Communications And Program Assistant, Career Development (Student) (Fws)

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This position is available only to enrolled American University students.

Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial Aid.

Important guidance for current American University employees: American University current employees, including those employed in student positions, must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into your employee Workday account and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may cause delays in a hire process.

Department:

School of International Service

Time Type:

Part time

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Job Description:

Summary:

The Office of Career Development (OCD) in the School of International Service (SIS) at American University provides career advising, programming, and resources to support career education and mentorship for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in international affairs.

The SIS OCD is seeking a Communications and Program Assistant (Federal Work Study) who will be responsible for supporting communications, project coordination, program planning, social media, and general operations under the supervision of the Program Coordinator. The office is looking for a proactive and effective communicator to help design marketing materials and programming to meet our students' needs.

Interpersonal and strong written communication will be a key part of this role and experience with both is highly desired. Experience with event planning and execution for student facing programs is also helpful. Successful applicants should be able to demonstrate initiative, creativity, and problem solving through their past experiences and/or coursework.

An overarching commitment to inclusive excellence is key for this role. All staff and student workers in the SIS OCD are committed to continually increasing their knowledge about different communities' experiences in the job market, higher education, and larger societal contexts regarding access, opportunity, and justice, and supporting team efforts to do the same. This includes completing all job duties with an awareness of the concerns, pressures, and inequities that members of underserved communities face. It also includes developing and providing resources that are intentionally inclusive of individuals from a range of backgrounds, as reflected in the AU student body.

The SIS Office of Career Development is committed to inclusive excellence, and we encourage applicants from distinct backgrounds. Learn more about our office, here: https://www.american.edu/sis/career/.

Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their experience with the key components of this role and their interest in this position.

Essential Functions:

• Create weekly career e-newsletter for students and alumni via Handshake in collaboration with Program Coordinator.

• Participate in designing, creating, and promoting marketing materials, including designing graphics and editing videos.

• Manage the SIS Career's Instagram account including weekly postings of events, programming, and other opportunities.

• Assist with event coordination and planning, including helping with attendee RSVP's, catering orders, printing materials, and communicating with external offices, such as the SIS Hub, and AU Audio Visual.

• Attend SIS OCD and other career related events on campus to support day-of event logistics, as needed, including but not limited to attendee check-in, room set up and breakdown, and Zoom support for virtual/hybrid events.

• Attend weekly planning/check-in meetings with the Program Coordinator and other OCD team members as needed.

• Respond to student, faculty, staff, and external emails and phone calls as needed.

• Other duties as assigned.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Part-time.

• 15 hours per week.

Salary Range:

• $18.40 - $22.50 per hour.

Required Education and Experience:

• Must be eligible for Federal Work Study.

• Proficiency in social media account management (particularly Instagram) and a strong background with graphic design are required.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize and convey complex ideas clearly.

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

• High level of creativity and initiative, with the ability to implement projects independently.

• Exhibit a high level of reliability and professionalism with demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations.

• Self-starter and team player, able to prioritize and meet deadlines as delineated by Program Coordinator.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Proficiency with graphic design tools (preferably Photoshop, InDesign, and/or Canva) and video editing software (Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, etc.) are a plus.

• Experience and/or interest in international affairs is preferred.

• Undergraduate or graduate student currently pursuing a degree in communications, graphic design, public relations, marketing, or a related field is preferred.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• This is a hybrid modality, with at least 1 - 2 days in-person.

• This position is for Fall 2026 with a strong preference for continuation in Spring 2027.

• As the SIS Office of Career Development, the Communications and Program Assistant will have the unique opportunity to gain transferable professional skills and experiences.

• As class schedule permits, the Communications and Program Assistant will be asked to attend OCD events to assist with day-of coordination as well as weekly SIS OCD team meetings.

Other Details

• This position is available only to enrolled American University students.

• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• American University is an E-Verify employer.

• Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees (including those employed in student positions) must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual's genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.