Virtual Exchange Program - Program Manager

Application Deadline
Applications and interviews will be held on a rolling basis starting the week of June 20th, 2024.

Duration
This is a 16-month position through October 2025 with possible renewal, pending on the success of the pilot program iterations and funding.

Location
This position will be based in Tunis, Tunisia, however qualified persons based elsewhere in the MENA region are encouraged to apply as remote hiring will be considered. 

Compensation
The salary for this full-time position will be commensurate with experience, with full benefits. Soliya is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

Salary Range For Tunisia based: 2700 to 3300 TND + Private Insurance Benefits + CNSS, per month

Salary Range For MENA based: 1700 - 2200 USD

About the Program

Soliya is launching a new Arabic language virtual exchange program to enable youth across the Middle East and North Africa to connect meaningfully with their peers in the region, collaboratively explore the relationships between their communities, establish a deeper understanding of the perspectives of others, and build key global competencies and skills. Using Soliya’s extensive experience in cross-cultural exchange and youth empowerment, Soliya will adapt its successful global dialogue program and training models to a regional context, learning and refining during this pilot phase. Through this new program, Soliya aims to enable college-aged youth to have greater access to high-impact Arabic-language virtual exchange experiences, build greater empathy, understanding and appreciation for a diversity of views, experiences and cultures across the MENA region, and hone their skills as leaders in their communities. 

Overview
Soliya is seeking an independent, organized, resourceful and creative individual, who has a constructive approach to problem-solving, and a passion for empowering youth through dialogue, training and cross-cultural learning. As an experienced program manager, you will lead a team in the Middle East and North Africa to pilot Soliya’s new inter-regional virtual exchange program. You will foster relationships with universities in the MENA region to establish strong partnerships for the new program, lead the implementation of Soliya’s first-ever Arabic language virtual exchange and training program, grow a community of youth leaders within the region, and play a pivotal role in the overall design, strategy and evolution of the project.

What you bring to the team:

• Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent education / experience

• 5 years or more of experience leading and managing projects in an evolving, diverse and deadline-driven environment

• A strong grasp and knowledge of the key issues and dynamics in the MENA region; experience working across the region is a plus

• Fluent in Arabic and English, with excellent written communication skills in Arabic

• Outstanding project management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, manage competing priorities, and coordinate cross-functional resources

• Experience fostering partnerships and building rapport with a wide range of stakeholders; experience with the higher education sector in the MENA region is a strong plus

• Excellent people skills, with demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders at various levels, be thoughtful and sensitive to different cultures, and work effectively in a multicultural team

• Strong time management skills, with demonstrated capacity to prioritize and manage multiple complex tasks and priorities at a time,

• Advanced proficiency in Google Suite and MS Office, and flexibility to adapt to other online tools

• Passion for Soliya’s mission, and

• Flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor.

Your key responsibilities:
The Program Manager will report directly to the Director of Dialogue Programs, and responsibilities will include:

• Manage the launch, implementation and evaluation of the new inter-regional exchange and training program

• Oversee day-to-day program operations to ensure successful program delivery, and coordinate cross-departmental information flow

• Cultivate and manage partnerships with institutions of higher education across the MENA region, and coordinate the program integration and implementation with university partners

• Support the development of recruitment strategies, and create program materials as needed

• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the program, work with the team to identify programmatic successes and areas for improvement, and report on impact and learning to internal and external stakeholders

• Supervise, mentor and lead program staff

• Support management of grant targets, reporting, and compliance for program outcomes

• Design program strategy, contribute lessons learned from the pilot phase, and support the Programs Director in developing recommendations for the future.

To Apply

Please have your cover letter and resume ready to upload and indicate in your cover letter your unique skills and experiences. Please also describe in your cover letter how you would fit into the Soliya position you are applying for.