Job Description:
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is hiring an Program Director for an anticipated US Department of State (DOS), DRL-funded program in our Mexico City office. We invite you to join a team united by a single goal: to transform our interconnected world into a network of more peaceful and equitable societies. IIE’s team members share a belief that when education transcends borders, it opens minds, enabling people to go beyond building connections to solving problems together.
Learn more about IIE, our culture and commitment to DEIA here.
If you are a job seeker in need of an accommodation to navigate our careers site or apply for one of our jobs, please click here to learn more.


Job Summary
The Program Director is responsible for the overall management and implementation of a 36 month long US Department of State (DOS), DRL-funded program that seeks to strengthen the practical skills and resiliency of Central American anti-corruption actors (ACAs) through a program focused on professional development, provision of rapid response support and the creation of a community of practice.
In addition to rapid response support, the program will provide fellowships, both residential in the U.S. and non-residential in multiple Central American countries running in parallel, that focus primarily on professional anti-corruption skill building and creating a sustainable ACA community of practice across cohorts, fellowship locations and the region. The Program Director will be based in IIE’s Latin American and Caribbean Office in Mexico City (IIE LAC), working closely with other IIE LAC team members.
The Program Director will be responsible for and lead the start-up and full implementation of the program and serve as the main IIE contact with DC-based DRL staff, key regional stakeholders, sub awardees, consultants, fellows and the competitively procured higher education institutions who will host residencies for U.S. based participants.
The Program Director will design professional development program content for fellows in both the regional and US-based fellowships and identify, procure and manage trainers to provide the in-person and virtual training sessions. The Program Director will design, create and implement a Community of Practice with fellows and actors working on the region´s anti-corruption efforts. The Program Director will also work with organizations and individuals, as well as US government representatives across multiple Central American countries, to conduct outreach to ACAs who may be eligible for the program, provide oversight and management of the outreach and selection process and co-ordinate with implementers of other US-government funded programs to maximize desired outcomes. The PD will also lead and implement placement with the HEI, fellow monitoring and awards management as well as the overall program award management with DRL.

Essential Functions:

• Provides program leadership and management throughout the entire program lifecycle, including start-up. Serves as the main IIE contact with DRL, building and maintaining strategic partnerships with DRL and other US government stakeholders in the region.
• In collaboration with DRL, sets a clear strategic vision and plan for the program.
• Represents IIE at meetings with the sponsor, organizations and individuals, US government representatives across multiple Central American countries, and other stakeholders.
• In collaboration with DRL, develops the program content for 120 fellows across three cohorts including 60 fellows based in the US and 60 based in multiple Central American countries.
• In collaboration with DRL, identifies need for and provides rapid response support.
• Oversees full cycle of fellowship program including components that will be implemented by PD themself, as well as by team members in Mexico and in the U.S. Activities include application, outreach and selection, placement, U.S. visa processing, pre-departure advising, in-program monitoring, crisis management, rapid response support, program training content design and delivery, procurement, contracting with sub-awardees and consultants, DRL reporting, and budget management.
• Designs and ensures implementation of professional development training content in collaboration with sub awardees and consultants.
• Works with sub awardees to deliver training content and manages contractual relationship.
• Identifies and works with consultants to deliver training content.
• Develops plans for safely evacuating/arranging travel for fellows and dependents to U.S., including associated risks and mitigation strategies.
• Monitors 60 fellows while they are in the U.S. during fellowship and 60 fellows in multiple Central American countries during their fellowship.
• Develops and implements Community of Practice activities with all fellows.
• Designs rapid response support with DRL and local partners, and implements, as needed, including provision of payments and oversight of partner implementation.
• Develops program deliverables, including work plans and narrative reports for DRL. Responsible for program reporting and program deliverables, gathering data, developing presentations/reports for the sponsor. Works with Mexico City FM on sponsor-required financial reporting.
• Responsible for financial management of all program activities and contributes to IIE budgeting activities as needed.
• Supports Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) efforts along with IIE Research, Evaluation, and Learning (REL) team in the U.S. to collect and report upon program indicators.
• Full management cycle of one IIE LAC team member including recruitment, training and supervision.

This position is contingent on funding.

Education and Work Experience:

• Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least ten years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Minimum ten years of program management experience required.
• Expertise in professional development and capacity building, international project management, fellowship and scholarship management, and training design and implementation.
• Strong interest and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office 2010; internet software and database software.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to interact with all levels of staff and external contacts; sensitivity to cultural differences when working with people from other cultures; and ability to exercise discretion on confidential matters.
• Proficiency in both written and oral English and Spanish required.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Five years of relevant experience in international exchange, international education, and/or fellowship/scholarship management preferred.
• Experience managing USG programs strongly preferred.
• Program implementation leadership experience preferred.

The Institute of International Education (“IIE”) has a hybrid work environment that allows team members a combination of in-office work and telework at any of the locations listed above.