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Temporary Recruitment

Appointment not to exceed a period of twelve (12) months.

The Mansfield Center Administration invites applications for a Program Officer to join their team on a temporary appointment not to exceed a period of twelve (12) months. The Program Officer position is a multi-faceted role at the Mansfield Center, with high impact for international participants as well as stakeholders in the U.S. and abroad. The position works with a wide variety of international exchange programs, both at UM as well as at our partner institutions, serving as one of the first points of contact for exchange program participants and liaising with UM staff, embassy personnel, and external partners. The position requires a diverse skillset, including the ability to manage large volumes of critical international logistics, communicate effectively, and build relationships with participants and partners.

The Program Officer is the lead staff member directing international exchanges under the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), as well as directly with foreign governments and universities, non-profit organizations, and with U.S. embassies. The Program Officer works under the direction of the Director of International Programs to design, plan, implement and submit official reports on their respective programs; supports the Executive Director in proposal writing and prospecting; and works closely with the Director of Communications and Director of International Programs to frame international exchange successes and communicate those to program sponsors, the University, and the public.

The Program Officer manages all aspects of the program, working directly with embassies and consulates on critical visa and participant health and safety protocols; managing and directing subaward organizations and ensuring compliance with federal and UM standards and policies; overseeing and managing the daily program operations; designing program curriculum that integrates current best practices; communicating with diverse international, national, and local stakeholders; manages budget and program expenditures and follows financial processes; and manages alumni engagement.

This position may entail international travel as stipulated in the specific exchange programs, to support participants and programming.

In addition to primary work exchange programs, the Program Officer will also lead and support critical organizational components, including: monitoring and evaluation systems and instruments to measure international exchange impacts and communicate those to the Department of State; lead federal proposal writing efforts for the Center and prospect and strategize other grant opportunities; track international exchange information and help frame communication strategies and build communications content; and contribute to additional Mansfield Center programs and activities as a member of the team collaborating on the overall mission to foster globally minded leaders of integrity.

This position is highly self-directed position with significant exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of hosting international leaders within the boundaries of the National Security Strategy as interpreted by the U.S. Department of State including health, safety, and security. The candidate must exercise authority to formulate, affect, and support management policies and operating practices that support Mansfield and UM relationships across the community, state, country, and globally.

This position is responsible for supervision and leadership of multiple support staff as program needs dictate, including but not limited to assistant managers and student interns.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Leading and carrying out major assignments in conducting the standard operations of the Mansfield Center in terms of supporting learning objectives, safety, health, and security of international leaders, scholars, and students.
• Performing work directly related to successful operation of the Center to a substantial degree in such functional areas as personnel and project management, public relations, government relations, legal and regulatory compliance, database administration, and similar activities related to international visitors.

• Exercising discretion to utilize and introduce essential technology, website management systems, social media, and databases as necessary to support international leaders, scholars, and students, specifically within the lens of national security, confidentiality, and export controls.

• Managing and supporting grant projects and those in partnership with other federal agencies, foreign universities, governments, and non-profit organizations, with a focus on design, planning and management of each exchange program.
• Identifying families and match homestay families for cultural component of exchanges.
• Advising global and U.S. participants and families on cultural communication, adjustments, and logistical issues.
• Coordinating and organizing participant travel, visas, and expenses, communicating with necessary partner organizations and following applicable procedures.
• Providing support to participants needed, including emergencies or urgent issues outside of regular business hours and across time zones.
• Monitoring the budget, track expenses, and manage budget oversight and semi-annual reconciliation.
• Building and managing partnerships with other institutions, including subaward partners, ensuring quality of programming across a multi-state area, communicating regularly and effectively regarding logistics, budget, contracts, fellowships and homestay placements, cultural activities, implementation, and program wrap-up.
• Representing the Center as the lead manager on each exchange program, independently managing international and local participant recruitment and acceptance as applicable to each program; participant communications; as well as any other operational requirements which are required in the development and implementation of this program.
• Working collaboratively with the Mansfield Center team on other exchange programs, events, and special projects as they arise.

