Program Officer, Young Leaders of America (YLAI)

International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 57,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

IREX is seeking a detail-oriented Program Officer to support the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) and related events. You will manage activities, budgets, reports, and documentation under the Deputy Project Director, and may lead a program area with mentorship to a Program Coordinator.

The role emphasizes event planning, coordination with vendors and partners, and collaboration across teams to ensure compliant, high-impact program delivery.

Qualifications

• BA degree required with 3–5 years of program/events experience.
• Experience managing international education, exchange, alumni, or leadership programs.
• Experience with U.S. government grants, contracts, or donor-funded programs.
• Strong budgeting, procurement, and compliance experience.
• Ability to coordinate with diverse stakeholders and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day planning, coordination, and implementation of YLAI events (virtual, hybrid, in-person).
• Supervise a Program Coordinator, including coaching and development.
• Manage event logistics: venue, catering, AV, accessibility, participant comms.
• Coordinate with vendors, speakers, and internal teams for seamless execution.
• Monitor timelines, budgets, and deliverables; prepare briefing materials for stakeholders.

Skills

Event planning

Project management

Budget mgmt

Vendor management

Written comms

Public speaking

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Cross-cultural

Data management

MS Office

Education

BA Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Copilot

Teams

Job description

Who We Are

IREX is a global solutions provider that partners with communities and institutions in the United States and around the world to cultivate leaders, expand access to education, and create economic opportunity. With deep expertise, a forward-looking vision, and world-class practices in AI for Education, Future-Ready Workforce, Higher Education Solutions, Leadership Development, and Online Safety, IREX delivers innovative and proven solutions that help people, institutions, and communities thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Job Summary

We are looking for a detail-oriented and communicative Program Officer to join our fun and collaborative team to support implementation of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI). Under the direction of the Deputy Project Director, the Program Officer will support management of assigned program activities, contribute to project work products such as timelines, budgets, reports, and program documentation, and ensure compliance requirements are met for assigned deliverables. The Program Officer maybe responsible foran entire program area, as assigned by Practice Leadership, and may assume Program Coordinator responsibilities as needed.

The Program Officer will lead event planning andlogisticsfor two milestone fellowship events, the U.S. Arrival Orientation and Market Immersion, and YLAI Closing Forum. The role will also support the international Alumni Commercial Convening and coordinate the three-day Virtual Pre-Departure Orientation and Fellowship Kick-Off. The Program Officer will partner closely with a Program Coordinator and provide mentorship, guidance, and day-to-day supervision to support successful event execution and broader program activities.

We're looking for our next team member—could it be you?

Knowledge & Skills:

• Event planning andlogisticsmanagement for large-scale virtual and in-person programs.
• Project management, including work planning, task tracking, timeline development, and deliverable monitoring.
• Budget monitoring, financial administration, procurement coordination, and expenditure tracking.
• Vendor management, including selection, onboarding, contract coordination, compliance oversight, and performance assessment.
• Strong written communication skills, includingparticipant,partner,vendor, and donor correspondence.
• Strong verbal communication and presentation skills for engaging diverse audiences andfacilitatingmeetings.
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management with participants, partners, vendors, funders, and internal teams.
• Servant leadership, coaching, mentorship, delegation, and day-to-day staff guidance.
• Collaborative problem-solving, risk management, and contingency planning in fast-paced event and program environments.
• Cross-cultural communication and ability to work effectively with international participants, commercial partners, and colleagues.
• Data management, reporting, documentation, and attention to accuracy in administrative and financial processes.
• Proficiencywith Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Copilot, and Teams, and experience using project management or collaboration tools.

Requirements & Experience:

• BA Degree
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of professional experience managing programs, projects, events, or related operational activities.
• Experience implementing international education, exchange, alumni, professional training, leadership development, or entrepreneurship programs.
• Experience planning and implementing large-scale in-person and virtual events, includinglogisticscoordination, agenda development, vendor management and partnership development, and on-site event support.
• Experience working with U.S. Department of State or other U.S. government grants, contracts, or donor-funded programs.
• Experience supporting program budgeting, procurement, invoice processing, financial tracking, and compliance requirements.
• Experience coordinating with external stakeholders, including funders, partners, vendors, hotels, conference venues, speakers, participants, and partner organizations.
• Experiencefacilitatingmeetings, workshops, orientations, networking events, or professional learning experiences.
• Experience working in cross-cultural environments with diverse international participants and partners.
• Demonstrated understanding of Latin America and the Caribbean and recent developments in the region.

International work or study experience in Latin America or the Caribbean preferred.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the day-to-day planning, coordination, and implementation of virtual, hybrid, and in-person YLAI program events, ensuring alignment with program objectives, participant needs, and program requirements.
• Provide day-to-day supervision and performance management of a Program Coordinator, including goal setting, coaching, feedback, and professional development support.
• Manage event logistics, including venue coordination, catering, audiovisual needs, accessibility accommodations, and participant communications.
• Coordinate closely with vendors, hotels, speakers, facilitators, and internal teams to ensure seamless event execution.
• Monitor event timelines, workplans, and deliverables, proactively identifying and resolving logistical challenges to keep activities on schedule and within budget.
• Develop and maintain detailed event tracking tools, participant lists, run-of-show documents, briefing materials, and contingency plans for all program activities.
• Serve as the primary point of contact during events, managing onsite and virtual operations, troubleshooting issues in real time, and ensuring a positive participant experience.
• Track event expenditures, process invoices, and monitor budgets to ensure compliance with organizational and award requirements.
• Support participant engagement by coordinating networking opportunities, workshops, site visits, and professional development activities.
• Advisea cohort of participantsandU.S. business partnersthroughout the programto guide their experiencefor maximized impact.
• Prepare briefing materials, logistical guidance, and event updates for leadership, funders, implementing partners, and program stakeholders.
• Collaborate with other parts of the team, including communications, alumni, training, and monitoring and evaluation to ensure event activities support broader YLAI program goals and outcomes.

Salary range: $57,200 - $72,000

What We Offer

At IREX, you’ll work alongside committed, passionate, and collaborative colleagues who are united by a shared mission—making it a truly rewarding place to work. We offer learning, development, and growth opportunities, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your overall well-being.

Please note: While we aim to offer competitive compensation, not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range.

Disability Specifications

IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IREX seeks to attract the best-qualified candidates who support IREX’s mission and who respect and promote excellence through diversity. IREX is committed to equal opportunity and follows recruitment and selection practices that comply with all applicable employment laws. To this end, IREX recruits, hires, trains, and promotes individuals based on merit and experience.

We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE