United States of America: Senior Program Officer, Global Development

World Learning’s International Development Programs has an immediate opening for a Senior Program Officer in the Youth Workforce Development & Entrepreneurship practice area and related programs. World Learning is a global not-for-profit organization with educational and international development operations in more than 75 countries. Through its international education programs – The Experiment in International Living, SIT Study Abroad, and SIT Graduate Institute – World Learning fosters global citizen-activism by connecting over 100,000 participants across geographic, cultural, political and economic distances and differences. Through its Global Programs, World Learning practices what it teaches, undertaking community-driven international development, training, and exchange projects in 20 countries. For over 80 years, World Learning has built a deep and diverse array of effective offerings and services that transform individual lives and strengthen the capacity of communities and institutions to address pressing global needs.

The Global Programs team implements programs to enhance the capacity of individuals, institutions, and communities to create a more peaceful and just world. The Senior Program Officer role serves as the overall point of contact, conduit, and Project Manager for several Global Development programs, under the supervision of the Senior Youth Workforce Specialist as well as in collaboration with other technical quality specialists. The Senior Program Officer works directly with project leadership in countries to guide implementation of programs including responsibility for contributing to high quality technical deliverables, developing and monitoring work plans, monitoring and evaluation, high quality program and financial reporting. The Senior Program Officer accomplishes this work in collaboration with internal support units including the Finance, MERL, Operations, Compliance, and HR. In addition, the Senior Program Officer supports new business development, assisting with research, partnership development, and program design and development as assigned.

Interested persons should submit a cover letter and resume. Position open until filled. While World Learning would like to graciously thanks all applicants for their interest and responses, only applicants who meet all requisite criteria and are shortlisted will be contacted. No phone calls please.

Key Responsibilities:
Program Implementation/Backstopping

• Manage youth, workforce development, STEM, and other projects as assigned, assist field office teams with overall project needs including: project start-ups, monitoring implementation work plans, customer service, donor management, communications, reporting, financial management and monitoring, and monitoring and/or evaluation activities, and project close-outs
• Provide support to World Learning Training Centers, including managing TESOL Cert and PCELT sites administrative processes, site relations, guiding and follow up on ongoing and new TESOL site negotiations, developing and implementing social media strategies, and serving as the point of contact for program inquiries, listservs, and alumni
• Work with field staff to ensure that project reporting (e.g. quarterly, semi-annual, or annual) and key deliverables are tracked and that processes are in place to ensure timely delivery of reports and other requirements – this includes reviewing and editing reports and deliverables, to ensure they meet standards for quality.
• Ensure clear processes for data collection and analysis are in place in accordance with project M&E Plan, and all project data are regularly updated in DevResults. In collaboration with MERL, draft and/or edit monitoring reports and internal evaluations for projects.
• As assigned, acts as the main point of contact with clients in matters of negotiation of agreement terms, contractual discussions, compliance and audit issues, and reporting. Coordinate and provide guidance to program teams on USAID and other donors rules and regulations. Seek clarification from Compliance and Operations as needed.
• Coordinate/review new agreements at the time of award; prepare partner sub-awards (sub agreements or subcontracts); write memoranda of understanding, teaming agreements, and approval letters as applicable; and monitor compliance of program sub-award
• Work with Accounting and Finance staff to ensure proper set up of project accounts, systems, and tools to monitor compliance with agreement terms and conditions; monitor spending against budget; and ensure cost-share and/or leveraging strategy is in place, well-documented, and making progress.
• Support clear and organized knowledge management by maintain electronic and hard copy files of project documentation on relevant platforms and in accordance with audit requirements.
• Identify and process travel and logistics for overseas staff and consultants, including scopes of work, travel arrangements, visas, progress payments or advances, and proper orientation for consultants on procedures
• Visit field projects once a year (as applicable) or according to program requirements; coordinate international technical assistance needs required by the project
• Lead development of regular success/learning stories and blog posts for assigned projects, maintain a portfolio of project photographs, and coordinate with Marketing and Communications Team as needed

Technical Responsibilities

• Contribute to the work of the Youth Workforce and Entrepreneurship practice area, including research review and dissemination, evaluations of technical quality, and product development under the leadership of the Senior Youth Workforce Specialist
• Contribute to the technical and product development work of related practice areas, such as TESOL and global education, as necessary
• Encourage and facilitate the documentation of best practices and lessons learned, directed toward multiple audiences, to influence policy formation, develop capacity and foster professionalism

Program Development

• As assigned, participate in program development working with Business Development Staff and Global Programs staff to identify new opportunities; conduct proactive research for assigned practice areas or geographic focus; and assist with the proposal development (this could include field assessment/design missions, proposal writing, proposal review, or proposal process coordination, and coordination with local and international NGOs and partners during program design process)
• Draft activity costs analyses and monitoring and evaluation plans for new programs (in conjunction with business development, M&E, and technical specialists where appropriate)
• Assist in updating corporate capability statements

Outreach/Liaison:

• Disseminate and promote World Learning program strategies, standards and tools in portfolio-assigned projects.
• Liaise with internal World Learning stakeholders such as Country Teams, Business Development staff, other Global Programs staff, and Marketing and Communication and Marketing staff, and others to share information, identify areas to leverage expertise and learning, and promote innovative program development
• Build and maintain relationships with external and internal partners in order to enhance their understanding of World Learning program standards and strategies; may manage relationships with external resource partners, such as donors, subcontractors, or other stakeholders

Corporate Responsibilities

• Supervise and mentor staff in home office and field offices
• Represent World Learning at meetings, conferences, etc., relevant to the subject matter and themes of the assigned portfolio and disseminate information regarding World Learning’s overall capabilities
• Contribute to the development of key World Learning planning documents including strategy statements, budget reviews, work plans, marketing materials, and reports to the Board of Directors
• Conduct international travel, as required
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in international development, business, public policy, economics, or other related field required
• 5 years experience in project management required; previous experience with USAID programming in either field-based programming or US-backstopping desired
• Experience managing youth-related programming required. Specific experience with youth workforce development, technical or vocational training, STEM education, and/or entrepreneurship programming preferred.
• Knowledge and competence in with Microsoft Office tools (MSWord, Excel, Power Point, and related cloud-based applications and file management systems) required. Competence with Salesforce, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Project, and DevResults is desired.
• Knowledge of USG compliance related rules and regulations required
• Experience in training design and facilitation, monitoring and evaluation, and/or labor market analysis and trends is desired
• Ability to travel and conduct business internationally with a high level of professionalism
• Excellent organizational skills with a willingness to assume responsibilities and take initiative and prioritize and multi-task; ability to be a team player and adapt to quick changing situations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to inclusive programming that encourages full participation of individuals regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other marginalized status.
• Experience in the MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, South or Southeast Asia regions desired; fluency in Arabic, Urdu, French, or Portuguese preferred.
• English language fluency required.

• Permanent U.S. work authorization required.

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

Interested applicants should apply through World Learning's website, through this link.