Coordinator, Cultural Exchange Programs; Part-Time

Coordinator, International Arts & Artists’ (IA&A) Cultural Exchange Programs (CEP), provides administrative support to the J-1 visa sponsorship service/Exchange Visitor Program.

International Arts and Artists (IA&A) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts internationally. IA&A fulfills its mission by providing programs and services to artists, arts institutions, cultural organizations, and the public. IA&A's programs include traveling exhibitions, cultural exchanges, educational workshops, and professional development opportunities.

Job purpose

Coordinator, International Arts & Artists’ (IA&A) Cultural Exchange Programs (CEP), provides administrative support to the J-1 visa sponsorship service/Exchange Visitor Program. Serving as an alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), this role assists in ensuring compliance with U.S. Department of State regulations while delivering exceptional service to international visitors and host organizations. This is a developmental role designed for a professional with international experience who is ready to be trained in federal visa regulations and SEVIS administration.

Duties and responsibilities

• ARO Designation:
  Train to serve as a designated Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), authorized to sign Form DS-2019s and validate exchange visitor status in SEVIS alongside the Responsible Officer.
• Regulatory Compliance:
  Learn to interpret and apply Department of State regulations to ensure the program remains audit-ready. Monitor regulatory updates to ensure IA&A policies align with federal requirements.
• Database Administration:
  Manage data integrity within SEVIS and , ensuring all exchange visitor and host organization records meet Department of State record retention requirements.
• Documentation & Processing:
  Process visa applications and maintain allotment of Form DS-2019s. Handle the administrative aspects of the bi-annual redesignation of the Exchange Visitor Program in scholar, intern, and trainee categories.
• Reporting:
  Assist the Responsible Officer (RO) with the submission of annual program reports and allotment requests to the U.S. Department of State.
• Quality Assurance:
  Audit participant files regularly to ensure all required documentation (insurance, evaluations, placement plans) is current and accurate.

Participant & Host Relations (30%)

• Monitoring:
  Monitor all active exchange visitors to ensure their well-being, compliance with visa requirements, and overall satisfaction with their program.
• Host Support:
  Communicate with host organizations to assist with issues and ensure the quality of experience aligns with federal regulations.
• Site Visits:
  Assist in recruiting and coordinating the national network of contractors responsible for host organization site visits.
• Marketing
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure marketing initiatives effectively support the growth of the J-1 pipeline.
• Content Generation:
  Identify successful participant stories, testimonials, and case studies to fuel marketing campaigns and social media presence.
• Internal Support:
  Support cross-departmental collaboration to promote IA&A’s mission and the visibility of the Exchange Visitor Program within the organization.

Qualifications

Required:

• Citizenship:
  Must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (Green Card holder) to meet federal requirements for ARO designation.
• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree required;
  Master’s degree in International Relations, Arts Administration, or a related field preferred.
• International
  
  Experience:
  
  Demonstrated global perspective achieved through work experience in international exchange, study abroad, significant time spent living abroad, or advanced academic study.
• Aptitude: A strong willingness to learn complex federal regulations and database management (SEVIS).
• Skills:
  
  Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational abilities, and cross-cultural communication skills.

Preferred:

• J1 Visa and/or Sevis experience.
• Prior exposure to State Department programs or university international student services.
• Experience in the arts or non-profit sector.

Compensation

The starting compensation for this position is $25-35 per hour depending upon experience. This position has the potential to become full time based on growth of exchange programs.

Working conditions

International Arts and Artists is located in the historic DuPont Circle neighborhood in Washington, DC. Candidates who are able to manage a hybrid in-office presence will be given preference. As an ARO, occasional evening/weekend obligations may be expected.