Yes Program Specialist

AMIDEAST/Lebanon is recruiting a Program Specialist for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Scholarship program. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA) to provide scholarships for high school students to study for one academic year in the U.S.   Position Description   The YES Program Specialist would be part of the Educational and Scholarship Programs department that manages many scholarship opportunities and exchange programs between the U.S. and Lebanon. The Program Specialist will be responsible for ensuring the success of the YES program by effectively planning and implementing program activities in adherence with donor regulations and to meet the department’s targets and objectives.   The Program Specialist will handle various responsibilities and duties, which include:   Lead on the YES recruitment and selection activities to ensure a competitive applicant pool representative of diverse backgrounds from all regions of Lebanon Develop annual work plan designed to achieve all program commitments and deliverables Plan pre-departure activities and workshops for students going to the U.S. Plan YES student re-entry activities and workshops to facilitate students’ transitions back into their local communities Act as liaison between U.S. headquarters and students’ parents to ensure smooth communication and to respond to the requests and inquiries of both parties Plan and coordinate YES alumni activities, including themes and logistics, within budget guidelines, to ensure engagement of alumni from all cohorts and in all regions of Lebanon Communicate YES alumni concerns and needs Maintain up-to-date YES program databases and information Submit weekly, monthly, and any other requested statistics and reports Handle social media communications and campaigns to promote the YES program, alumni achievements, and additional opportunities for alumni Assist with other scholarship programs of the department as requested   Required Qualifications   Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, Business or other relevant field; Master’s degree preferred 1-3 years of experience in an administrative or coordination role on educational program Experience conducting training for youth groups is highly preferred Previous experience and travel to the U.S. is preferred Excellent organizational, interpersonal, time management, and communication skills High attention to detail Ability to multitask and prioritize responsibilities Excellent computer skills including MS Office; high proficiency in Excel is required Willingness to travel in all regions of Lebanon, and internationally Willingness to accommodate work schedule to students’ school schedules, including working on weekends Lebanese citizenship Fluency in English and Arabic is a must Available to start work immediately Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to lebanon@amideast.org with the following in the subject line: “Program Specialist.” Please also include the names and contact information for three references.  The deadline to apply is Friday, June 24, 2016.  Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as resumes are received in order to fill the position vacancy as soon as possible.