Program Advisor - Temp

Position Title:        Program Advisor, Temp

Reports to:            Assistant Director, Program Advising 

Department:          Employer Relations 

Last Revised:        October 2025            

Salary Range:       $50,000 - $55,000

Position Description:  

The Program Advisor plays a critical role in preparing university students participating in The Washington Center’s (TWC) academic programs, including the Academic Internship Program and other short-term initiatives. This position supports a diverse caseload of adult learners by providing individualized career coaching and tailored career-readiness services to equip them with essential and practical skills to obtain and thrive in an internship. Through strategic engagement, the Program Advisor will help learners develop industry-relevant skills, guiding them from initial program enrollment through internship placement.

In collaboration with each participant, the Program Advisor will identify industry specific career interests and internship goals, revising application materials and advising on interview preparation to ensure students are ready for the professional world. An effective Program Advisor will cultivate an empathetic, mentoring attitude and offer valuable insights on hiring trends, industry expectations, and career success. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication and organizational skills with a solutions-oriented mindset.

This role also involves pre-arrival program planning, outreach, and administrative responsibilities to facilitate learners’ progress through key program benchmarks, ensuring successful matriculation into TWC’s programs. The Program Advisor will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to maintain TWC’s values of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion by actively working to remove barriers, promote equity, and enhance participants’ experiences and workforce readiness.

While TWC operates as a remote-first organization, preferred candidates are located within the Washington, D.C. metro area to facilitate occasional in-person networking opportunities. This is a primarily remote position.

Essential Functions:

Program Portfolio Management (50%)

• Serve as the main point of contact, providing career coaching and internship search guidance throughout the pre-arrival process.
• Develop and implement a communication plan for each participant, conducting mandatory advising appointments, check-ins, and regular outreach.
• Leverage learning management and career coaching systems to assess participants' engagement with career-preparation materials.
• Collaboratively review and enhance internship application materials with participants, including resumes, cover letters, and other supporting documents.
• Offer industry specific guidance on interviewing, adjusting to D.C. living, and entering the professional sphere, supporting participants until their internship placement and program arrival.

Internship Placement (35%)

• Partner closely with the Employer Relations team to track participant internship applications, referrals, interviews, and placements.
• Maintain prompt communication with participants regarding updates on their internship applications.
• Develop mentorship relationships to support and encourage participants throughout the application and internship process.
• Coordinate with the Assistant Director, Program Advising, to review timelines, participant communications, and pre-program processes, fostering improvements where needed.
• Manage weekly engagement activities, including session facilitation, student outreach, speaker coordination, and resource distribution.
• Provide direct support to a portfolio that includes both domestic and international students, aligning with J-1 visa requirements and collaborating with internal teams to ensure compliance.

Data Management (10%)

• Track and manage participant data in Salesforce, ensuring accuracy in application materials, internship preferences, and program milestones.
• Maintain up-to-date records on participant progress, focusing on data integrity and timely completion of key benchmarks.

Enrollment and Admissions (5%)

• Report participant updates to the Recruitment and Admissions team through Salesforce.
• Review and make decisions on domestic and J-1 student applications in alignment with the admissions timeline.

Required Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree required, with a preference for backgrounds in student affairs, career services, or related fields.
• 1-2 years of direct career coaching, academic advising, social services, or program management experience.
• 1+ years of experience with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce).
• Familiarity with industries such as Government and Public Policy, Law & Public Safety, Business, Health Policy & Management, Communications & Media, and Digital & Emerging Technology.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of experience working with adult learners from diverse backgrounds, including socioeconomically diverse and neurodiverse populations.
• Experience working with international students and knowledge of F-1/J-1 visa requirements.
• Proficiency in online platforms (e.g., Canvas, Hiration) and comfort with public speaking for group coaching sessions.
• Familiarity with the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of career services and advising techniques; familiarity with internship matching and placement services.
• Cultural awareness and the ability to advise and engage a diverse participant population through remote methods.
• Flexibility to thrive in a dynamic, performance-driven environment.
• Strong communication and collaborative skills.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies required to perform the job successfully (management)

• Leads/develops/empowers people, develops relationships, inspires trust 
• Effectively executes organizational priorities 
• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving 
• Change Management 

The Washington Center’s Values guide our mission work in every regard–internally and externally.

• Equity & Inclusion
• Learning
• Connection & Collaboration
• Integrity
• Impact

Equipment Used to Perform the Job which may be representative but not all inclusive of those commonly associated with this position:

• Cloud-based technologies 
• Standard office equipment including a computer, job-related software 

The Washington Center is a majority remote organization: for most employees, employment with TWC will not be contingent on physical presence in an office space. The Washington Center does have some physical space in Washington, D.C. and the individual in this role is expected to work in-person at various times throughout the year as and when the need arises.

Physical Abilities are commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job described. These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The Washington Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is TWC's policy to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity or age limitations will be adhered to by the organization where appropriate. 

The Washington Center stands in solidarity with all marginalized communities. We believe communities are strengthened by the inclusion of and equity for all people. Racism, hate, and violence have no place in our society, and we condemn all such acts. We are committed to becoming an anti-racist and anti-hate organization. 

We commit to continuously striving for diversity, equity and inclusion through ongoing education, reflection, and awareness. As an organization nearing five decades in existence, we recognize we have work to do. At The Washington Center, each person brings unique and varied lived experiences which inform our thoughts, actions, and decision-making processes. We aim to create an inclusive, safe environment for our staff, students, and all stakeholders, where everyone’s differences are honored, every perspective is valued, and everyone is safe to bring forth their authentic selves.