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Program Officer

Program Officer

Grade: 3
Reports to: Ann Driscoll
Salary Range: $52,800-$66,000 based on geographic location and experience
Anticipated Start Date: 4/24/23
Term of Employment: Annual
Apply by: TBD (cover letter and resume required)
Base of Designation/Remote Eligible: DC BOD, Hybrid only (cannot be fully remote)
Conditional on Funding? Position funded through 12/31/23, then expected to be continued conditional on funding

World Learning seeks a Program Officer support the implementation of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the flagship professional exchange program of the U.S. Department of State. This position provides an opportunity to engage with international leaders in a range of fields, learn about key U.S. foreign policy issues, and help forge international partnerships by designing and executing short-term exchange programs.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced professional with a proven ability to manage multiple projects, work both independently and collaboratively, and communicate clearly and effectively with diverse partners and stakeholders. Excellent judgment, leadership ability, and dedication to international exchange are essential. This position is part of World Learning’s Global Exchange Unit, which implements a diverse professional exchange portfolio.

Responsibilities
  • Lead a team in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating short-term exchanges, whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid formats, for projects ranging in size from one to twenty-five visitors from every region of the world on a wide range of domestic and foreign policy topics;
  • Liaise and collaborate with sponsoring agency/client and other stakeholders;
  • Research and design customized observational study tours, virtual exchanges, and hybrid programs that meet the objectives of all stakeholders;
  • Write project proposals outlining potential itineraries, meeting formats and platforms, and recommended resources;
  • Plan and arrange Washington, DC program segments;
  • Oversee development of program segments in U.S. cities in conjunction with local partner organizations;
  • Authorize, monitor, and reconcile the accurate disbursement of project funds in compliance with World Learning and DOS financial management guidelines;
  • Supervise the implementation of all project logistics (including air and ground travel, hotels, meeting venues, and virtual meetings, including interpretation and/or webinars);
  • Conduct project briefings with participants; provide guidance on cultural matters; moderate program sessions; or host, facilitate, or produce virtual meetings for participants, as required;
  • Draft and edit program materials and correspondence, including program books, agendas or itineraries, reports, or other materials;
  • Participate in project-related social media activity, including posting articles and photos, composing content for various social media platforms, and using social media to communicate with outside partners and participants;
  • Conduct final group evaluations either virtually or in person, traveling 2-4 times per year for 2-3 days to various U.S. locations;
  • Write final evaluation reports or other project reports and oversee project follow-up and closeout;
  • Supervise Program Associate and interns, promote Program Associate's professional training and development, and conduct performance reviews; and
  • Contribute to the achievement of team, organizational, and network-wide goals and the overall management of the Global Exchange unit.

As members of World Learning’s staff, program officers also will have access to various professional development opportunities, including skill-building workshops, shadowing sessions, and brownbag lunches on various topics relevant to international education and exchange.


Requirements


Required Experience/Education:
  • Master's degree with 2+ years of experience, or bachelor's degree and 3+ years of relevant experience;
  • Two years' supervisory and/or workflow direction experience;
  • Applicants must be authorized to work in the location where this position is offered;

 Required Skills:
  • Broad knowledge of and interest in domestic and foreign policy issues and well-developed research skills;
  • Understanding of program design and ability to apply thematic research to the design of exchange programs;
  • Strong cross-cultural and communications skills, including strong written and oral communication skills in English;
  • Demonstrated skills in leadership and collaboration, sound judgment, and an ability to work effectively with a wide range of people;
  • Experience with program design (preferred);
  • Intercultural experience or interest (preferred), as reflected in personal background or international work or study experience, or foreign language skills (desirable);
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook and Office, and cloud-based document management and online project management tools;
  • Experience with various web conferencing platforms, including Zoom, Webex, and Microsoft Teams (preferred);
  • Experience creating and maintaining LMS platforms, including Canvas (preferred);

Required Behaviors/Competencies:
  • Ability to be flexible and adaptable; including willingness to work in remote/hybrid teams, across time zones, and occasionally outside of normal working hours, as required;
  • Willingness to travel domestically 3-4 times per year for a few days each time;
  • Ability to foster diverse, equitable and inclusive practices and challenges practices which may be exclusionary;
  • Ability to effectively cope with change; able to shift comfortably, decide and act without having the total picture; comfortably handle risk and uncertainty. Demonstrated ability to function in unstructured work environments and/or uncertain conditions;
  • Contribute to an organizational culture of continuous learning through rigorous program monitoring, data tracking, donor and MERL reporting, research and reflection to ensure strong outcomes; 
  • Contribute to organization’s business development targets through ongoing program implementation, funder relationship building, and through other means as directed;  
  • A curiosity about World Learning as a whole, with the aim of being able to effectively represent the organization to external audiences commensurate with the position; and 
  • Commitment to fostering diverse, equitable and inclusive practices in program implementation and monitoring practices and challenging practices which may be exclusionary

Benefits
World Learning provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, FSA/HRA, Life/AD&D, Short Term/Long Term Disability, EAP, Parking and Transit, 403 (b) retirement plan.

Vaccination is strongly recommended for all employees in our U.S. offices except for those receiving medical or religious exemptions. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees and faculty will be recommended to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility.

THE WORLD LEARNING INC. FAMILY
For more than 90 years, World Learning Inc. is a thriving global organization made up of The Experiment in International Living, the nation’s most experienced provider of international education through exchanges for high school students; School for International Training, offering accredited undergraduate study abroad programs through SIT Study Abroad and internationally focused master’s degrees through SIT Graduate Institute; and World Learning, a global development and exchange nonprofit organization.

World Learning | worldlearning.org
World Learning has worked to create a more sustainable, peaceful, and just world. World Learning’s education, development, and exchange programs help people find their voices, connect with their communities, strengthen the institutions that form the backbone of a democratic society, and build relationships across cultures. With World Learning’s support, these emerging leaders tackle critical global issues like poverty, conflict, and inequality.

The Experiment in International Living | experiment.org
The Experiment in International Living is the nation’s most experienced provider of international education through exchanges for high school students. For more than 90 years, The Experiment has empowered young people to step off the beaten path, experience the world as a classroom, immerse themselves fully in another culture, and build the knowledge and skills needed to confront critical global issues.

SIT | sit.edu
School for International Training (SIT) was founded in the early 1960s as a training center for the first Peace Corps volunteers. For nearly 60 years, SIT has prepared students to be effective changemakers and global citizens through experiential education focused on the world's most critical global issues. SIT Study Abroad offers accredited summer and semester undergraduate programs in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs on multiple continents. SIT Graduate Institute offers global and hybrid certificates, master's, and doctoral degrees.

An organizational commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
We are a globally diverse community of staff, faculty, board members, alumni, students, and participants who believe that inclusive and equitable practices are at the heart of a peaceful and just world. Each of us strives to honor diverse voices and lived experiences, examine our own biases and privileges, actively work to address inequities in our structures, and foster a community of open dialogue. We are committed to acting with accountability, transparency, reciprocity, authenticity, and empathy.

World Learning is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action/veterans/ADA employer, committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.