Program Officer

World Learning•Brattleboro, VT

About The Position

World Learning seeks a Program Officer to manage the day-to-day implementation of two U.S. Department of State-funded youth leadership exchanges for high school students and adult mentors from the Middle East and North Africa: Youth Ambassadors – Near East (YA-NEA) and the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) High School, funded by the U.S. Mission Iraq. The Program Officer works with World Learning’s Iraq- and Algeria-based teams, manages U.S. host community and university partners, and leads curriculum delivery across virtual pre-departure modules, the in-person U.S. exchange, and follow-on activities. The role also tracks budgets, drafts funder reports, supports participants during summer exchanges, and serves on the on-call team during program season. The specific programs and countries in the portfolio may change based on funding and U.S. Government priorities. The position is part of World Learning’s Global Programs unit, which designs, implements, monitors, and evaluates global exchange and education programs. The unit works with donors, including the U.S. Department of State, to achieve immediate impact and sustainable outcomes, and prioritizes experiential programs grounded in theory and proven in practice. The position is based in Vermont and is eligible for remote or hybrid work. It reports to the Director of Youth Programming. The anticipated start date is November 30, 2026. This is a full-time position with a salary range of $57,000–$65,500.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
At least four years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of graduate education and work experience.
Authorization to work in the location where the position is offered.
Demonstrated experience with international programs, youth programming, or event and logistics management.
Experience facilitating workshops or curriculum for youth, in person or virtually.
Ability to adapt to change and make decisions in ambiguous situations.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage two programs with overlapping timelines and competing deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including report writing.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, cloud-based document management, and online project management tools.
Willingness to work outside regular business hours, including on-call shifts during program season.
Collaborative and resourceful approach to teamwork.
Commitment to continuous learning and improvement through program monitoring, data tracking, and reflection.
Curiosity about World Learning and willingness to represent the organization effectively to external audiences.
Dedication to organizational business development targets through program implementation and relationship building.
Ability to work respectfully and effectively with colleagues and partners across time zones and cultures.

Nice To Haves

Experience implementing U.S. Department of State-funded exchange programs is valued.
Professional proficiency in Arabic is strongly preferred; Kurdish proficiency is a plus.
International or cross-cultural experience, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.
Understanding of experiential education and youth empowerment pedagogies.
Experience with virtual programming and digital communication.
Experience with project monitoring and evaluation.
Familiarity with U.S. Government procurement policies and grant management.
Experience working with remote teams.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day implementation of the YA-NEA and IYLEP High School awards, ensuring funder guidelines are followed and deliverables are completed on time.
Maintain regular communication with the Department of State program office for YA-NEA and the U.S. Mission Iraq Public Diplomacy Section for IYLEP High School, with guidance from the Director of Youth Programming.
Coordinate with World Learning’s Iraq- and Algeria-based teams on in-country recruitment, selection, visa interviews, pre-departure orientations, departures, and follow-on activities.
Prepare and submit approval requests, including selection criteria, recruitment materials, finalist and alternate lists, activity calendars, and virtual program components.
Draft funder reports and compile program data, implementation updates, and success stories for the Director’s final review.
Support the design and development of proposals, renewals, and non-competitive continuation requests for MENA youth programming.
Design, deliver, and evaluate youth and adult mentor curriculum, including leadership, entrepreneurship, digital citizenship, and AI-driven problem-solving.
Deliver live virtual sessions and support asynchronous learning on the Kolab platform during pre-departure and follow-on phases.
Manage relationships with U.S. host community, university, and campus partners, including program design and review, homestay or residential arrangements, and exchange debriefing and evaluation.
Coordinate with the YA-USA program team on onboarding and preparing U.S. participants who join YA-NEA exchanges.
Support participants and adult mentors during the follow-on period, including capstone project implementation and connections to alumni networks.
Provide program information to the Operations team for travel, logistics, vendor management, and group leader hiring, training, and feedback.
Orient and support group leaders and facilitators on program content and expectations in partnership with the Operations team.
Partner with the Enrollment team and Iraq-based team on recruitment timelines, information sessions, and participant selection committees as assigned.
Follow program guidance on participant privacy, security, and social media for programs involving participants from sensitive operating environments.
Supervise and support participants during in-person and virtual program components, including on-site support during the U.S. exchange.
Manage and problem-solve incidents during program implementation, including health, behavior, weather, and logistics issues, and escalate high-level incidents through the on-call team.
Support group leaders and adult mentors in responding to participant health, behavior, and cultural adjustment needs.
Serve as on-call and risk management support during program implementation and year-round when assigned, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Track spending against program budgets using regularly updated trackers, in coordination with the Director.
Work with the Director to manage budget line-item variances while maintaining tracking and documentation.
Manage personal program advances, advance reconciliations, ASPE claims, and monthly credit card processes.
Review partner and in-country staff invoices, advances, and reconciliations in coordination with Operations and Finance.
Support monitoring and evaluation for both awards, including administering participant surveys and analyzing results to inform implementation.
Attend and engage in Staff Training, including workshop design, session facilitation, and on-site support as assigned.
Maintain familiarity with the Youth Exchange Team Handbook and contribute content updates as assigned.
Attend key organizational meetings and learning sessions to stay informed about organizational priorities and policies.