Deadline: Open Until Filled
FLSA Status: Exempt
SUMMARY:
Based in Washington DC, the Program Officer will be responsible for the administration of Regional Flagship Language Initiative Program (s) and for arranging assessments of participants on the Flagship programs.
The Program Officer will work closely with a dedicated team of Flagship staff members and report to a Program Manager. The PO will communicate frequently with students. The PO will collaborate routinely with overseas staff and partners. Currently, American Councils runs RFLI programs in Senegal (French), Tanzania (Swahili), Azerbaijan (Turkish), India (Hindi, Urdu) and Indonesia and anticipates starting programs in Thailand and Vietnam in fall 2023. Proficiency in Thai, Vietnamese or Turkish would be very helpful in this position.
The RFLIs provide intensive language instruction to American undergraduates and graduates during a summer program in the US, which is followed in the fall with a semester overseas, where the intensive language instruction continues while students live with host families and are immersed in the local culture. All the RFLI participants receive generous funding through Boren Scholarships or Fellowships, which are awarded in a nation-wide competition.
This position also entails arranging language assessments of the students, including Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPIs) and online tests administered by American Councils.
The job requires strong organizational skills, a high degree of accuracy and timeliness, the ability to handle multiple tasks and to work independently, as well as a capacity to communicate effectively with diverse groups of people.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Respond promptly and accurately to student requests and inquiries by email and telephone,
- Process applications by systematically collecting required documents from students, safeguarding their privacy, and managing files and databases,
- Arrange travel overseas and in the U.S. for students and staff,
- Help obtain visas for students and staff going overseas and for overseas partners visiting the U.S,
- Process and keep well-organized records of invoices for payments, check requests, and wire requests.
- Schedule Oral Proficiency Interviews for Flagship students and proctor telephone interviews,
- Collaborate with American Councils’ assessment team to arrange online Reading and Listening tests for Flagship students,
- Assist with pre-departure orientations for students,
- Travel (occasional) to domestic partner universities and to overseas partners,
- Facilitate webinars,
- Assist with the website and create newsletters,
- Provide general support for Flagship staff based in Washington, DC, and other duties as necessary.
Qualifications
- Advanced-level ability in Thai, Vietnamese, or Turkish are strongly preferred,
- Strong writing and speaking skills in English,
- Experience with international education or service abroad,
- BA or higher degree (fields related to international education are preferred but not required),
- Strong attention to detail,
- Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively,
- Ability to work independently while contributing to an overall team effort,
- Effective interpersonal skills,
- Competence with webinars, primarily on Zoom,
- Facility with websites, primarily with SquareSpace, and
- Adept with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
American Councils is committed to taking affirmative steps to enhance employment opportunities for minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities, and strives to ensure that meaningful employment and promotional opportunities are maintained for everyone. American Councils’ commitment to equal employment opportunity is based not only on federal requirements, but also on a longstanding commitment to maintaining a diverse workforce reflective of the communities in which we operate.
PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.