Program Associate - Fulbright Specialist Program

Program Associate
- Fulbright Specialist Program Reports to

Program Officer, Fulbright Specialist Program

$23.76 (hourly)

Full-time, non-exempt

Washington, DC - Hybrid (at least two days in office per week)

World Learning administers the Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP) on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Through the FSP approximately 425 U.S. academics and professionals each year engage in short-term collaborative projects (of between two- and six-weeks in length) at foreign receiving institutions abroad that build capacity and mutual linkages. World Learning recruits Specialists;

supports the Specialist application, screening, and selection process; works with key stakeholders (U.S. Embassies, Fulbright Commissions, ECA, Specialists, and foreign receiving institutions) to match Specialists to projects; and provides significant logistical support to Specialists to ensure project success.

Under the supervision of the Program Officer, the Program Associate plays a critical operational role in supporting the full project cycle for an assigned portfolio of countries in Europe and East Asia and the Pacific. This includes supporting the Specialist application process, assisting with matching Specialists to projects, and providing logistical support for Specialists to ensure project success within designated countries.

The Program Associate is the primary point of contact for day-to-day Specialist communications and is responsible for ensuring that all administrative and operational tasks within the portfolio are executed accurately and on time. Program Associates are also expected to contribute actively across the full team - supporting tasks in other portfolios and taking on program-wide functions as needs arise. This is a core and anticipated part of the role to contribute to the larger program's success.

Please note:

This role is best suited to a detail-oriented, organized professional who thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment and takes genuine ownership of administrative excellence. The work is operational and hands-on: coordinating international travel and visas, maintaining accurate records in Salesforce, processing payments and expenses, and managing a high-volume caseload on schedule and without error. Success requires the ability to manage competing priorities proactively, communicate clearly, and maintain consistency and thoroughness across all tasks.

This role will most appeal to candidates seeking logistical/operational work rather than a policy- or program-design position. This work is central to the program's success, allowing each Specialist project to move forward and advancing academic and institutional collaboration between the United States and partner countries.

Program Associates are also expected to contribute actively across the full team - supporting tasks in other portfolios and taking on program-wide functions as needs arise. This is a core and anticipated part of the role to contribute to the larger program's success.

• Track Specialist applications and answer phone and email inquiries from prospective Specialists and other stakeholders in a timely and professional manner.
• Make accurate and timely project entries into the FSP project management system on Salesforce, ensuring data integrity across the full project lifecycle.
• Support Specialist caseload in assigned countries in Europe and East Asia and the Pacific, including generating welcome packets, coordinating program departure preparation, arranging travel logistics and booking international flights, assisting with the visa process, enrolling participants in a limited health benefits…