Program Coordinator, Community Solutions Program (CSP)

IREX•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Program Coordinator supports the Community Solutions Program across its full lifecycle, including recruitment and selection, participant onboarding and advising, curriculum and events, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), alumni programming, reporting, and financial administration. The role coordinates recurring processes, maintains accurate records and communications, and helps participants and stakeholders navigate program requirements. It is a hands-on opportunity for an organized, collaborative, service-oriented professional contributing to an international exchange that benefits U.S. and international communities. The coordinator manages day-to-day program operations and serves as a point of contact for applicants, participants, alumni, reviewers, U.S. host organizations, Regional Coordinators, vendors, and other stakeholders. The role supports orientations, trainings, workshops, site visits, participant readiness, partner coordination, and a participant-centered experience while protecting confidential information and escalating sensitive or unusual matters. The position also prepares financial and procurement documentation, tracks assigned expenses, and maintains audit-ready records in accordance with IREX policies and award requirements. In collaboration with program colleagues, the coordinator aligns handoffs and deadlines, shares process improvements, and may guide interns, temporary staff, reviewers, volunteers, or event personnel on defined tasks during peak periods. Assigned growth and new-business work may include research, compiling program evidence, drafting content, coordinating supporting documents, and participating in review meetings or external discussions. A bachelor's degree and at least two years of relevant professional experience are required; relevant experience may include internships, part-time employment, or a combination of professional and academic experiences. The position may require occasional early-morning, evening, or weekend program activities and domestic travel as needed. Salary is $25.50–$29.81 per hour. The position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience; relevant experience may include internships, part-time employment, or a combination of professional and academic experiences.
Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, maintain organized records, prioritize competing deadlines, and follow through reliably in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including drafting professional correspondence, guidance, presentations, reports, and participant-facing materials with limited supervision.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and customer service skills, with the ability to anticipate needs, identify solutions, and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy, documentation, confidentiality, participant support, and compliance.
Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with participants, partners, host organizations, vendors, consultants, alumni, and other stakeholders across cultural, professional, and geographic contexts.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Copilot, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
Ability to learn and effectively use participant management, survey, learning, and financial systems.
Ability to exercise sound judgment within established procedures, identify issues requiring escalation, and adapt effectively to changing priorities and program needs.
Ability to support occasional early-morning, evening, or weekend program activities and travel domestically as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting international exchange, leadership development, workforce or economic development, education, youth, or another participant-centered program.
Experience supporting one or more program functions, including recruitment and selection, participant advising, curriculum delivery, events and travel logistics, MEL, communications, alumni engagement, reporting, finance, procurement, or grants administration.
Experience studying, working, or living abroad; this is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Coordinate day-to-day program processes across recruitment, selection, onboarding, the U.S. exchange, follow-on programming, and alumni engagement.
Maintain work plans, calendars, participant and stakeholder records, shared inboxes, program platforms, and required documentation.
Support virtual and in-person orientations, trainings, workshops, site visits, and other events, including scheduling, registration, travel, venues, materials, accessibility arrangements, and on-site logistics.
Contribute to curriculum administration, MEL data collection and quality control, evidence management, communications, and internal and external reporting; flag risks, delays, or data gaps to program leadership.
Serve as a point of contact for assigned applicants, participants, alumni, reviewers, U.S. host organizations, Regional Coordinators, vendors, and other stakeholders.
Provide routine guidance, coordinate communications and meetings, track follow-up actions, and support participant onboarding, advising, and program readiness.
Protect confidential information and escalate sensitive, complex, or unusual matters.
Support outreach, onboarding, and coordination with organizations involved in practicums, learning activities, regional engagement, and follow-on work.
Prepare purchase and payment requests, participant payments, travel documentation, vendor and consultant records, routine reconciliations, and other assigned financial transactions for review and approval.
Maintain complete, organized, audit-ready financial documentation in accordance with IREX policies and award requirements.
Track assigned event, travel, participant-support, or activity expenses; identify missing documentation or discrepancies and elevate questions promptly.
Support procurement and contracting by gathering specifications and quotes, coordinating routine vendor communication, and maintaining files and trackers.
Collaborate with colleagues across program functions to align handoffs and deadlines; take initiative on recurring assignments, seek guidance on new or unusual tasks, and provide status updates.
Share tools, templates, lessons learned, and process improvements that strengthen program quality and efficiency.
During peak periods, provide cross-component implementation support and may guide interns, temporary staff, reviewers, volunteers, or event support personnel on defined tasks.
Contribute to program renewal and business development by conducting research, compiling program evidence and past performance information, drafting or editing assigned content, and coordinating supporting documents.
Participate in review meetings and external discussions when invited, and help identify lessons, results, and stakeholder insights relevant to future program design and donor and partner needs.