Program Advisor

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title:        Program Advisor - Temporary

Reports to:            Assistant Director, Program Advising 

Department:          Employer Relations 

Last Revised:        April 2025            

Salary Range:       $58,000 - $64,000

Position Description:  

The Program Advisor plays a critical role in preparing university students participating in The Washington Center’s (TWC) academic programs, including the Academic Internship Program and other short-term initiatives. This position supports a diverse caseload of adult learners by providing individualized career coaching and tailored career-readiness services to equip them with essential and practical skills to obtain and thrive in an internship. Through strategic engagement, the Program Advisor will help learners develop industry-relevant skills, guiding them from initial program enrollment through internship placement. 

In collaboration with each participant, the Program Advisor will identify industry-specific career interests and internship goals, revise application materials, and advise on interview preparation to ensure students are ready for the professional world. Program Advisors are also expected to meet defined placement goals and weekly performance metrics related to student engagement, coaching activity, and internship outcomes. An effective Program Advisor will cultivate an empathetic, mentoring attitude and offer valuable insights on hiring trends, industry expectations, and career success. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication and organizational skills with a solutions-oriented mindset. 

This role also involves pre-arrival program planning, outreach, and administrative responsibilities to facilitate learners’ progress through key program benchmarks, ensuring successful matriculation into TWC’s programs. The Program Advisor will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to maintain TWC’s values of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion by actively working to remove barriers, promote equity, and enhance participants’ experiences and workforce readiness. 

The Washington Center is a remote/hybrid organization with many employees working on average one day per week in TWC’s Residential and Academic Facility, conveniently located near Union Station and public transportation in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, DC. Given our organizational mission focus on skills, workforce development and collaboration, there are times where cross-collaboration among teams and departments will require more than one day per week in the office. Further, some programs at TWC do require program staff to work nights and/or weekends. The individual in this role is expected to reside in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area.  

Program Portfolio Management (50%) 

• Serve as the main point of contact, providing career coaching and internship search guidance throughout the pre-arrival process.
• Develop and implement a communication plan for each participant, conducting mandatory advising appointments, check-ins, and regular outreach.
• Leverage learning management and career coaching systems to assess participants' engagement with career-preparation materials.
• Collaboratively review and enhance internship application materials with participants, including resumes, cover letters, and other supporting documents.
• Offer industry specific guidance on interviewing, adjusting to D.C. living, and entering the professional sphere, supporting participants until their internship placement and program arrival.

Internship Placement (35%) 

• Partner closely with the rest of the Employer Relations team to track participant internship applications, referrals, interviews, and placements.
• Maintain prompt communication with participants regarding updates on their internship applications.
• Develop mentorship relationships to support and encourage participants throughout the application and internship process.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director, Employer Relations, to review timelines, participant communications, and pre-program processes, fostering improvements where needed.
• Manage weekly engagement activities, including career development session facilitation, student outreach, speaker coordination, and resource distribution.
• Provide direct support to a portfolio that includes both domestic and international students, aligning with F-1 and J-1 visa requirements and collaborating with internal teams to ensure compliance.

Data Management (10%) 

• Track and manage participant data in Salesforce and other systems, ensuring accuracy in application materials, internship preferences, and program milestones.
• Maintain up-to-date records on participant progress and coaching notes, focusing on data integrity and timely completion of key benchmarks.

Enrollment and Admissions (5%) 

• Report participant updates to the Recruitment and Admissions team through Salesforce.
• Review and make decisions on domestic and J-1 student applications in alignment with the admissions timeline.

Required Education and Experience: 

• Master’s degree required, with a preference for backgrounds in student affairs, career services, or related fields.
• 2-3 years of direct career coaching, academic advising, social services, or program management experience.
• 1+ years of experience with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce).
• Strong familiarity with industries such as Government and Public Policy, Law & Public Safety, Business, Health Policy & Management, Communications & Media, and Digital & Emerging Technology.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• 2-3 years of experience working with adult learners from diverse backgrounds, including socioeconomically diverse and neurodiverse populations.
• Experience working with international students and knowledge of F-1/J-1 visa requirements.
• Proficiency in online platforms (e.g., Canvas, Hiration, Symplicity, Salesforce) and comfort with public speaking for group coaching sessions.
• Familiarity with the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of career services and advising techniques; familiarity with internship matching and placement services.
• Flexibility to thrive in a dynamic, performance-driven environment.
• Cultural awareness and the ability to advise and engage a diverse participant population through remote methods.
• Demonstrated maturity, sound judgment, and professionalism in handling sensitive situations and student concerns.
• Responsiveness and follow-through in student and interdepartmental communications.
• Excellent time management and organizational abilities, with a proven capacity to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proactive in taking initiative and identifying solutions independently while contributing to team goals.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies  required to perform the job successfully (management)

• Leads/develops/empowers people, develops relationships, inspires trust 
• Effectively executes organizational priorities 
• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving 
• Change Management 

The Washington Center’s Values guide our mission work in every regard–internally and externally.

• Equity & Inclusion
• Learning
• Connection & Collaboration
• Integrity
• Impact

Equipment Used to Perform the Job which may be representative but not all inclusive of those commonly associated with this position :

• Cloud-based technologies 
• Standard office equipment including a computer, job-related software 

The Washington Center is a majority remote organization:  for most employees, employment with TWC will not be contingent on physical presence in an office space. The Washington Center does have some physical space in Washington, D.C. and the individual in this role is expected to work in-person at various times throughout the year as and when the need arises.

Physical Abilities  are commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job described. These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The Washington Center (TWC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. TWC provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity or age limitations will be adhered to by the organization where appropriate.