Title: Program Associate, Career Pathways

Department: Career Pathways

Reporting to: Deputy Director, Career Pathways

Location: Remote - Canada (Candidates based in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia or willing to relocate)

Compensation: $56K – $68K CAD

Who We Are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.

About the Opportunity:

The Program Associate supports the day‑to‑day execution of Career Pathways initiatives across both Canada and the U.S. by providing program and administrative coordination, implementation support, and follow through across multiple workstreams. Working under the Deputy Director’s leadership and in close collaboration with the Implementation Leads, the Program Associate helps advance initiatives by coordinating timelines and workplans, communications, supporting partner engagement and convenings, tracking progress and dependencies, and ensuring information flows effectively across matrixed teams. This role strengthens execution capacity and supports cross‑country coherence, learning, and adaptation.

What You'll Do:

Initiative Implementation & Coordination (40%)

• Support day ‑to ‑day implementation of Career Pathways initiatives across both countries, including coordinating workplans, tracking milestones, preparing materials, and supporting delivery of pilots, convenings, and partner engagements under the direction of the Implementation Leads (initiative implementation) and in collaboration with the Operations Manager (planning and reporting).
• Assist with operational execution of initiatives by coordinating tasks across matrixed teams (policy and practice, philanthropy, community power, narrative and comms) to ensure timelines, dependencies, and deliverables remain aligned.

Partner & Stakeholder Engagement Support (35%)

• Support Implementation Leads in managing relationships with ecosystem partners (e.g., regulators, employers, immigrant‑led organizations, intermediaries) by providing logistical and administrative coordination—including scheduling, meeting preparation, coordinating agendas, materials development, facilitating, note-taking, communications drafting, documenting decisions and tracking follow-ups—to ensure smooth execution of multi-stakeholder projects across the U.S. and Canada.
• Contribute to cross‑country cross-pollination by surfacing comparative work, opportunities for shared partner engagements or connections where initiatives or learnings overlap.
• Organize convenings and external events including planning and logistics with guidance from the Leads and in collaboration with relevant WES teams (e.g. Comms).
• Track key partner engagement touchpoints in shared systems (e.g. Salesforce) for visibility and to inform partner stewardship efforts

Learning, Documentation & Adaptive Improvement (25%)

• Capture implementation‑level insights, risks, and learnings; maintain organized documentation and feed synthesized insights into the Deputy Director, Insights Manager, and Head, and to the Project Manager and Operations Partner for reporting.

• Support continuous improvement by helping track what is working, where barriers are emerging, and how implementation approaches may need to adapt as initiatives evolve.

Your Experience:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant field.
• 3+ years of related professional experience coordinating administrative activities and/or events; preference for experience in workforce development, immigration, refugee resettlement or economic development.
• Lived and/or learned insight into the opportunities and challenges experienced by immigrant and refugee communities.
• Experience organizing events from planning to execution.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, with excellent planning, problem solving, and analytical skills.
• Ability to capture and document learnings and synthesize information.
• Poise, confidence, and maturity in interacting with key stakeholders and handling sensitive information as required.
• Ability to build strong relationships and work with individuals at all levels of the organization; work collaboratively with people of different backgrounds, experiences, communication styles, and cultures towards collective goals.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented in planning and executing tasks.
• Highly efficient in managing multiple concurrent diverse tasks and projects.
• Ability to use independent judgment and work under pressure on competing responsibilities with resilience, and a high level of ownership.
• Has a demonstrated commitment to empowering immigrants and refugees and interest in policymaking and systemic change.
• Strong command of technology tools, including Microsoft Office suite (especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and OneDrive), Salesforce or other CRM systems.
• Experience using shared systems and platforms (e.g., Monday.com).Communicates efficiently and effectively, with intention to drive action but also with compassion and understanding.
• Builds informal working relationships, quickly establishing credibility in new areas of work, and mobilizing people at all levels towards collaborative goals.
• Ability to work within ambiguous and entrepreneurial environments.
• Brings a “can-do” attitude and has a willingness to stretch up and down in their role as needs evolve.

Desired

• Experience working effectively in matrixed environments.
• Experience with program evaluation.

What We Offer:

Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.

• Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
• Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work, which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
• Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
• Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
• Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization.

Values:

• Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
• Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
• Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
• Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

Our Commitment:

World Education Services is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

If you require assistance and/or accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please contact us at hiring@wes.org, we're here to support you. Our Talent Acquisition team is happy to work with you to find solutions that meet your needs.

For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org

This position is an existing vacancy and is currently open for hire.