Canadian Affairs (CAN) Program Specialist

Job Description

Canadian Affairs (CAN) Program Specialist

Work Location: Washington, DC / Remote (as approved)

Kwaan Tech is looking for a Program Specialist (PS) to support the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Canadian Affairs (WHA/CAN) who will focus on coordinating and supporting U.S. government interagency processes related to transboundary issues between the U.S. and Canada. This role requires a deep understanding of State Department goals, project management skills, and the ability to analyze and improve organizational efficiency. The specialist communicates with foreign governments, drafts reports, manages documents, and supports negotiations on complex issues like water policy, environmental factors, and energy cooperation.

Core Duties:

• Communicate with individuals from other countries
• Follow principles and methods for planning and tracking projects
• Plan and carry out projects to improve efficiency and productivity of the organization
• Analyze and make recommendations to resolve conventional problems; evaluate effectiveness of programs or specific projects; make and maintain contacts to coordinate activities, resolve problems, and facilitate work between the office and other entities, among others
• Leverage skills communicating and writing professionally with external organizations and foreign governments; collaborating orally in person and over the phone with contacts from other organizations and foreign governments
• Conduct interviews with supervisors and staff to obtain information about organizational missions, functions, and work procedures
• Create and manage schedules and itineraries, including for domestic and international travel
• Produce written reports about the outcomes of events and meetings related to international affairs
• Create and contribute to collaborative document templates for both policy content and administrative purposes
• Conduct proof-reading and editing of documents and managing and tracking of documents
• Assist lead negotiator in coordinating the U.S. interagency' s substantive material and logistics for meetings with Tribal governments, stakeholders, and the public
• Identify new and emerging situations that provide new perspectives for understanding the complex flood control, power generation, and environmental factors. Conduct research on treaty annexes, protocols, and academic studies related to flood control, hydroelectric production, economic, and environmental issues in order to produce background information for use in negotiations
• Develop options for transboundary water policy initiatives that address critical natural resource issues of broad scope and impact to U.S. interests
• Support other WHA/CAN transboundary issues including International Joint Commission (IJC), as well as developments in the arctic, climate change, critical minerals cooperation, and transboundary energy issues

Travel Requirements

0 - 10%

Salary Grade

Job Requirements

• Minimum 4 years of experience in program management, environmental management, foreign/international policy, hydrology, or environmental science
• Undergraduate Degree in Environmental Policy, Environmental Management, International Affairs and/or 4 years' experience in international politics/foreign policy, research & evaluation, social science, or other related fields
• Knowledge of U.S.-Canada transboundary water basins, key issues, and stakeholders
• Knowledge of State Department goals and objectives and relationships with other key functions within the State Department
• Knowledge of the U.S. government interagency coordination process
• Experience assessing and monitoring the implementation of the environmental and social performance of strategies and programs
• Experience performing political economic or analysis
• Ability to solve problems and encourage consistent, solid performance
• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methods
• English language (written and spoken) communications skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, coordinate activities in multiple locations, act decisively in daily work, and work well in a multi-cultural team environment
• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and computer skills
• Ability to work independently to assess priorities and manage daily coordination of details with minimal supervision
• Professional fluency in English; aptitude reading and communicating in Spanish desired but not required
• Must have an Active Secret Security Clearance

#CJ

Category

Program / Project Management

Location

Washington, DC (DOS - HST Bldg.) - Washington, DC 20520 US (Primary)

Education

Bachelor's Degree