DEPARTMENT OF ARTS ADMINISTRATION

Job Title: Senior Program Officer, Fulbright US Student Program, Institute of International Education (IIE)
Location: 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY, US 10017
Education: Master’s Degree
Career Level: Manager
Category: Grants Management
Job Type: Full-time
Travel: 0 – 25%

Visit here for additional information.

Purpose of Position: To manage Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants to all Eastern and Western European and Eurasian countries (except Germany); to administer all aspects of privately-funded grant programs in these countries. 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.

Responsible for complying with applicable contract and sponsor requirements and following all IIE policies and procedures

Manages regionally-funded and Commission-funded programs. Works directly with all Fulbright Commissions and Department of State (DOS) Posts in all countries in Eastern and Western Europe (except Germany) and Eurasia. Ensures the successful administration of the program:

• Organizes the online review process for all European and Eurasian committees, including proofreading applications, preparing committees’ access and applications via Embark, emailing instructions to committee members and responding to questions and logistical issues.
• Serves as the chair of National Screening Committees (NSC) for countries within own areas of responsibility – interpreting program requirements and policies, facilitating decision making and ensuring that country preferences are met; evaluates the performance of NSC members; makes recommendations for future participants.
• Transmits NSC recommendations to Commissions/Posts and to the J. William Fulbright Board of Foreign Scholarships.
• Offers awards to principal grantees; establishes budgets and writes grants for students going to non-Commission countries based on the fixed-sum schedule of benefits; advises DOS of amount from available fund to be transferred to Commissions for their grantees; recommends periodic adjustments in grants as cost of living dictates.
• Identifies and nominates to ECA/Commissions/Posts candidates for grants established after competition deadlines; coordinates final selections and award offers.
• Ensures that appropriate DOS offices are kept informed on status of grantees and program budget.
• Participates in pre-departure orientation sessions, mid-year enrichment seminars, and regional training workshops for post and Commission personnel.
• Creates and analyzes follow-up surveys to evaluate effectiveness of enrichment programs.

Supervises grantees during active grant period, advising them of pertinent information and obligations; evaluates mid-term and final reports to assure that terms and purpose of grant have been fulfilled.

• Organizes language funding for Post grantees; issues instructions to grantees, processes reimbursements and maintains records of overall funding.
• Maintains program budget for ETA Workshops and Enrichment Seminars; reviews agendas and provides feedback.
• Oversees budget for tuition reimbursement for full grantees to Russia; communicates costs to DOS and IIE Moscow; assures receipts are received and reimbursements are made.
• Oversees preparation and distribution of all documentation relating to cash grants including award letters, terms and conditions, insurance data, etc.
• Assists in program development activities. Identifies potential opportunities for new programs and writes proposals.
• Assists in training on new projects or databases, including Enterprise and Embark; helps in training new staff on policies and procedures.
• Responsible for reconciling financial reports quarterly; reviewing budgets and annual reports.
• Answers high volume of email and phone inquiries from prospective applicants and Fulbright Program Advisers; advises on grant opportunities and promotes new awards; visits campuses and attends professional conferences for outreach purposes.
• Receives, reviews and approves text for all country program descriptions for the us.fulbrightonline.org website.
• Performs other duties as assigned, including report writing and sharing in the division’s representational assignments.

Administers the UNESCO Fulbright Fellowship program. Works with the UN Foundation Better World Fund in securing funding.

• Develops announcement for the award with UNESCO, identifying placement descriptions for fellows.
• Updates and monitors application and submission process; records applicant data for statistical and reporting purposes.
• Organizes and participates in application review and recommendation process; submits recommendations to UNESCO for final selection.
• Supervises grantees for six month fellowship, manages program budget.

Facilitates supplementary applications for recommended candidates for the Swiss Government Scholarship and the French Ministry Teaching Assistant Program.

Works with Commissions and Posts to identify candidates for private foundation and endowment awards; sets up budget for and supervises these grantees.
Job Requirements

Education/Experience:
A Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of progressively responsible administrative and supervisory experience
Experience working or studying in Europe
Knowledge of American and foreign university systems

Skills Required:
Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
Ability to handle financial information and prepare and administer budgets
Mature, good judgment and initiative
Excellent organizational skills. Ability to organize and handle a massive volume of paperwork under severe time constraints and pressures
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge Microsoft Office 2010; internet software and database software.

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.