Senior Program Specialist – Experience EU: Education, People‑to‑People, and Alumni Work in the United States / European Union

ICF • Reston, VA

7d • Remote

About The Position

The Experience EU program is a flagship public diplomacy initiative implemented on behalf of the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) through the EU Delegation to the United States. The program strengthens mutual understanding between European and U.S. audiences by showcasing the EU’s values, diversity, and opportunities, and by fostering engagement through education cooperation, youth initiatives, cultural activities, and community outreach. By building networks among students, educators, researchers, alumni, civil society organizations, and cultural stakeholders across the United States, Experience EU promotes transatlantic dialogue and collaboration. Activities include campus outreach, public diplomacy events, digital engagement, and alumni activation linked to EU programs. The Senior Program Specialists will provide specialized technical expertise to support the design and delivery of activities in public diplomacy, education cooperation, youth outreach, cultural engagement, and alumni relations. Each Key Expert will lead a specific thematic workstream, ensuring high‑quality, innovative, and strategically aligned implementation in collaboration with the Team Leader and project management team in support of the European Union and U.S. partners. Depending on final project requirements, positions may include: Public Diplomacy & Strategic Outreach Expert: Develops strategic plans, stakeholder engagement, and people‑to‑people initiatives to enhance EU visibility in the U.S. Education & Academic Cooperation Expert: Builds partnerships with U.S. higher education institutions, schools, and Erasmus+ networks to advance education collaboration. Alumni & Community Building Expert: Strengthens EU‑related alumni networks, leading long‑term engagement and community‑building strategies. Youth Engagement & People‑to‑People Exchange Expert: Designs youth‑focused programs, exchanges, and cultural activities promoting mutual understanding. Communications & Digital Engagement Expert: Leads communication strategies, storytelling, digital outreach, and online engagement to promote EU initiatives.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in one or more areas: public diplomacy, education cooperation, youth engagement, alumni relations, cultural diplomacy, or communication.
• Minimum 2 years experience in EU‑funded projects or collaboration with EU institutions.
• Strong understanding of EU values, external action instruments, and public diplomacy priorities.
• Demonstrated capacity to design, implement, and evaluate outreach or engagement activities.
• Excellent written, analytical, and verbal communication skills.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in other EU languages is an advantage.
• Familiarity with U.S. education, civil society, or cultural ecosystems.
• Prior experience engaging professionally or academically with the United States preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Professional experience working with U.S.‑based institutions, networks, or partners.
• Knowledge of transatlantic relations or EU‑U.S. policy cooperation.
• Experience in community management, communications campaigns, event coordination, or partnership development.
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation, behavioural insights, or audience research approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical implementation within assigned thematic area.
• Design and execute activities such as outreach events, education initiatives, workshops, communication campaigns, or cultural exchanges.
• Conduct stakeholder mapping and build partnerships with U.S. institutions and organisations.
• Produce technical deliverables, including reports, concept notes, communication materials, and analytical outputs.
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and reporting in line with performance indicators.
• Collaborate closely with the Team Leader, EU Delegation, and expert team for coherence and synergy.
• Uphold EU visibility and branding consistent with program communication guidelines.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees