Senior Program Officer 35

Overview

A Senior Program Officer is required to perform a wide variety of duties to ensure the successful implementation of academic exchange programs managed by the Study of the U.S. Branch. The Senior Program Officer position will serve in the Study of the U.S. Branch working primarily on the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). This position will also support the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI) and the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders and Scholars.

SUMMARY:

The incumbent serves as a Senior Program Officer in the Study of the U.S. Branch (ECA/A/E/USS) in the Office of Academic Exchanges of the Office of Academic Programs (ECA/A/E/USS). The Office consists of six regional Branches (Western Hemisphere, East Asia and Pacific, North Africa/Middle East, South and Central Asia, Africa, and Europe), and two functional Branches (U.S. Studies and Multi-Regional Programs).

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) conducts academic exchange programs working with universities, colleges, schools, bi-national centers, Fulbright Commissions, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to foster mutual understanding and international partnership.The Study of the U.S. Branch is responsible for planning and overseeing a variety of academic exchange programs including the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI), Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders and Scholars, and the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). Both the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders and the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative were started under the leadership of then-President Obama and continue in their high profile capacity today. Each year, the YALI program brings up to 700 young African leaders to the United States for six-week academic and leadership Institutes; the YSEALI program brings approximately 250 young leaders from Southeast Asia for five-week academic programs; and the SUSI program brings approximately 600 foreign undergraduate students and scholars from around the world for five-to-six week academic programs on themes related to U.S. studies.

The Incumbent performs a wide variety of duties necessary for proper program implementation, management and monitoring, in coordination with regional bureaus, other bureau offices, program agencies, and posts. He/she also provides support to higher level officials and ECA senior management.

The Branch works in cooperation with other Departmental bureaus, U.S. government agencies, other program entities, and posts to administer the program.

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS:

• The requirements of the position include assisting in the coordination of various grants processes including the solicitation and analysis of proposals; providing program direction and guidance to cooperative agreement awardees and sub-awardees; planning and monitoring unique, high-level exchange programs for students, scholars, and professionals; overseeing academic Institutes including virtual programming and engagement; managing participant emergencies; overseeing the communications plan including social media, outreach, virtual follow-on activities, conferences, and events; interfacing with senior leadership at the Department of State and academia; serving as liaison with posts and regional bureaus; conducting site visits to U.S. universities for monitoring as appropriate; traveling to pre-departure orientations or other events abroad if needed; participating in outreach activities; finalizing Fellow recruitment and selection procedures; manage logistics including visas, fiscal data, plane tickets, coordination of the summit and internships, among other tasks; and contributing as a member of the USS Branch.
• Other duties include keeping abreast of all relevant academic exchange activities in a particular region, devising or modifying programs to meet changing political situations and educational needs; preparing visa documents; serving on grant panels; preparing briefing papers, memoranda, talking points, speeches, social media content, correspondence, and other documents; responding to taskers within deadlines; and representing ECA at workshops, conference, orientations, and meetings with government representatives, implementing partners, and the public.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education and/or work experience related to international educational exchanges, and/or other types of international study, programming or activities.
• Knowledge of the Department’s mission particularly with respect to educational and academic exchanges, and the role exchanges play in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy.
• Skill in program and project management techniques and tools in order to oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of international exchange programs.
• Knowledge of grants administration regulations, processes, and activities in order to oversee a myriad of grants-related activities.
• Skill in oral and written communications in order to prepare and present analysis, provide advice and guidance, brief audiences including senior leadership, solicit information, and defend proposals.
• Experience in communications including recruitment, outreach, and crisis management.
• Ability to represent the Department, Bureau, and organization in a variety of domestic and international settings.
• Ability to initiate and maintain effective contacts with DoS elements, other USG entities, contract institutions, and U.S. institutions of higher education involved in the conduct of academic exchange programs.
• Ability to use various computer applications and familiarity with the potential uses of electronic information storage and retrieval in order to maintain information databases.
• Excellent ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues.
• Strong ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, and multi-task in a high volume, fast-pace work environment.
• Strong organizational skills and excellent creative thinking and analytical skills.
• Ability to interact with all nationalities in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Experience in or knowledge of one or more world regions.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of related professional work experience is required for this position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates academic exchange programs managed within the Study of the U.S. Branch, in consultation with posts and missions, ECA management, geographic bureaus, and high-level elements in the U.S. academic, government, and professional communities.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with these groups to develop the exchange programs to meet changing political situations or new priorities in the United States government.
• Provides program direction and guidance to cooperating agencies and host universities; oversees institutes, virtual programming, follow-on activities and other events related to the Institutes; and oversees program implementation including management of participant emergencies.
• Evaluates and refines programs to ensure they remain useful, cost-effective, and timely.
• Provides programmatic monitoring for grants and/or cooperative agreements in accordance with established ECA grants policy and federal regulations.
• Manages budget and fiscal aspects of grants and/or cooperative agreements, and monitors expenditures made by cooperating agencies.
• Develops and adheres to grant cycles in accordance with the passage of the Bureau’s annual appropriation and the ECA grants calendar.
• Oversees the recruitment and selection of participants and facilitates all aspects of the exchanges keeping abreast of all participant activities.
• Consults closely with supervisor to proactively resolve or address problems.
• Exercises sound judgment with regard to those developments that can be resolved independently and those requiring higher level input.
• Establishes and maintains liaison with stakeholders including posts and missions, other DoS bureaus, other USG agencies, Fulbright Commissions, U.S. academic and international exchange communities and officials, and foreign government representatives to build effective relationships in support of ECA’s strategic goal of promoting international understanding.
• Represents ECA at conferences, workshops, orientations, inter- and intra-agency meetings, and at meetings with implementing partners and the public.
• Responds within deadlines to taskings from supervisor, senior bureau, and department management or Congressional staff for quantitative and qualitative information on exchange activities; and obtains appropriate clearances.
• Drafts speeches, talking points, memoranda, and other documents that advance Bureau objectives and analyze the impact of DoS exchanges.

Note: Contractor staff working in this position are expected to have access to the Department’s computer networks, information systems and networks, and databases relevant to their duties.

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level.
• A Bachelor’s Degree is required for this position; however, a Master’s Degree or other advanced degree is preferred.
• A minimum of three (3) years of related professional work experience is required for this position.
• Foreign language skills are preferred but not required.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING FACTORS:

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance. In addition, a satisfactory background screening, negative drug test, positive references and proof of identity and legal authorization to work in the United States and for TTI are required. 

The Tatitlek Corporation gives hiring, promotion, training and retention preference to Tatitlek shareholders, shareholder descendants and shareholder spouses who meet the minimum qualifications for the job.

As an equal opportunity employer, The Tatitlek Corporation recognizes that our strength lies in our people. Discrimination and all unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment, in employment is not tolerated. We encourage success based on our individual merits and abilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected Veteran’s status or employment.

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