[ref. j346521] Senior Program Officer

Overview:

Specific duties include budget management, including the disbursement of and reporting on funding across multiple fiscal years, support of programmatic activity as necessary and assistance and input on office-wide budgetary processes. This role primarily manages the flow of funding to posts overseas, including managing the Miscellaneous Obligations process with the ECA Budget Office, providing updated guidance to Branch program officers as necessary, and taking the lead on any questions or issues that arise in relation to EducationUSA program funds.

The Senior Program Officer will primarily support the Educational Information and Resources Branch, with secondary responsibilities for the Office of Global Educational Programs.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for promoting U.S. higher education through the Branch’s EducationUSA advising centers by supporting all aspects of Branch activity and work.
• Responsible for the Branch’s budget and administers the Branch budget and program funding by managing and coordinating the transmission of USG funds to support educational advising activities in accordance with DOS financial management standards.
• Keeps Branch informed of important issues concerning areas of responsibility. Provides guidance to Program Officers and other Bureau personnel.
• Provides oversight of and manages all facets of the budget in relation to EducationUSA fairs and forums.
• Plans, develops, implements, evaluates and manages special programs as assigned and participates in the EducationUSA Educational Fairs and Forums Working Group, and/or other working groups.
• Supports the department in daily engagements with cooperating partners, Fulbright Commissions, interagency partners, and with the public; the contractor will be expected to share expertise on matters related to higher education, foreign policy and international affairs, student mobility, and international educational exchange.
• Coordinate with regional bureaus and posts on issues of educational advising and program-related activities, including oversight, guidance, and evaluation of the work of Regional Educational Advising Coordinators (REAC) and educational advisers, and by serving as liaison to the Public Affairs Section at post and regional bureaus of the State Department;
• Establish and maintain links with U.S. academic and professional associations and institutions to obtain support and advice for the Bureau’s exchange programs and to help these organizations with their own international programs; work on implementation of the annual EducationUSA Forum;
• Draft, compile and edit reports, data, and briefing papers on student mobility and advising activities worldwide for a variety of internal and external audiences; represent EducationUSA at various public and private events;
• Implement special programs as assigned such as the EducationUSA Leadership Institutes and workshops and conferences in the U.S. and overseas in collaboration with partners from the domestic and international academic, diplomatic and professional communities.
• Activities, project plans, and deliverables will be confirmed and prioritized as agreed upon between the staff contractor and ECA COR and Deputy Director.

Qualifications:

• Education and/or work experience related to international cultural or educational exchanges, and/or other types of international study, programming or activities.
• Experience with U.S. government and State Department administrative policies and procedures as they pertain to financial grants, procurement, and operational management of international exchange programs.
• Ability to interact with people of all nationalities/genders/abilities/sexual orientations/etc. in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Ability to work with database applications.
• Demonstrated skills or knowledge of global internet access and research capabilities.
• Experience in program administration, operating procedures, oversight and monitoring.
• Financial Management/accounting experience.
• Event planning experience is a plus.
• Facility with standard software, including the complete Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, SharePoint), and an ability to learn and work with other software, as well as database applications.
• Excellent, timely and precise organizational skills and multi-tasking skills.
• Excellent critical and creative thinking and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, and multi-task in a high volume, fast-paced work environment.
• Excellent ability to also have a flexible, team-oriented approach to work.
• Excellent ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues.
• Significant familiarity or direct experience in international educational and cultural exchanges, or other types of international programming or activities.
• Significant familiarity or direct experience in working for U.S. foreign affairs agencies and/or international organizations.

Special Knowledge Requirements:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level.
• A Bachelor’s degree or higher is required for this position.
• A minimum of three (3) years of related professional work experience is required for this position.