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Educational Programs & Operations Coordinator

Institute for the Study of War
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The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) seeks a talented Educational Programs & Operations Coordinator to plan and execute our growing educational programs and support the vital operations of ISW’s interns and staff.
 
About ISW
 
ISW is a watchtower for U.S. national security; it aims to improve America’s ability to formulate and execute sound strategies for our nation’s defense. Military and civilian decision-makers, U.S. armed forces, humanitarian organizations, and journalists regularly use ISW’s outstanding real time analysis of ongoing conflicts. ISW also educates the next generation of national security leaders through innovative educational programs. This position is a wonderful opportunity for an energetic, talented person who wants to grow an organization, improve reputable and established educational programs, and envision new programs and bring them to fruition. This person will unlock his or her own potential and that of the outstanding students, interns, and alumni within our community.
 
The Position
 
The Educational Programs & Operations Coordinator will help plan and fully execute ISW’s educational programs, including its annual two-week summer Hertog War Studies Program, its several advanced war studies seminars, and its three seasonal internship programs. These highly selective programs recruit globally and include formal classroom education and professional development. ISW also aims to launch a robust professional development program for its talented network of 600 alumni. The Educational Programs and Operations Coordinator will ensure that the War Studies, internship, and alumni programs accomplish their missions both for ISW and the participants. He or she will work with the Director of Operations to establish measures of effectiveness for these programs, evaluate them, and improve them. He or she will also support ISW’s Director of Operation by fulfilling essential responsibilities critical to educational programs and the operations department, including managing vendor relations and supporting ISW’s special projects such as major events.
 
The Educational Programs & Operations Coordinator reports to the Director of Operations and plays a vital role in achieving ISW’s mission to educate the next generation of national security leaders. He or she will work closely with ISW’s President, its Director of Human Resources, its full staff, and wonderful students, interns, and alumni.
 
Responsibilities
 
Educational Programs (80%)
 
Hertog War Studies Program
 
Plan and execute the main summer and advanced Hertog War Studies Programs so that they enrich and engage students, speakers, and faculty.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for students, speakers, and instructors during the main summer and advanced programs while managing and coordinating all logistics before, during, and after each program.
  • Maintain budget for all programs under the supervision of the Director of Operations, the Chief Financial Officer, and the President.
  • Serve as the direct liaison to the Washington, DC-based Hertog Foundation staff both to ensure that the Hertog War Studies Program is nested within the best practices of other Hertog Foundation programming and to keep them updated on ISW’s execution of program logistics;
  • Assist the President and Development Director with their formal reporting to the Hertog Foundation and other supporters;
  • Liaise with travel agent to coordinate student travel arrangements and lodging;
  • Work with faculty to establish the syllabus, order reading materials, secure copyright permissions, provide classroom materials, and maintain electronic and hard copy resources needed for the program;
  • Plan and execute all logistics for the staff ride;
  • Ensure the faculty can focus on teaching the program, not running the program;
  • Update the internal Hertog War Studies manual with new best practices derived from each program;
 
Ensure that the program recruits and maintains an selective, talented pool of students and alumni.
  • Ensure the program remains highly selective by effectively publicizing and promoting them in ways that ensure an exceptional pool of talent applies.
  • Maintain the program’s website, in conjunction with the Hertog Foundation, and ensure externally facing information is current.
  • Manage applications and the selection database, schedule interviews, and liaise with the Hertog Foundation to notify applicants;
  • Maintain the alumni network, increase the quality of intellectual and professional development offered to those alumni, leverage the talents and expertise of alumni to enrich ISW’s research, external relations, and outreach;
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of War Studies Program entire program and alumni offerings on alumni career.
 
ISW Internship Program
 
Plan and execute the internship program so that interns contribute fully to achieving ISW’s missions.
  • Plan for, execute, and manage intern onboarding and education three times annually, including the full logistical support that such training entails;
  • Coordinate with the ISW research team, its managers, and the proper liaisons at its partner organizations to ensure that all staff members have properly prepared content and can smoothly execute the education and onboarding program;
  • Plan and coordinate education, lectures, briefings, professional development, and other enrichment activities that benefit ISW and its interns;
  • Maintain and regularly update the internship admin and intern handbooks with best practices derived from each program;
  • Manage the dissemination and tracking of monthly intern travel stipends if they are available.
 
Ensure that the program recruits and maintains a selective and talented pool of students and alumni.
 
  • Develop and execute regular recruitment and marketing campaigns for the internship program that ensure ISW can select from a pool exceptional applicants and gain its top candidates;
  • Manage the intern recruitment and selection process in coordination with the Director of Operations;
  • Set measures of effectiveness for the intern program, in conjunction with research managers, the analysts and the Director of Operations;
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the program and propose improvements each semester
  • Regularly coordinate with intern supervisors to evaluate effectiveness of intern program.
  • Generate reports on effectiveness of program and areas of improvement for each of the three rotations;
  • Maintain the alumni network, increase the quality of intellectual and professional development offered to those alumni, leverage the talents and expertise of alumni to enrich ISW’s research, external relations, and outreach;
  • Produce high-quality quarterly alumni network newsletters appropriate for alumni and supporters;
  • Support the Development Director in preparing materials describing internships and alumni programming.
 
Operations Support (20%)
 
Fulfill essential operations tasks in order to maintain ISW’s critical programs.
  • Manage vendor relationships in coordination with Director of Operations.
  • Track and manage office purchases, subscriptions, and IT.
  • Produce quarterly reports on office purchases and subscription usage and cost.
  • Support special projects and events as needed, such as ISW’s annual dinner, virtual and physical briefings, and VIP visits.
  • Provide quarterly support to the Director of Operations for Board of Directors’ meetings as needed.
 
Qualifications
 
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of professional experience working in an educational program or in the national security field. Candidates must also demonstrate:
 
  • Commitment to ISW’s mission;
  • Ability to conduct high-level strategic planning and manage projects from concept to reality;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with a high degree of emotional intelligence and a demonstrated ability to relate well with individuals, both internally and externally;
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, including under deadlines;
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and to set and adjust priorities of both rapid response and long-term projects;
  • Excellent judgment, discretion, integrity, and grace under pressure;
  •  Initiative, drive, and ability to work independently to advance the organization’s mission;
  • Excellent time-management and organizational skills;
  • An impeccable attention to detail;
  • An entrepreneurial spirit;
  • Willingness to learn and innovate.
 
The position is available immediately and ISW will consider applications on a rolling basis. Applicants must be able to start no later than 1 July 2020.