Program Coordinator, Sigur Center

George Washington University; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Tuition assistance

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA) is seeking a Program Coordinator for the Sigur Center for Asian Studies. You will lead the execution of ~30 annual events, manage outreach efforts, and support the Visiting Scholars Program while collaborating with GW partners and Elliott School programs.

The role involves on-site and remote work in a hybrid setup based at GW's Foggy Bottom campus in Washington, DC, with three in-person days and two remote days per

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., International Affairs, Asian Studies, Communications, Public Policy).
• Experience planning student activities or community outreach is a plus.
• Experience with website content management systems (WordPress) and email marketing (EMMA).
• Proactive communicator with strong writing and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates the Center's events and programming under center leadership; creates promotional materials and oversees venue logistics.
• Attends events to manage on-site logistics and interfaces with internal GW partners and outside vendors.
• Coordinates Center communications assets including website content, SEO, and email marketing tools.
• Supports Visiting Scholars intake, orientation, events, and offboarding, and assists with annual reports for stakeholders.
• Provides administrative and operations support, including overseeing student assistants and procurement processes.
• Collaborates across teams and Elliott School activities; adapts to evolving priorities and events.

Skills

Event coordination

Communications

Digital media

Program support

Administrative operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

WordPress

EMMA

Google Workspace

Microsoft 365

Zoom

Asana

Trello

Notion

Job description

About Us

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.

About the Center

The Sigur Center for Asian Studies is a university research institute and the academic home of the Asian Studies Program of the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University. Its mission is to increase the quality and broaden the scope of scholarly research and publication on Asia, promote US-Asian scholarly interaction and educate a new generation of students, scholars, analysts, and policymakers. The Sigur Center promotes research and policy analysis on East Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia through an active program of publishing, teaching, public events, and policy engagement.

About the Program Coordinator Role

As the Program Coordinator for the Sigur Center, you'll report directly to the Center Director and Assistant Director to keep the Sigur Center running smoothly. As a core team member, you'll lead the execution of ~30 annual events, workshops, and VIP delegation visits, while driving our outreach, communications, and the Visiting Scholars Program. You will also provide occasional support to constituent programs within the Sigur Center, including but not limited to the Taiwan Education and Research Program (TERP), and collaborate with other institutes within the Elliott School and partners throughout GW for co-sponsored events and activities.

Specific Responsibilities

Event Coordination & Outreach

• Coordinates the Center's special events and programming under the guidance of Center leadership:
  • Creates promotional materials and graphic assets for outreach.
  • Oversees venue booking, catering, staffing, and event schedules.
  • Interfaces with key public and private partners to drive audience engagement.
  • Tracks event metrics for internal reporting and provides support for co-sponsored events.
• Expected to attend all events to handle on‑site logistics (event set‑up, technology, cleanup, etc.).
• the main point of contact with internal GW partners (IT, Venues team, etc.) and outside vendors.
• May also provide support for co-sponsored events.

Communications & Digital/Social Media

• Coordinates the Center's website, content creation, accessibility, and publications.
• Coordinates with other Center staff on communications tools, platforms (EMMA, WordPress, social media), including SEO/optimizing social networking and email marketing.

Program & Scholar Support

• Supports the Center's Visiting Scholars (~15-20 annually) program. Handle intake and visa procurement, the scholar's orientation, their required event or publication, their offboarding, and their inquiries.
• As needed, assists Director and Assistant Director with writing, editing, and formatting annual reports for stakeholders.

Administrative & Operations Support

• May assist with delegating duties for up to three student assistants.
• Under the guidance of the Assistant Programs Director, processes payments and honoraria, reimbursements, and reconciles procurement card charges in a timely manner.

Team Support & Collaboration

As a key member of a small, high-impact team, you will contribute to our varied priorities to ensure the evolving needs of the Sigur Center and our programs are met. May be called upon to support Elliott School-wide activities. 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.

We believe in the power of in-person collaboration and the flexibility of remote work. This is a hybrid position, based at GW's Foggy Bottom campus in Washington, D.C. The schedule typically involves three days in person and two remote days per week - though the schedule may change based on program needs and priorities such as in-person events.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of skills, background, and enthusiasm, including:

• Enjoys day-to-day program coordination, administrative operations, and creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for students, scholars, colleagues, and visitors.
• Skilled in and energized by coordinating events, workshops, or meetings; experience planning student activities or community outreach initiatives is a plus.
• Experience with-or a strong interest in learning-website content management systems (such as WordPress), email marketing platforms (such as EMMA), social media management.
• Proactive communicator who asks thoughtful questions, checks in on shifting priorities, and knows when to seek guidance.
• Tech-savvy with standard business platforms (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoom Workplace).
• Strong writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information clearly across digital platforms.
• Thrives in the details and gets a genuine sense of satisfaction from keeping moving parts organized, on schedule, and running smoothly. Exposure to project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Notion) or digital organizational methods is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field (such as International Affairs, Asian Studies, Communications, or Public Policy) is preferred.
• Experience living, studying, or working in Asia and/or familiarity with a modern Asian language is a plus.

If you are energized by planning events, building clear communications, and engaging with global scholars and leaders, we encourage you to apply. We welcome applications from recent graduates and early-career professionals eager to learn, grow, and contribute to a vibrant academic community.

Hiring Range

$21.80 - $28.32

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Job Details

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department: Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA)

Family: Academic Affairs

Sub-Family: Program Administration

Stream: Service and Support

Level: Level 3

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Schedule may vary based on special events or other Center needs.

Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes

Employee Onsite Status: Hybrid

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants: Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number: S014531

Job Open Date: 10/22/2026

If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until: 11/30/2029

Background Screening: Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement: The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.