A Senior Program Officer is required to perform a wide variety of duties to ensure the successful implementation of professional exchange programs managed by the Professional Fellows Division.   The Senior Program Officer position will serve in Professional Fellows Division working primarily on the Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program, as well as assisting on the other programs managed by the Division. 

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 professionals; overseeing activities associated with the exchange programs such as follow-on activities, conferences, and events; serving as liaison with posts and regional bureaus; conducting site visits to U.S. placement sites for monitoring as appropriate; traveling to events abroad if needed; participating in outreach activities; finalizing Fellow recruitment and selection procedures; manage logistics including visas, coordination of events, among other tasks; and contributing as a member of the Professional Fellows team.  Other duties include keeping abreast of all relevant professional exchange activities in a particular region, devising or modifying programs to meet changing political situations and professional needs; preparing visa documents; serving on grant panels; preparing briefing papers, memoranda, talking points, speeches, 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.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates professional exchange programs managed within the Professional Fellows Division, in consultation with posts and missions, ECA management, geographic bureaus, and high level elements in the U.S. 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 placement organizations; follow-on activities and other events related to the exchange; and oversees program implementation.  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, U.S. professional 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. 

• Additional duties not expressly specified but are considered within the scope of the above

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING 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, solicit information, and defend proposals.
• 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.

Note: Contractor staff working in this position is 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.
• Foreign language skills are preferred but not required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree is required for this position; however, a Master’s Degree or other advanced degree, ideally in international relations, international education, or a related field, is preferred.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING FACTORS:

As a condition of employment, candidates for posted positions must have acceptable reference and background check results and pass a pre-employment drug screening. Some travel will be 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 status or employment.

Required Skills Required Experience