Programs Assistant, MESA

Programs Assistant, MESA

The Middle East Studies Association is seeking a full-time Washington-DC-based employee reporting to the executive director of the Middle East Studies Association, which is headquartered at Georgetown University.

This position reports primarily to the Executive Director, though the candidate also supports other MESA staff as needed. This professional full-time position offers competitive compensation with benefits.

The Programs Assistant will assist in coordinating the association's Annual Meeting, an academic conference with 1,500-2,000 attendees over the span of one week, each fall, which requires extensive planning and coordination throughout the year. Other routine tasks could include communicating with both association members and external partners, updating MESA's online resources, administering MESA's social media, staffing some of MESA's committees, and assisting with other aspects of the association's administration as directed.</p>

The ideal candidate should be resourceful and collaborative within a small team, with proven organizational and communications skills, and the flexibility and ability to solve problems both independently and as part of a team as tasks require. Familiarity with Middle East studies or regional languages (such as Arabic, Armenian, Amazigh/Berber, French, Kurdish, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish) is preferred, though not required.

MESA is a non-profit association that fosters the study of the Middle East and North Africa, promotes high standards of scholarship and teaching, and encourages public understanding of the region and its peoples through programs, publications and services that enhance education, further intellectual exchange, recognize professional distinction, and defend academic freedom in accordance with its status as a 501(c)(3) scientific, educational, literary, and charitable organization.

Programs Assistant Anticipated Duties

• With the Executive Director and other staff, coordinates the work of the Annual Meeting Program, working with the Executive Director and other staff throughout the process.
• With other staff, monitors meeting submission database and assists members with submission issues during the open call for papers (January-February each year).
• Assists other staff in scheduling the meeting program and tracking sessions and presenters, regularly updating program details online and in the printed versions of the program.
• Assists in scheduling events of MESA’s affiliated associations and other affiliated entities held in conjunction with MESA’s Annual Meeting.
• Assists other MESA staff with the creation of both the preliminary and final meeting programs.
• Ensures timely production and delivery to the Annual Meeting location.
• With other staff, receives and manages print advertising for the Annual Meeting program as well as digital ads for the mobile app or online platform.
• With other staff, manages the Annual Meeting mobile application and updates details throughout the meeting.
• Works with other MESA staff to coordinate the Film Festival, such as preparing the Film Fest guide as part of the meeting program book.
• Assists with the Book Exhibit at the Annual Meeting, with approximately 60-80 vendors each year assigned as exhibitors to 80-100 booths in the exhibit hall.
• Assists with preparing, printing, and posting Annual Meeting signage on site.
• Works with Executive Director, other MESA staff, and external conference planning company to plan for MESA’s Annual Meetings, including site visits when necessary.
• At the meeting onsite, works with other MESA staff and representatives of the conference planning company to ensure successful meeting operations:
• Staffs special events such as the Annual Meeting dance party, presidential reception, and other plenaries.
• Assists other MESA staff members with processing Annual Meeting registrations and running onsite registration.
• Onsite and after, assists with bookkeeping through receipt keeping and report creation.
• Assists with administering other Annual Meeting logistics (such as letters of participation, travel awards, childcare grants, and roommate matching), as needed.
• Assists with routine office logistics as needed.
• May assist with tracking payments and supporting paperwork for finances and expenses, such as for advertising, exhibiting, and sponsorships.
• May assist with reimbursement and tracking of travel expenses.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Programs Assistant Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in any field required
• Aptitude for working within a small, professional team
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to solve novel problems independently
• Demonstrated communications skills, both written and spoken
• Good judgment in prioritizing competing tasks on deadline
• Expertise with email and basic computing programs using the Google and Microsoft Office Suites of applications (Word documents, spreadsheets, etc.).

Position details

The starting salary is anticipated in a range of $49,000-54,000 annually, commensurate with experience. MESA offers a competitive benefits package including retirement contributions and insurance coverage.

The position is based in MESA's DC office 3700 O St. NW Suite 241, Washington DC 20057 (Georgetown University Center for Contemporary Arab Studies).

MESA is currently a hybrid workplace, with employees working physically in person in the office at least two days per week.

Applicant must be based in the Washington DC metropolitan area at the time of hiring.

Application Procedure:

To apply, please send a cover letter, a resume, and the contact information for three references in a combined PDF to pa@mesana.org

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review of applications is ongoing and will continue until the position is filled.

MESA is an equal-opportunity employer.