Program Officer (YA-NEA & IYLEP HS)

YA-NEA & IYLEP HS, Youth Exchange

Reports to: Director of Youth Programming

Salary Range: $57,000–$65,500

Anticipated Start Date: November 30, 2026

Term of Employment: Full-time

Base of Operations Designation: Vermont

Remote Eligible: Remote OR Hybrid

World Learning seeks a Program Officer to manage 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 will work closely with World Learning's Iraq and Algeria -based teams, manage U.S. host community and university partners, and lead curriculum delivery across virtual pre-departure modules, the in-person U.S. exchange, and follow-on. This person will also track program budgets, draft funder reports, provide direct participant support during the summer exchanges, and serve on the on-call team during program season. The specific programs and countries in this role's portfolio may shift over time based on funding and U.S. Government priorities.

ABOUT GLOBAL PROGRAMS

This position will be a part of the Global Programs unit of World Learning which designs, implements, monitors and evaluates global exchange and education programs. We work with various donors, including the U.S. Department of State, to achieve immediate impact and sustainable outcomes. Consistent with our organization's status as both a global nonprofit and an accredited institution of higher education, we prioritize experiential programs that are grounded in theory and proven in practice.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage day-to-day implementation of the YA-NEA and IYLEP High School awards, ensuring funder guidelines are followed and deliverables are met on time.
• Maintain regular communication with the Department of State program office for YA-NEA and the S. Mission Iraq Public Diplomacy Section for IYLEP High School, with close guidance from the Director of Youth Programming.
• Coordinate closely with World Learning's Iraq and Algeria -based teams on in-country recruitment, selection, visa interviews, pre-departure orientations, departures, and follow-on
• Prepare and submit required approval requests, including selection criteria, recruitment materials, finalist and alternate lists, activity calendars, and virtual program components.
• Draft funder reports for both awards 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.

• Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of 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 programmatic relationships with U.S. host community, university, and campus partners, including program design and review, homestay or residential arrangements, and debriefing and evaluation of each exchange
• Coordinate with the YA-USA program team on the onboarding and preparation of S. participants who join the YA-NEA exchanges.
• Support participants and adult mentors through 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 the 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.

• Provide direct supervision and support of participants during in-person and virtual program components, including on-site support during the U.S. exchange.
• Directly manage and problem-solve incidents that arise 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
• Serve as on-call and risk management support during program implementation and year-round when assigned, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Track program spending against the YA-NEA and IYLEP High School budgets through regularly updated budget trackers, in coordination with the Director and
• Work with the Director to creatively manage budget line-item variances while maintaining close tracking and documentation.
• Manage personal program advances, advance reconciliations, ASPE claims, and monthly credit card
• Ensure timely review of 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 and
• Attend and fully engage in Staff Training, including workshop design, session facilitation, and on-site support as
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the Youth Exchange Team Handbook and contribute content updates as

• Attend key organizational meetings (e.g., town halls, quarterly meetings) and learning sessions to understand and maintain awareness of organizational priorities and policies.

REQUIREMENTS

Required Experience/Education:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required.
• At least four years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of graduate education and work experience, is required.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the location where this position is offered.

Required Skills:

• 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.
• Experience implementing U.S. Department of State–funded exchange programs is valued.
• Strong organizational skills and the 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.

Required Behaviors/Competencies:

• Acts as a collaborative and resourceful team player.
• Supports a culture of continuous learning and improvement through diligent program monitoring, data tracking, and reflection to ensure strong outcomes.
• Displays curiosity about World Learning and is eager to represent the organization effectively to external audiences, as required.
• Shows dedication to the organization's business development targets through ongoing program implementation and relationship building.
• Works respectfully and effectively with colleagues and partners across time zones and cultures.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

ABOUT WORLD LEARNING

For more than 90 years, World Learning has advanced American leadership at home and abroad by equipping students, professionals, and institutions with the skills, networks, and real-world experience needed to address today's most pressing challenges. Through dynamic, experiential education and exchange programs, we strengthen 21st-century competencies, foster innovation, and expand economic opportunity-building more secure and prosperous communities worldwide.