Program Officer, Mandela Washington Fellowship

IREX

Job Category:
Global Impact

Requisition Number: PROGR
003306

September 25, 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 a Program Officer to support the U.S. Department of State's Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program.

We are seeking are next team member - - could that be you?

The Program Officer provides flexible support across the Mandela Washington Fellowship Operations and Institute teams, shifting assignments throughout the Fellowship cycle to meet each team's highest-priority needs. You will manage a portfolio of Fellow support activities such as participant selection, data management, visa administration and support Institute tasks including weekly reporting, disability accommodations, and logistical leadership for program events. You will guide junior staff members, coordinate closely with leadership across Fellowship sub-teams, maintain accurate systems and records, and ensure responsive, compliant, and timely participant support.

This role is ideal for a professional who brings close attention to detail, strategic planning skills, strong judgement for addressing routine and nuanced partner and participant issues, and the ability to translate funder asks into program success.

• Program Operations & Administration: Manage day-to-day and cycle-based Operations and Institute tasks and projects, ensuring timely and accurate completion of deliverables. Manage or support processes related to Fellow selection and placement, document collection and review, data management, procurement, disability accommodations, health benefits enrollment, visa administration, and other duties assigned. Provide logistical leadership for program events and travel.

• Participant, Partner & Stakeholder Engagement: Support communications and relationships with participants, institute staff, vendors and internal stakeholders. Respond to participant support needs in a sensitive and timely manner with tact, diplomacy, and appropriate escalation.

• Finance, Procurement & Grant Support: Manage procurement and vendors for cell phones, disability accommodations, events and other program needs. Process stipends and oversees collection of participant tax documents in compliance with relevant requirements.

• Team Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Coordinate and communicate effectively between Operations and Institute teams to ensure completion of deliverables. Guide and coach junior staff, including delegating work and ensuring the quality of their deliverables. Support the Institutes and Operations team leadership in identifying areas for workflow improvements that increase efficiency, reduce duplication, and strengthen coordination. Support cross-team efforts related to Fellow support.
  
  Share knowledge across the Institutes, Operations and Fellowship team and other Global Impact Hub program teams.

• Growth & New Business Support Contribute to proposal development and partner engagement as needed, including maintaining relationships with external stakeholders and partner institutions, gathering data/supporting materials, and drafting and/or reviewing text.

At IREX, our culture is…