Who We Are

Peace is our commitment. The United States Institute of Peace represents the American people’s shared values and commitment to peace worldwide. We know that Peace is Security – it advances both U.S. and international security by preventing, managing, and mitigating violent conflict.

We are an independent, non-partisan institution and are actively engaged with peacebuilding efforts worldwide. Together we tackle the most challenging problems and hold fast to the possibility of a more peaceful world. To learn more about USIP programs and job openings, go to https://www.usip.org/about/careers.

If you have a passion for making the world a better place and want to have a front-row seat on the world stage, USIP is the place for you.

JOB BRIEF

The Program Assistant (PA) will support the Religion and Inclusive Societies (RIS) Team. The PA provides programmatic, administrative, and logistical support, including program coordination and scheduling, reporting, basic research and writing, and other duties as they arise. This position supports budget and contract management, implementation activities, events and travel logistics using USIP’s standard policies, procedures, and guidelines. The PA position is full-time, based in Washington DC, will report to the Acting Director of the Religion and Inclusive Societies, and is a member of the Center for Thematic Excellence.

CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS 8/5/2024

TARGET SALARY

Grade 7 - $55,000- $57,000

The Institute uses the General Schedule salary tables for administering compensation. Offers are determined based upon candidate qualifications, related experience, internal equity, and the amount budgeted for the position.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative and Program Support: 

• Provides administrative and programmatic support in strategic planning, design, project implementation, reporting, and monitoring and evaluating. This includes:
• Supporting drafting internal and public documents.
• Supporting drafting quarterly reports.
• Tracking milestones and impact indicators.
• Ensuring team updates are submitted regularly and timely.
• Coordinating and tracking publications across the Institute.
• Supporting project tracking and reviewing project deliverables.
• Managing the documentation of events and projects, including recording developments in USIP’s QuickBase and systems and SharePoint
• Preparing summary event and project demonstration for USIP’s executive office and other departments as needed.·

Attends internal and external meetings with partners. This includes:

• Taking notes and distributing them to the Team, as needed
• Serving as a connector and representative when other Team members are unable to be physically present for the meeting, setting up the systems to allow for remote participation
• Build relationships and liaise with other departments at USIP as needed to accomplish the above tasks.
• Develops and maintains program-related files, documents and database records.
• Assists in establishing and maintaining policies and procedures to manage the day-to-day operations of the Youth, Peace and Security programs.
• Develops and maintains relationships with vendors and partners
• Assists with youth-related Ghandi King Academy courses content updates, content development and other related tasks.
• Coordinate the publications peer review process in line with publications guidelines and deadlines.
• Provide program design, implementation, and reporting support to programs.

Budget and Contract Management Support:

• Supports Administrative Staff and/or Contracting Officer Technical Representatives (COTRs), as needed, to administer contracts, track progress toward milestones, receive deliverables and monitor contract end dates, including but not limited to:
  • Executes the contracting process by supporting the drafting contracts, preparing required contracting information, submitting requisitions, scheduling contract launch meetings, processing invoices, and monitoring payment processes, and ensuring contract close-out.
  • Liaises with the Center for Thematic Excellence’s Resource Management and USIP Finance and Procurement Teams to track budgets, resolve issues, and review budget and financial reports to help monitor program budgets.
  • Ensures quality control by inputting transactions correctly and tracking the budget using financial management software.
  • Coordinates the resolution of any problems or delays with the USIP Finance and Procurement staff.
  • Coordinates with the USIP Finance Team to obligate and expend funds, track budgets, resolve issues, and generate budget and financial reports to help monitor program budgets.
  • Manages vendor contracts and payment receipts (e.g., writing a wide variety of contracts with external organizations to support special events or program activities).
  • Provides technical advice on contract-related requirements.
• Generate routine budget reports to help monitor program budgets.
• Develops recommendations on any actions that may be required to ensure the program has the resources necessary to meet its goals and objectives.
• Supports the Religion and Inclusive Societies team in developing funding concept notes and proposals as requested.
• Serves as the back-up point of contact for external contractors or vendors on any contractual or logistical-related items.

Research Support & Writing Support:

• Supports the Religion and Inclusive Societies team in drafting and compiling reports.
• Builds and maintains substantive expertise on a range of issues related to RIS.
• Conducts research as needed by members of the Religion and Inclusive Societies team.

Meetings, Events and Logistics Planning:

• Makes domestic and international travel arrangements for staff and contractors including creating Travel Authorizations and processing Travel Vouchers in a timely manner, as needed.
• Provide substantive and administrative support for small and large invite-only meetings and public events, including study groups, consultations, workshops, and other programmatic activities:
• Regularly updating and expanding email lists and consulting internally as needed on invitees.
• Drafting invitation text and taking RSVPs for events. 
• Using USIP’s event systems to reserve rooms.
• Operating the virtual portion of the event, including reserving Zoom, Microsoft Teams or teleconferences lines in advance and operating platforms during the meetings to allow for remote participation.
• Liaising with reception and security to grant building access to guests and greeting and escorting guests.
• Arranging food and refreshments as needed. 

Performs Other Duties as Assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international economics or development, political science or a related field is required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A major or concentration in religion studies preferred.
• One (1) or more years of business or administrative experience to become familiar with general personnel practices, accounting and budgeting principles and coordination of major office activities required.

• Excellent writing skills with experience in drafting program reports and supporting proposal writing processes.
• Ability to adapt communication approaches that are effective in-person and electronically.
• Knowledge of and ability to use program management processes, especially project planning, budgets and monitoring and evaluation.

• Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Teams) are required. Previous experience with databases and/or data management tools, including financial management software, is preferred and QuickBase/Salesforce is strongly desired.
• Experience with Momentum/Pegasys financial management system strongly desired.

• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Experience organizing conferences and meetings and making domestic and international travel arrangements preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and develop effective working relationships and strong interpersonal skills, including cross-cultural communication.

• Knowledge of Religion Studies is essential; conflict prevention, management and resolution is a plus.
• Interest and ability to travel internationally.
• French language skills are strongly desired.

HOW TO APPLYTo be considered for this position, please submit a complete application package consisting of:
1. Completed employment application
2. Cover letter
3. Resume

Note: Only those applicants that are selected for further discussions will be contacted.

USIP is an equal opportunity employer. USIP does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.