Senior Program Officer- Iraq Portfolio (Youth Exchange Unit)

Senior Program Officer- Iraq Portfolio (Youth Exchange Unit)
Reports to: Director of Programming, Youth Exchange
Salary Range: $58,000 - $65,200, based on experience and base of designation.
Grade: 4-DC
Anticipated Start Date: April 1, 2024
Term of Employment: Full-time
Base of Designation: Washington, DC OR Remote
Conditional on Funding: Yes
World Learning seeks a Senior Program Officer to play a vital role on the Youth Exchange programs team in the acquisition, management, and design of programs for students and adult mentors from across Iraq. These exchanges are based in the United States and focus on civic education, community service, and youth leadership development with students from the Western Hemisphere. The Senior Program Officer will provide grant oversight and program management, along with staff supervision, coaching and management. This position will be part of our Global Programs unit which designs, implements, monitors and evaluates global development and exchange programs. We work with various donors, including the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development, to achieve immediate impact and sustainable outcomes. Consistent with our organization's status as both a global non-profit and accredited institution of higher education, we prioritize experiential programs that are grounded in theory, proven in practice, and that uplift diverse voices.
RESPONSIBILITIES
People and Team Management

• Provide leadership and management to Youth Exchange program staff.
• In collaboration with the Director, determine key staffing assignments for program portfolios.
• Manage and mentor program staff through the following:
  • Coaching and supervising staff through regular oversight of job and program-related responsibilities.
  • Mentoring staff year-round by modeling and encouraging appropriate work/life balance and supporting strong time management.
  • Collaborate with team Director to support staff professional development and learning within their roles and responsibilities, through trainings and other opportunities as identified.
  • Lead performance management process and conduct regular pause and reflect and annual performance evaluations.
• Oversee hiring decisions for the program team, work with HR as well as coordinate onboarding, with oversight from the Director.
• Work closely with other Senior Program Officers to coordinate cross-team collaborations, programmatic alignments, and shared projects across the Youth Exchange program portfolio.
• Organize and lead program staff meetings and retreats as needs are identified.
• Manage global staff as assigned.
• Support Director and Program Officers with funder communications for current and future portfolios. This includes being included on communications and stepping in on higher-level matters as needed.

Program Management & Oversight

• Provide overall management and oversight of Iraq program portfolio.
• Maintain working knowledge of current issues, risks, and emerging trends in portfolio regions, while encouraging program staff to be fully immersed in regional understanding.
• Serve as primary liaison, or co-lead with Director or Program Officers, with State Department and Embassy officials to meet expectations and deliver communications in a timely manner.
• Work closely with the Director to develop work plans for each program portfolio, collaborating with staff as needed.
• Provide oversight of programmatic aspects of exchanges through regular communication with program implementation teams. This may include on-the-ground support of program preparation and implementation days, and backstopping Program Officers as necessary or assigned.
• Support the creation and delivery of virtual programming elements where assigned.
• Establish consistent processes and procedures across programs and ensure compliance by program staff with established protocols.
• Oversee and inspire key programmatic innovations.
• Manage the preparation and timely submission of high-quality reports to the State Department, US Embassies, and other donors.
• Implement and inform the overall monitoring and evaluation strategy across portfolios; identifying cross-cutting trends and key takeaways to inform future policy and implementation practices.
• Attend and fully engage in the delivery of staff training (ST), including:
  • contributing to workshop design (prior to ST),
  • session facilitation and content delivery (during ST),
  • administration of staff training - sweeping, setting up classrooms, supply runs, etc. as assigned.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of all policies and procedures as laid out in the Youth Exchange Team Handbook (updated annually).
• Review, edit, and create content for the Youth Exchange handbook as assigned.
• Serve as on-call and risk management support year-round when assigned - this includes occasional nighttime and weekend shifts.
• Take part in site visits as appropriate.

Budgeting and Financial

• Conduct budget oversight for programs through regular review and updating of budget trackers, check-ins with Program Officers, and support from Director - and in coordination with Finance Officers.
• Work closely with Program Officers to creatively manage budget line-item overages, while maintaining close tracking and documentation and updating Director as needed.
• Responsible for personal program advances and advance reconciliation.
• Responsible for monthly reconciliation of credit card.
• Support the development of grant proposal budgets.

Business and Organizational Development

• Liaise with operational units at World Learning such as Marketing and Communications (MARCOM), Business Development (BDU), Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL), Finance, etc.
• Contribute to the organization's business development targets through ongoing program implementation, funder relationship building, and through other means as directed.
• Play lead role in proposal design and budget development for grant bidding and renewal, attending trainings for a better understanding of the business development process, and
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS
Required Experience/Education:

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required.
• A Master's degree in a related field is valued.
• At least 6 year(s) of related work experience is required.
• International or cross-cultural experience is appreciated.
• Experience with youth programming and understanding of experiential education and youth empowerment pedagogies is valued.
• Familiarity with US Government procurement policies and grant management is a plus.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the location where this position is offered.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated people and project management proficiency.
• Demonstrated experience organizing logistics for travel and events.
• Experience with international travel a plus.
• Ability to adapt to change and make decisions in ambiguous situations.
• Experience implementing U.S. Department of State-funded exchange programs is valued.
• Experience and understanding of proposal development, project design, grant management, and budgeting.
• Arabic or Kurdish language proficiency is a plus.

Required Behaviors/Competencies:

• Collaborative and resourceful team
• Supports a culture of continuous learning and improvement through diligent program monitoring, data tracking, and reflection to ensure strong
• Displays curiosity about World Learning and is eager to represent the organization effectively to external audiences, as
• Shows dedication to the organization's business development targets through ongoing program implementation and relationship
• Committed to promoting diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices in program implementation and monitoring, and willing to challenge exclusionary practices.
• Willingness to work outside of regular business hours as needed during program season.

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.
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 (when applicable) for full-time and eligible part-time employees.
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.