Nikolay Sapundzhiev

Nikolay Sapundzhiev is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in project management, specializing in EU pre-accession and structural funds, SDC, ADB, KFW, WB, USAID, DFID projects, EBRD and EIB policies, and major projects across Europe and CIS countries. With over 15 years of experience, Nikolay has managed international teams and high budgets, exceeding 500,000 Euros per project.

During his career, Nikolay has held various roles in renowned organizations, including Senior Consultant at GOPA Consultants, and Project Manager at ÖSB Consulting GmbH, Human Dynamics - Public Sector Consulting, and New–i LTD., among others. He has also served as Researcher/Project Administrator at AFL CIO, Project Coordinator at Eurofound, and Researcher at the Institute for Social and Trade Union Researches of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions.

Nikolay's expertise extends to areas such as HRM, functional analyses, institutional building, policy advice, labor policy, social policy issues, collective bargaining, tripartite dialogue, industrial relations, and HRM policies in multinational companies. He is recognized for his proficiency as an experienced researcher with a strong educational foundation.

His academic journey includes a High School Diploma from 33 Foreign Language High School, a specialization in Organizational and Labor Management from Georgetown University, an MA in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, and various training courses in project management, EU structural funds, finance, and banking.

Nikolay Sapundzhiev's professional endeavors have taken him across diverse sectors and countries like Albania, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Kosovo, Bangladesh, Turkey, Macedonia, Lebanon, and Bulgaria. He has engaged in negotiations with government representatives at all levels, as well as stakeholders from the EU and the World Bank, demonstrating his comprehensive understanding of EU policies related to enlargement and external actions.