The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA) is one of the world’s leading schools of international affairs and one of the largest schools of international affairs in the United States. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., its mission is to educate the next generation of international leaders, conduct research that advances understanding of important global issues, and engage the policy community in the United States and around the world.
At the institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES), our primary mission is to promote and support the study of Europe and Eurasia through research, courses, events, and publications. The institute’s hallmarks are combining academic rigor with the policy engagement, promoting interdisciplinary perspectives, and recognizing that Europe, Russia, and Eurasia cannot be understood in isolation from each other or from global trends. Based at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, IERES is the home to several internationally recognized programs, including the Central Asia Program (CAP). CAP promotes high-quality academic research on contemporary Central Asia, and serves as an interface for the policy, academic, diplomatic, and business communities.
We are currently looking for a Program Associate to support a new fellowship program at the Central Asia Program on the topics of Leadership in Higher Education Management (LHEM) and Economics Management, as well as provide general administrative support to IERES in the areas of operations, finance, and events. The new fellowship program will run from January to December 2022, and will offer tailor-made educational training to groups of high-level officials from Kazakhstan. The Program Associate will serve as the main point of contact for the program and be responsible for the scholars during their stay at the university. Duties for the program will include providing orientations and guidance to the program participants, answering routine and complex inquiries from the fellows, scheduling classes and rooms, coordinating with professors, organizing trips and meetings to the other higher education institutions and related organizations, processing payments, expense reports and reimbursements. The Program Associate will work closely with program and institute staff, as well as many teams within the Elliott School and across the university. Candidates with knowledge of the Central Asian region and Russian language skills are highly encouraged to apply. Continuation of this position beyond December 31, 2022 will be contingent upon availability of funding.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Fellowship Program – Manages administration of all fellowship program related tasks and daily program logistics including but not limited to preparing for the arrival of the group, scheduling and booking classes, coordinating with professors, assisting in the orientation upon the scholars’ arrival and serving as the main point of contact for the participants for the program duration. The Program Associate is also responsible for organizing trips and meetings to other Higher Education institutions and related organizations and professionals in the DMV area.
- Financial Management – Manages and tracks spending on CAP funds to ensure compliance to university and sponsor policies. Manages all program resources, processing reimbursements, purchase orders, honoraria, and invoices.
- General Administrative Support for IERES: Provide general administrative support to the Institute in the area of operations, event management, and finances. The Program Associate may be tasked with duties that assist in the organizing and execution of events, processing payments, expense reports and other financial matters, as well as other administrative duties related to the programs and operations of the institution.
- Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.
Minimum Qualifications
Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of Russian
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office, specifically Words, Excel
- Background in European and Eurasian studies, if possible Central Asian region
- Academic background and previous work with students or visiting scholars
- Prior professional experience in either project or program management
- Able to work well with others from a variety of cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds
- An understanding of academic research and teaching institution goals and processes
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly to unexpected changes.
Interested?
Apply here.
