Program Officer, Mandela Washington Fellowship Program

Who We Are

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $100 million and more than 600 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.

The Program Officer for Operations will join the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The Program Officer will support program operations and manage and plan critical Fellowship processes, such as Fellow selection, travel, visas, procurement, vendor management, finance, and communications with external stakeholders. The Program Officer will further contribute to the management of program systems, processes, and staff, including oversight of specific program components and training of team members. This role will also work with other Operations team members to oversee data management for the program and manage the logistical needs for project activities. This role supervises one or more junior staff members.

We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.

Are you the next member of our team?

Your Background & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 3+ years of experience working with complex projects in program operations and/or in a university, non-profit, or similar organization managing international education, development, or similar programs, demonstrating relevant progressive experience; or equivalent.
• Experience with SEVIS and J-1 visa regulations, including experience as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO).
• Experience in data management, including, but not limited to cleaning and auditing data for accuracy, synthesizing data from multiple sources, maintaining data integrity, managing records, and accurately summarizing findings. Salesforce (or comparable CRM/database) experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of procurement procedures, financial tracking, budget management, and vendor oversight.
• Experience managing travel logistics on a large scale, both internationally and domestically, and including flight and ground transportation.
• Experience managing and developing capacity for project systems; Salesforce, Alchemer, and/or Canvas experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working in and/or interest in developing capacity for project systems including Salesforce, SharePoint, Mailchimp, Alchemer, Canvas, Submittable, or comparable systems.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, or other relevant leadership development work with young professionals, preferred.
• Experience managing difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Availability to support program activities in the evenings and on weekends, when needed based on the program cycle (e.g., during document review periods in March/April, Summit in July/August, etc.).
• Familiarity with U.S. Government, specifically U.S. Department of State, grants and regulations (preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically and creatively to meet specified objectives with strong ability to anticipate challenges and proactively generate solutions.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, including the ability to prioritize.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate staff and work with diverse groups and teams toward a shared goal.
• Ability to demonstrate patience and resourcefulness and maintain professionalism in stressful situations.
• High-level proficiency in Microsoft office products, including and especially Excel, including use of formulas, conditional formatting, and data validation, required
• Data management skills, including Excel and utilization of Salesforce (or comparable CRM/database) experience.
• Demonstrated writing and document proofing skills; able to produce near final draft quality communication and documents.
• Professionalism in written correspondence and report writing, excellent presentation and oral communication skills, and professionalism in senior-level client, donor, or partner relations.
• Demonstrated capability to work independently and as a team member to consistently take initiative, meet deadlines within strict time constraints, and maintain positivity and flexibility amid shifting priorities.
• Ability to provide reliable customer service to diverse stakeholders, such as funders, corporate and university partners, international participants, and vendors, maintaining professionalism in all client or partner relations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and cross-cultural communication skills.
• You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

Your Daily Tasks

• Support Operations Manager in managing program operations, ensuring timely, accurate, and thoughtful completion of deliverables within assigned program responsibilities.
• Support programmatic and administrative details surrounding the planning and implementation of Fellowship events, including the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit.
• Manage and/or support international and domestic travel logistics for partners and participants.
• Oversee collection, oversight, and management of participant information and project data, maintaining accuracy and completeness.
• Develop expertise in project systems, ensuring that the systems are accurate and up-to-date and providing guidance, training, and support of system use to team members.
• Provide logistical, travel, and operations support before, during, and after project events.
• Serve as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in the U.S. Government SEVIS system.
• Develop outreach and communication materials for various external audiences.
• Provide guidance to partners, participants, and vendors on project deliverables and policies.
• Assist in managing relationships with external stakeholders and partner institutions, including corporate, non-profit, university, and government partners.
• Support senior Fellowship staff in financial oversight and management of the program, including budget management, pipeline support, transaction reconciliation and review, tracking and reporting cost share, and participant taxes.
• Manage procurement processes, including requests for proposals, proposal review, vendor contracts, procurement and financial records, and payments, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Develop expertise in finance and procurement systems, including AP and CostPoint, ensuring that records are correct and providing guidance, training, and support of system use to team members.
• Oversee and manage subcontractors, consultants, and project vendors.
• Supervise and manage junior program staff, event staff, and volunteers, as needed.
• Supports team leadership in all aspects of program implementation to ensure timely and accurate completion of deliverables.
• Create a positive team environment adhering to IREX’s organizational values and management principles.
• Proactively support IREX’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
• Represent IREX and Leadership Practice areas of interest both within and outside of IREX.
• Other support duties as needed.

IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.

We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.

This position is eligible for Telework. The eligible employee is a regular, full-time DC-based staff who works from a worksite outside the DC office for one or more days a week.

This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

Program Officer, Mandela Washington Fellowship Program | IREX Job Board (ultipro.com)