The Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) requires a Participant Monitoring Specialist to provide oversight and monitoring of international high school students for the Youth Programs Division.

The Youth Programs Division organizes and manages programs and exchanges for foreign and US secondary school students that promote leadership development, citizen engagement, democratic ideals, and respect for diversity. Each year, more than 2,000 foreign students participate in academic year-long programs allowing them to study in American high schools and to live with American families.

The Participant Monitoring Specialist will work with a Participant Monitoring team to conceive, develop, and implement a range of monitoring activities designed to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the Youth Division's foreign participants, the majority of whom are minors. Ensuring the on-program well-being of the program participants is the highest priority interest of the Division and of the Department.

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS:

Working with a team of 1 to 3 other Participant Monitors, the incumbent will provide advice and analysis to the Youth Programs Division Chief and the program Branch Chiefs regarding participant monitoring activities. The incumbent will work in collaboration with non-profit educational and social institutions selected to assist the Division in managing and implementing the youth exchange programs. The incumbent will conceptualize, develop, and manage participant monitoring plans and undertake site visit activities that ensure that youth exchange programs are carried out as designed and compliant with the requirements of 22 CFR 62. The incumbent will resolve a broad range of "on-program support" issues ranging from routine to complex and related to behavior, health, safety, etc. The incumbent will keep the Division Chief, program teams, and the Citizen Exchanges Director, as appropriate, apprised of participant health, safety and welfare issues. The Participant Monitoring Specialist will also help the monitoring team to administer student surveys and analyze and present relevant data.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The contractor employee shall be responsible for the following duties:

* Develop and design participant monitoring plans in close coordination with the monitoring team and the Youth Programs Division Chief.
* Oversee a caseload of "on-program support" issues by regularly monitoring relevant email in-boxes and working with program teams and program implementer to track and resolve a variety of health, behavioral, safety, academic performance, and other issues as they arise.
* Participate in regular meetings and teleconferences with program partners to address issues quickly and efficiently.
* Undertake approximately 4 site-visit trips per year - activities might include:
* Meeting and conducting interviews with students.
* Meeting and conducting interviews with host families.
* Meeting and discussing various issues with local coordinators or placement organization representatives.
* Touring schools and meeting with teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and others.
* Coordinate and conduct e-monitoring, workshop, conference, and re-entry Interviews with exchange participants.
* Design participant surveys and evaluate responses for trends and data.
* Research, develop, and present statistics, data, anecdotes and other information developed from monitoring activities, orally or in writing, in response to inquiries from the public, Congress, Branch and Division Chiefs, Office Director, or other Department office or entity.
* Update regularly the Division and Branch Chiefs on participant monitoring activities, issues, or accomplishments undertaken as part of the Monitoring Plan.
* Report cases and outcomes on a weekly basis to the Division Chief; evaluate the outcome of each case-by-case monitoring project; prepare a report on each site visit trip undertaken, and collaborate with other Bureau elements in the long-term assessment of program impact on participants and the achievement of program objectives.
* Ensure timely and accurate on-program maintenance of data in Office of Citizen Exchanges database and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) as appropriate.
* As assigned by the Division Chief, represent the Division in meetings and events involving exchange program participants, grantee partner organizations, U.S. and foreign officials, and the general public to promote the foreign policy interests and objectives of the Department.

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:

* Eligible to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance.
* Extensive education and/or work experience related to monitoring the well-being of participants in international youth or educational exchange programs, international cultural or educational exchanges, and/or other types of international study, programming or activities.
* Experience responding to unexpected or emergency situations involving the well-being of participants in international exchange or educational programs.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING FACTORS:

As a condition of employment, must pass a pre-employment drug screening, as well as have acceptable reference and background check results.

The Tatitlek Corporation gives hiring, promotion, training and retention preference to Tatitlek shareholders, shareholder descendants and shareholder spouses who meet the minimum qualifications for the job.

As an equal opportunity employer, The Tatitlek Corporation recognizes that our strength lies in our people. Discrimination and all unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment, in employment is not tolerated. We encourage success based on our individual merits and abilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or employment. We support and obey laws that prohibit discrimination everywhere we do business.