Program Coordinator or Program Manager - Humanitarian Agenda

 

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 200 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe. 

 

The Humanitarian Agenda utilizes analytic publications, private roundtables and meetings, public events, innovative digital programming, and day-long conferences to inform and influence policy on humanitarian issues. It brings together policymakers, practitioners, the private sector, and academics to discuss challenges for humanitarian action and propose solutions. The ultimate purpose of the Humanitarian Agenda’s work is to increase awareness of the challenges in humanitarian action and evolutions in humanitarian action to inform U.S. government strategic planning and policies to reduce humanitarian suffering and prevent the emergence of future crises. 

 

The CSIS Humanitarian Agenda seeks a highly motivated and innovative Program Manager/Program Coordinator to join the team as the primary coordinator across all projects. Research will focus on humanitarian crises in protracted conflicts, humanitarian access, engagement with stakeholders across and tangential to the sector, and the efficiency of aid. The Program Manager/Program Coordinator will support the program’s agenda and strategy alongside the program director and maintain a high level of professionalism in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 

 

This is an in-person position at the CSIS headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

 

The Program Manager/Program Coordinator will be responsible for managing or coordinating Humanitarian Agenda operations and research projects, including grant and budget management; stakeholder outreach and program development; event planning and logistics; and administrative support.   

 

The Program Manager/Program Coordinator will also contribute substantively to the program through background research (e.g., drafting background documents, drafting questions for public events and private roundtables, etc.), provide their input in both internal and external meetings regarding the strategic direction of the program, discuss potential new focus areas and project opportunities, and collaborate on other topics as needed. This individual may manage the program’s interns.  

 

 

Candidates must demonstrate experience in at least three subject areas: humanitarian access, migration, international humanitarian law, localization/decolonization, financial access, climate financing, and gender/intersectionality. Please tell us why you are interested in the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda program in your cover letter (one page maximum).

 

The annual salary for this position is $55,000-$66,000.  

 

 

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the program’s projects and provides assistance to the project’s director, senior fellow and other related staff.

• Organizes public and private events, conferences, and workshops related to the project. 

• Coordinates the publication of new analysis and content for the project.

• Represents the project vis-à-vis other research programs and functional support offices within CSIS and vis-à-vis external stakeholders in government, the private sector, and the non-profit community in the United States and elsewhere.

• Manages external communications, including development and maintenance of contacts databases, responding to donor and partner inquiries, sending of event invitations, and dissemination of project publications in all formats.

• Contributes to external and internal outreach by developing promotional materials, written materials for the web, and designing strategic communication plans.

• Manages day-to-day office operations.

• Monitors and evaluates progress on key deliverables.

• Manages program and project finances including all project-related budgets, day-to-day expense management, and preparation for internal budget reviews.

• Drafts program correspondence, MOUs, and other official agreements.

• Supports senior program staff, including through logistics, scheduling, and program communication and collaboration with other CSIS departments and operations.

• Supports recruitment, hire, and manage program interns.

• Assists in compiling background research materials and in the development of fact sheets, talking points, questions for events, and developing ideas for fundraising proposals.

• Other administrative and research tasks as needed.

 

 

• Bachelor’s degree in related field.

• 1-2 years of related experience in program/project management, including budget or grant management. 

• Superior communication skills, good judgment, and ability to anticipate needs.

• Excellent organization, time management, attention to detail, and able to juggle multiple tasks with minimal supervision.

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from constituency groups, media, governmental entities, and the general public in multiple formats (e.g., in person, via email, etc.).  

• Ability to work closely with a range of individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

• Ability to operate independently and with team members while under pressure and in a fast-paced environment is essential.  

 

PREFERED EXPERIENCE

 

• Undergraduate or graduate-level study of international relations, international humanitarian law, or a related field. 

• Experience   managing U.S. government grants and projects.

• Knowledge of U.S. foreign policy, humanitarian norms, and global issues.

• Interest in at minimum three of the Humanitarian Agenda’s core focus areas.

• Event management experience and ability to work with high-level VIP audiences.

 

 

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

 

Performances of duties require the use of hands and fingers to handle or feel. The job frequently requires ability to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

 

 

Interested applicants should submit:  

• A 1 page cover letter followed by a 1-2 page resume in a single PDF document. Please title the document “[Your name] cover letter and resume”.

Applications should be submitted via careers.csis.org. Please do not submit additional materials (e.g., references, transcripts, etc.). These will be requested if needed during the interview process.  We will request a written assessment as part of the interview process. To submit an application for this position, click the “Apply” button below, and you will be redirected to our secure recruitment portal.