Program Assistant, South Asia

The Henry L. Stimson Center’s South Asia Program welcomes applications from early-to-mid- career candidates with undergraduate and/or Master’s degrees and minimum one-year work experience for a Program Assistant position.

The Program Assistant is a core position in the South Asia Program team working across all program activities and projects. The position is responsible for coordinating logistics, team planning, travel, and events; assisting senior experts with editing and drafting funder reports and budgets; and managing meeting scheduling and correspondence. The Program Assistant will be expected to support program initiatives, including South Asian Voices, the Strategic Learning Initiative, engagements and events, and the Visiting and Junior Fellowships, among others. The position also liaises with affiliates of the South Asia program as well as teams across the Stimson Center, including finance, development, and communications.

The selected candidate will be expected to be available to work in-person a minimum of two days per week as well as on a more frequent basis as required by program meetings and events. Compensation for this position ranges from $46,000 to $60,000 and includes full benefits. The deadline for this application is 11:59pm ET on July 16, 2023.

Duties

Serve as program event lead, coordinating all logistical arrangements including reserving and preparing event spaces; developing invitations and monitoring RSVPs; arranging travel, accommodations, and refreshments; and serving as the main point-of-contact for attendees and participants;
Support program leadership with scheduling, communications, and expense reconciliation tasks, as well as occasional research support assignments;
Provide travel facilitation support to program staff and external guests, managing transportation, logistics, and expense reconciliation;
Assist with program operational functions including preparing reports for funders, maintaining the program calendar, managing shared IT resources, coordinating with non-resident program staff, and hiring and onboarding incoming team members;
Lead program outreach and contact management efforts, including consolidating and maintaining contact databases and producing regular promotional products including a program newsletter and social media content;
Provide research support to the program; attend and prepare summaries of relevant events and discussions on South Asia security issues; and contribute original analysis as appropriate;
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, or a related field and one-year relevant work experience.
Ability to work independently and to collaborate with peers in a team environment.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
Excellent writing and cross-cultural communication skills.
Event, communications, finance, development, and/or project management experience.
Willingness to learn new skills and adapt quickly.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

Leadership experience demonstrated through student activities or other work experiences.
Enthusiasm for program coordination and ability to identify and implement process and organizational improvements.
A strong background in politics, economics, or security; strategic studies and nuclear issues; international relations; or other social sciences.
Precise editing skills (work experience in university writing center or newspaper a plus).
Experience working in intercultural settings.
Web management experience/skills.
Foreign language ability, especially with languages spoken in South Asia.

Application Materials

Please submit the following documents in a single PDF titled “Last Name_Program Assistant.” Please upload your document to the resume/cover letter section of the ApplicantPro portal
– A one-page cover letter answering the following questions:
How does your resume/work experience demonstrate your ability to fulfill the position requirements and desired skills/experiences?
What most interests you about the position and the work of the Stimson South Asia Program (see program page here)?
How can you contribute to the mission and work of the Stimson South Asia Program?
– A two-page maximum curriculum vitae or resume including all educational qualifications, study abroad experience, and extracurricular activities, as well as work experience to date.
– A writing sample (maximum four pages) on a topic of your choice.
– Unofficial transcript.