Project Director

IREX
Job Category: Global Impact Requisition Number: PROJE
003303

September 24, 2026

Full-Time | Hybrid

Headquarters | Washington, DC 20005, USA

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.

IREX seeks an experienced Project Director to lead a complex portfolio of international academic and professional exchange activities.

Job Summary

The Project Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for a large, multi-component international exchange portfolio. The Project Director leads a multidisciplinary team, serves as a senior point of contact for funders and partners, and ensures high-quality participant experiences, sound financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, and measurable results.

This role is ideal for a collaborative, solutions-oriented leader who builds trust across differences, translates strategy into action, anticipates challenges, adapts to changing priorities, and uses data and feedback to improve program quality.

Strategic Leadership & Funder Engagement

• Provide overall direction for the portfolio, setting clear priorities and ensuring timely, high-quality, and cost-effective implementation.

• Serve as a senior point of contact for funders and external stakeholders, maintaining proactive communication and aligning implementation with award requirements, program objectives, and evolving priorities.

• Lead annual planning, work planning, risk management, and coordination across program, finance, operations, monitoring and evaluation, communications, and other organizational functions.

Program Quality & Participant Support

• Oversee participant recruitment, selection, placement, onboarding, monitoring, and support in coordination with relevant partners, applying transparent, consistent, and compliant procedures.

• Ensure participants receive customized academic and professional experiences, responsive advising and wellbeing support, meaningful connections with U.S. higher education institutions and professionals, and effective preparation for continued engagement after the exchange.

• Ensure compliance with J-1 visa and SEVIS requirements, health and safety protocols, travel and stipend administration, and timely escalation and resolution of participant issues.

• Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning, using quantitative and qualitative data, partner feedback, and performance dashboards to inform decisions and strengthen program quality.

Partner & Stakeholder Management

• Guide the recruitment, selection, onboarding, and performance management of U.S. higher education institutions and other implementation partners, with a focus on program quality, participant experience, cost-effectiveness, and continuous improvement.

• Build productive relationships with government stakeholders, higher education institutions, professional organizations, private-sector partners, and alumni networks, and represent IREX in external forums.

• Guide clear, outcome-focused communications, reports, and other deliverables that meet funder requirements and convey participant, partner, and alumni results.

Team Leadership, Financial Stewardship & Improvement

• Supervise, coach, and motivate a multidisciplinary team; establish clear roles and accountability; and foster a collaborative,…