Required Skills

• Demonstrate independent judgment, discretion, professionalism, initiative, critical thinking skills, independent thought and action, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Capacity to use discretion and judgment to establish and maintain working relationships with critical federal partners, including Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State; critical state partners including Office of the Governor and other executive branch agencies; across UM; and with all relevant NGO, corporate, and government partners.
• Demonstrate considerable and varied communication skills using discretion and independent judgment required to represent the program to such partners in written and verbal exchanges, including in official reporting procedures related to the National Security Strategy.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion to identify needed technologies to maximize efficiencies; at a minimum, skilled in Word processing systems including Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and Zoom.
• Proven ability to succeed in a cross-cultural environment, both here in the U.S. as well as overseas, including performing on a team with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written skills, including communication with domestic and international audiences.
• Advanced technical writing skills.
• International experience, such as study, work, or extensive travel. Ability to work with and communicate effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Ability to handle a high volume of communications from audiences with a variety of backgrounds, across time zones.
• Ability to be flexible and maintain positive and professional attitude.
• Ability to build relationships, inspire trust and confidence with multiple audiences, domestic and global.
• Must be able to be successful in both a traditional office setting and also in dynamic field situations, such as during program implementation.
• Ability to travel when required, occasionally under strenuous circumstances.

• Ability to drive across Montana and to other states on field studies or site visits.
• Ability to accompany program groups to Washington, DC or other urban centers for up to one week.
• Ability to represent the Mansfield Center on international programs if needed, for up to two weeks.
• Ability to accompany inexperienced travelers.

Minimum Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of closely related experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and education.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a field related to the mission of the Mansfield Center: international relations, public administration, communications, political science, etc.
• Experience working in international education.
• Working knowledge of federal guidelines as they relate to grant awards.
• Experience working with the U.S. Department of State.
• Experience working or living abroad in a region where the Center operates international exchanges.
• Partial or full fluency in a foreign language.

About the Mansfield Center and UM

Founded by an Act of Congress in 1983, The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center fosters globally minded leaders of integrity in support of democracy and international engagement. We honor Senator Mansfield’s legacy of patriotic statesmanship to bridge divides from a variety of perspectives, unified by our commitment to democracy. Our work emphasizes civil exchanges of ideas from a diverse range of viewpoints, the importance of democratic institutions, and role that ethical values play in public life. Our staff is advised by a bipartisan Board of Advisors and supported by citizens nationwide representing government, business, non-profit, education, service and youth sectors.

The Mansfield Center is committed to creating an environment that encourages, enriches and respects the multidimensional aspects of diversity. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, differences based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation or background, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, economic class or status, points of view, or disabilities. The Mansfield Center is committed to recruiting and retaining a team capable of creating a safe, vibrant, diverse, engaging and intellectually stimulating environment.

The University of Montana is a unit of the Montana University System with over 10,000 students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 72,000, surrounded by mountain grandeur. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
• Video: UM Lifestyles
• University Highlights

Position Details

Position Title: Program Officer

Position Number: Temporary

Department: Mansfield Center Administration

Work Schedule: Full-time, 1.0 FTE (40 Hours a week), Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (weekends and evening work may be required depending on program needs). 12 month appointment.

Salary: $25/hr

Union Affiliation: None

Benefits Include: Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, and wellness program.

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply

Priority Application Date: Sunday, March 12, 2023 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials.

Please submit the following application materials** via the UM Jobs portal and by clicking "New Resume/CV" button. Please do not apply through Indeed.com*.

• Please note, only five (5) attachments allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

A complete application Includes:

• Applying through Indeed.com or easy apply through Indeed.com may result in submission of an incomplete application. Applications may be removed from full consideration if they are not complete with materials listed above under the "How to Apply" section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure complete application materials are submitted and received by the date listed above.

Required Skills

Required Experience