Program Officer

Job Title: Program Officer

Grade: 55

Reports To: Assistant Director

Division: D373 – Scholar Rescue Fund

Location: New York

Effective Date: July 1, 2013

Purpose of Position:

To participate in applicant and grantee case work and to assist the Assistant Director in the overall administration of program operations of the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund; to assume full responsibility in certain areas; to represent the Scholar Rescue Fund both internally and externally, as appropriate.

Work is carried out independently under general supervision

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. IIE may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

Case Evaluation & Management, Grant Administration and Grantee Assistance

• Monitors, tracks and responds to in-coming applications and inquiries.
• Processes and prepares candidate applications, subject to review by senior staff and the SRF Selection Committee.
• Manages a caseload of 30-50 active grantees.
• Participates in grantee placement in the US and abroad.
• Conducts monitoring, advising and follow-up with grantees and host institutions during and after fellowships.
• Initiates grantee and host agreements, grantee payments and insurance enrollments.
• Assists in the development and implementation of training opportunities, materials, and evaluation measures aimed at improving the services offered to current grantees and alumni.
• Visits grantees and host institutions as needed; meets with university faculty, administrators and officials; takes action as required.
• Participates in the implementation of program policies and appropriate administrative structures. Contributes to the monitoring, evaluation, and modification of program components.
• Responsible for complying with applicable contract and sponsor requirements and following all IIE policies and procedures

Information Management & Reporting

• Responsible for the preparation of the program's statistical and grantee narrative data for internal and external use.
• Contributes to reports on fellowship activities for internal and external use.
• Responsible for maintaining in-house databases.
• Participates in country- and case-specific research.

Program Outreach

• Assists senior staff in implementing SRF's comprehensive outreach system to promote awareness of the SRF fellowships among relevant populations in the US and abroad.
• Assists in identifying institutions willing to host fellowship recipients.
• Assists in identifying international organizations, professional associations and other possible partnerships useful to the development and purposes of SRF.
• Responds to general inquiries about the program, briefs visitors; represents SRF at meetings.

Program Administration

• Maintains program reporting compliance with IIE administrative structures as needed.
• Maintains program databases and applicant/grantee records.
• Assists in updating the SRF websiteand program materials.
• Supervises temporary staff, including interns; responsible for training and coordination of tasks; recruitment of volunteers and interns.
• Shares additional administrative duties as may be required.

Special Projects

• Assists in program development and fundraising activities, as needed.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of special initiatives, as required.
• Performs other duties and functions as assigned.

Education/Experience:

• Degree in relevant field, such as international education, law, international affairs, project administration or regional/area studies.
• At least 4 years work experience in human rights research, immigration/refugee services, social work, international education/exchange, program management or related field.

Skills:

• Exceptional writing ability.
• Excellent research and analytical skills. Attention to detail. Flexibility, initiative and good problem-solving abilities.
• Solid judgment and demonstrated ability to handle sensitive, confidential information in a discrete, professional manner.
• Ability to meet deadlines, to handle increasing levels of responsibility, and to work without supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural skills. Experience living in developing countries beneficial.
• Language skills, particularly fluency in French (preferred) or Arabic. Other languages helpful.
• Knowledge of international and US educational organizations and systems (i.e.: IAU, UNESCO, ACLS, AAUP), human rights/relief/refugee organizations, or other relevant entities.
• Knowledge of other IIE programs and operations beneficial.
• Computer skills, familiarity with Microsoft Office software required; website and/or database design skills preferred.
• Commitment to the principles and purposes of IIE and the Scholar Rescue Fund.

Work Environment and Physical Demands: Essential functions are typically performed in an office setting with a low level of noise. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.