Projects and leadership skills.

  • Arrange volunteer schedules, manage volunteers at tournaments, and collect feedback for improvement.

Requirements:

  • Strong verbal and written communication.

  • Teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence.

  • Excellent organization, time management, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.

  • Proficiency in Google Workspace.

  • Must be an SL alumnus/a and at least a first-year university student.

Benefits:

  • Work in an international, professional environment.

  • Participate in BEST Foundation tournaments, trainings, and camps (travel and food covered).

  • Build leadership and technical skills.

Suitable for:

  • University students or working professionals, including BEST Alumni and previous SLs.


Speech Department Co - Coordinator

Responsibilities:

  • Serve as speech content and curriculum leader including training speech specifics to coaches and students

  • Plan and lead online workshops and events during the academic year;

  • Lead and plan online speech cups during the year

  • During tournaments:

    • Answer any questions and concerns at the tournament;

    • Train judges for speech; 

Requirements:

  • Have speech knowledge;

  • Basic knowledge of Microsoft programs. 

Benefits: 

  • Gaining practical experience in tournament management and communication; 

  • Working in international and highly professional environment; 

  • Participation in all tournaments, trainings, camps of BEST Foundation (travel and food covered); 

  • Building leadership skills.

Suitable for:

  • BEST alumnus with speech background and knowledge

  • University students