Senior Program Officer (YA-WHA)

Senior Program Officer

YA-WHA, Youth Exchange

Reports to: Director of Youth Programming

Salary Range: $65,000 - $75,000

Anticipated Start Date: November 30, 2026

Term of Employment: Full-time

Base of Operations Designation: Vermont

Remote Eligible: Remote OR Hybrid

World Learning seeks a Senior Program Officer to serve as overall lead for the U.S. Department of State–funded Youth Ambassadors – Western Hemisphere (YA-WHA) program, which brings high school youth and adult mentors from across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean to the United States alongside American peers for a leadership exchange that blends virtual programming, a U.S. exchange, and a structured follow-on period. The Senior Program Officer will lead program design and delivery, manage the day-to-day relationship with the Department of State program office and U.S. Embassies in participating countries, oversee the award budget and compliance, and drive funder reporting. This person will also supervise and develop the YA-WHA program staff, onboard new team members to the award, and serve as a senior member of the on-call team during program season. The specific programs and countries in this role's portfolio may shift over time based on funding and U.S. Government priorities.

ABOUT GLOBAL PROGRAMS

This position will be a part of the Global Programs unit of World Learning which designs, implements, monitors and evaluates global exchange and education programs. We work with various donors, including the U.S. Department of State, to achieve immediate impact and sustainable outcomes. Consistent with our organization's status as both a global nonprofit and an accredited institution of higher education, we prioritize experiential programs that are grounded in theory and proven in practice.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Award Leadership and Funder Relations

• Serve as overall lead for the YA-WHA award, accountable for program quality, deliverables, timelines, and budget across the full program cycle.
• Manage the day-to-day relationship with the U.S. Department of State program office, keeping the Director of Youth Programming informed and escalating higher-level matters as needed.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with U.S. Embassies and consulates in participating Western Hemisphere countries, coordinating on recruitment, selection, pre-departure orientations, and alumni engagement.
• Ensure all required Department of State approvals are secured, including selection criteria, recruitment and promotional materials, participant and alternate lists, activity calendars, virtual exchange components, and key personnel changes.
• Ensure the program is implemented in full compliance with the award, Department of State requirements, and World Learning policies, and establish consistent processes for program staff to follow.
• Drive the preparation and timely submission of high-quality funder reports, coordinating staff contributions and submitting drafts to the Director of Youth Programming for final review.
• Maintain working knowledge of current issues, risks, and emerging trends across participating countries and share that context with the program team.

Program Design and Delivery

• Lead the design and delivery of the full YA-WHA program cycle, including virtual engagement, pre-departure orientations, welcome orientation, host community segments, the Washington DC synthesis segment, and follow-on.
• Oversee curriculum development for youth and adult mentor participants, aligned with the program's youth leadership theme and its entrepreneurship, digital citizenship, and AI-driven problem-solving sub-themes.
• Oversee virtual programming, follow-on support, and alumni engagement on the Kolab platform in coordination with the Program Officer and the team's virtual programming staff.
• Manage programmatic relationships with U.S. host community partners and in-country partners, including program design and review, host family standards, and debriefing and evaluation of each exchange segment.
• Monitor partner performance through regular planning meetings, implementation updates, and interim and final programmatic and financial reports.
• Partner with the Enrollment team on recruitment, screening, interviews, and selection of youth and adult mentor participants, including support for posts that manage their own in-country recruitment.
• Coordinate with the YA-USA program team to ensure a seamless experience for the U.S. participants who join the Western Hemisphere exchanges.
• Partner with the Operations team on travel, logistics, group leader hiring and training, vendor management, and participant monitoring needs.
• Oversee the performance monitoring plan and monitoring and evaluation activities, using survey and program data to inform implementation decisions and
• Serve as on-call and risk management support during program implementation and year-round when assigned, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and lead the program's response to complex participant
• Attend and fully engage in Staff Training, including workshop design, session facilitation, and on-site support as assigned.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the Youth Exchange Team Handbook and contribute content updates as assigned.

Budget and Financial Management

• Provide budget oversight for the YA-WHA award through regular review of budget trackers, check-ins with the Program Officer, and coordination with Finance.
• Creatively manage budget line-item variances while maintaining close tracking and documentation and keeping the Director of Youth Programming informed.
• Manage personal program advances, advance reconciliations, and monthly credit card

Staff Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise, coach, and mentor the Program Officer, YA-WHA, through regular check-ins, goal setting, and annual performance evaluations.
• Provide dotted-line direction to the Program Coordinator on Western Hemisphere program work, in coordination with the Senior Program Officer, Outbound.
• Lead onboarding and training for new staff and seasonal staff supporting YA-WHA, building shared understanding of award requirements, program design, and regional context.
• Model healthy work practices and strong time management, and support staff professional development and learning.
• Collaborate with peer program leads across the Youth Exchange portfolio on shared processes, cross-team planning, and programmatic alignment.

Business Development

• Lead or contribute to proposal design, budget development, and non-competitive continuation requests for Western Hemisphere programming.
• Liaise with World Learning units such as Marketing and Communications, Business Development, Enterprise Technology Solutions, and Finance as needed.

Organizational Engagement

• Attend key organizational meetings (e.g., town halls, quarterly meetings) and learning sessions to understand and maintain awareness of organizational priorities and policies.

REQUIREMENTS

Required Experience/Education:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required.
• At least six years of related work experience is required.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the location where this position is

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated people management and project management skills, including supervising and developing staff.
• Demonstrated experience managing U.S. Government–funded grants, including budget oversight, compliance, and funder reporting.
• Demonstrated experience organizing logistics for international travel and events, ideally for youth participants.
• Experience implementing U.S. Department of State–funded exchange programs is valued.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including report writing and professional communication with government officials and partners.
• Ability to adapt to change and make decisions in ambiguous situations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, cloud-based document management, and online project management tools.
• Willingness to work outside regular business hours, including on-call shifts during program season.

Required Behaviors/Competencies:

• Acts as a collaborative and resourceful team
• Supports a culture of continuous learning and improvement through diligent program monitoring, data tracking, and reflection to ensure strong outcomes.
• Displays curiosity about World Learning and is eager to represent the organization effectively to external audiences, as required.
• Shows dedication to the organization's business development targets through ongoing program implementation and relationship building.
• Builds trusted relationships with funders, embassies, and partners and communicates proactively when issues arise.
• Develops others through clear delegation, coaching, and knowledge sharing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A master's degree in a related field is valued.
• Professional proficiency in Spanish is strongly preferred, and French proficiency is a plus.
• International or cross-cultural experience is appreciated, particularly in Latin America or the Caribbean.
• Understanding of experiential education and youth leadership development pedagogies is a plus.
• Experience with virtual exchange programming and digital collaboration platforms is a plus.
• Familiarity with U.S. Government procurement policies and grant management is a plus.
• Experience working with remote and international teams is a plus.

ABOUT WORLD LEARNING

For more than 90 years, World Learning has advanced American leadership at home and abroad by equipping students, professionals, and institutions with the skills, networks, and real-world experience needed to address today's most pressing challenges. Through dynamic, experiential education and exchange programs, we strengthen 21st-century competencies, foster innovation, and expand economic opportunity-building more secure and prosperous communities worldwide.