Program Officer

Program Officer, National Security Language Initiative for Youth 2026Based in Washington, DC, the Program Officer will support the administration, daily operations, alumni activities, and events for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth. NSLI-Y provides merit-based scholarships for eligible U.S. high school students to study languages critical to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. NSLI-Y is a program of U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; American Councils leads its administration in cooperation with partner organizations. To learn more about the program, please visit the NSLI-Y website at Program Officer will report to the NSLI-Y Director for Administration.ResponsibilitiesFacilitates logistics for program and alumni events, alumni workshops, and participant orientations;Facilitates and designs content for alumni events and alumni workshops;Manages alumni travel for NSLI-Y workshops and orientations; provides support for participant travel or other program events;Manages billing and vendor procurement for program events and orientations;Contributes to department's outreach and student recruitment efforts for NSLI-Y and Virtual NSLI-Y;Mentors and monitors NSLI-Y Alumni Representatives for their event planning and requirements;Mentors NSLI-Y alumni in program outreach, special projects/events, other activities;Prepares program and alumni reports and highlights;Collaborates on program monitoring and evaluation efforts, especially related to the impact of NSLI-Y;Contributes to the promotion of NSLI-Y and Virtual NSLI-Y;Handles inquiries about the NSLI-Y programs from the alumni, general public, prospective applicants, and their families;Contributes to student recruitment and outreach, program publicity, application processing, participant selection and placement activities;Coordinates and tracks of language testing results and billing;Assists in operation of program databases; andOther duties as assigned.QualificationsBachelor's degree in one of the target languages, international affairs, international education, education, or related field;Three years of professional experience in event planning, study abroad, student or alumni services, education, non-profit or government service;Excellent public speaking and interpersonal skills;Demonstrated experience in event planning and facilitation;Excellent written communication skills;Ability to handle high volumes of communication effectively and professionally;Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team;Ability to exercise problem-solving skills and discretion in handling sensitive information;Ability to approach challenges with creativity and a positive attitude;Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous assignments and set appropriate priorities;Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams;Proficiency in Zoom as an attendee and host;Experience and interest in international education, virtual exchange, language study, or study abroad;Master's degree preferred;Experience engaging and motivating students through teaching, advising, mentoring, or coaching strongly preferred; andExperience with alumni programming preferred.