Alumni Assistant, Belarus Alumni Connect Program

Description

JOB LOCATION: Remote, Poland and Lithuania (reporting to the American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS (“American Councils”) office in Vilnius, Lithuania)

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: consultancy, 6 months, 6 hours/week

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 3, 2025

NUMBER OF TOTAL POSITIONS: 2

SUMMARY:

The Belarus Alumni Connect program is aimed at fostering a vibrant and enduring community among alumni of exchange programs from Belarus. It seeks to provide a supportive and engaging platform for alumni to connect, collaborate, and continue their personal and professional growth. Through a combination of virtual interactions, regional meetups, and larger events, the program envisions a united global community that thrives on shared experiences and a commitment to lifelong learning and connection.

The specific objectives of the Belarus Alumni Connect program are to facilitate cross-border networking among Belarusian alumni and encourage connections between Belarusians living abroad and U.S. Government (USG) exchange alumni from their host countries. The program supports collaborative community projects, provides training on proposal development, and assists with alumni small grants applications. It promotes knowledge sharing through alumni-led webinars and workshops, fostering personal and professional growth. The program also facilitates mentoring, pairing alumni for guidance in post-exchange life and career decisions. Additionally, it hosts alumni reunions to reconnect, celebrate achievements, and strengthen the alumni network.

The Belarus Alumni Connect program is administered by American Councils. The local Alumni Assistants for Lithuania and Poland will be located in country and serve as liaisons for Belarusian USG alumni living in those countries to American Councils. Local Alumni Assistants will work under guidance and direction from the Program Officer (based in Vilnius, Lithuania).

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Take a leading role in planning and organizing alumni networking events in Vilnius, Lithuania and Warsaw, Poland with a goal of hosting at least 1-2 events every two months. Consider expanding events to other locations in country as funding allows.
• Collaborate closely with the Program Officer and other team members to plan and execute local meetups in Lithuania and Poland.
• Serve as the main point of contact and intermediary for American Councils, maintaining regular communication with Belarusian alumni residing in Lithuania and Poland.
• Promote program-related activities and opportunities for alumni, as well as other relevant activities and opportunities for alumni living in country.
• Provide reports to the Program Officer, summarizing work completed during the reporting period.

Qualifications

• Have successfully completed a USG-funded program.
• University degree in education, international relations, social sciences, or a related field.
• Native fluency in spoken and written Belarusian and/or Russian.
• Proficiency in English, sufficient for occasional informal communication.
• Some knowledge of Lithuanian or Polish is advantageous (depending on country of residence).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

•  

• Ability to establish and maintain connections with alumni from various sectors, along with an understanding of the Belarusian and the local cultural, historical, and political context.
• Demonstrated organizational ability and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while actively contributing to a collaborative team effort.
• Prior experience in planning and organizing events.
• Proficiency in computer and e-communication skills.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

American Councils is committed to taking affirmative steps to enhance employment opportunities for minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities, and strives to ensure that meaningful employment and promotional opportunities are maintained for everyone. American Councils’ commitment to equal employment opportunity is based not only on federal requirements, but also on a longstanding commitment to maintaining a diverse workforce reflective of the communities in which we operate.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.