Program Assistant

Position Title: Program Assistant, CET Florence

Department: CET Programs

Status: Full-time, 1-year contract

Work Location: Florence, Italy

Supervisor: Resident Director, CET Florence

Target Start Date: January or February, 2026

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Salary & Benefits

This position is hired in Italy by Italica Academy S.R.L., the partner organization of CET Academic Programs (CET) and Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. (ATA). Established in 1998, Italica Academy specializes in operating educational programs in Italy. CET and Italica Academy have worked together to operate study abroad programs in Italy since 2001.

If you’re hired, this is what we’ll offer you with a few of our benefit highlights:

• Salary: approximately €1300 net per month (full-time, January-July); approximately €700 net per month (part-time, August-December)
• 26 days of Personal Time Off, 12 holidays, all fully paid
• 5 months of paid parental leave (any parent, for birth or adoption)
• Annual insurance for work-related injuries

Position Description

The Program Assistant is primarily responsible for supporting the operation of the CET Florence program by focusing on student activities. The Program Assistant also actively participates in ensuring student success by contributing to program components such as orientation, health and safety, student advising, and CET Center and housing operations. The Program Assistant will work full-time during the spring semester and summer term (January-July) and part-time during the fall semester (August-December).

Attributes of the ideal candidate are flexibility, dedication, and enthusiasm for working with students and for the field of international education. CET is looking for a candidate willing to commit to a 1-year contract, with the possibility of a contract extension thereafter.

What you’ll do…

Program Assistant responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Program Operations & Implementation, Policies and Procedures

• Assist with arranging engaging extra-curricular activities and excursions
• Attend student activities and excursions, including during evenings and weekends when necessary
• Assist with student arrivals and check-in/check-out procedures to ensure a smooth process
• Assist with the permesso di soggiorno process
• Assist Program Coordinators, Resident Director, and Housing Coordinator with any other tasks
• Support CET Center operations and maintenance when needed, including equipment, scheduling, greeting and welcoming students and visitors, running errands, and other program preparations as needed
• Adhere closely to CET policies and procedures
• Adhere to program budget and accurately record expenses

Student Advising and Support

• Contribute to program orientation and serve as an ongoing linguistic and cultural resource
• Maintain high level of visibility and accessibility to students, via regular office hours, communication, and a welcoming demeanor
• Regularly review and update student resources
• Respond to emergencies and incidents, managing messaging and communication while collaborating with on-site and US-based staff
• Be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies on a rotating basis
• Represent student needs to CET and home institutions

Collaborating with Academic Staff

• Collaborate with Academic staff on student issues that are both academic and personal in nature

Communicating with Headquarters

• Maintain close communication with headquarters regarding any student, partner, or staff issues that arise
• Utilize Salesforce to review student reports and file detailed incident reports
• Offer effective responses to issues identified in program evaluations

We’re looking for…

• High school diploma required, Bachelor’s degree in any field preferred
• Unrestricted European Union or Italian work authorization
• Advanced proficiency in Italian and English
• Experience living, working, and/or studying abroad in Italy, preferably in Florence
• Ability to establish and maintain positive professional relationships and communicate effectively with colleagues, students, and staff
• Cultural sensitivity and a commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Excellent time management skills and ability to manage conflicting priorities
• Ability to take initiative and use good judgement when solving problems
• Experience with Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) preferred
• Experience with Salesforce or another CRM platform a plus
• Experience advising or mentoring students, preferably in a US-Italy cross-cultural context a plus
• Experience with project and office management a plus
• Willingness to wear different hats and occasionally work irregular hours
• Patience, flexibility, positive attitude, and a sense of humor

To Apply

Please attach your resume and cover letter to our application form. Applications missing any of these components will not be considered. The successful completion of a background check, including one professional/academic reference, is required for this position.

Application deadline: We encourage applicants to send their materials as soon as possible and before our deadline on January 19th, 2026.

To all recruitment agencies, ATA does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs inbox, ATA employees or any other company location. ATA is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Description of the Organization

CET Academic Programs is a study abroad organization that has been developing and operating innovative educational programs abroad since 1982. Originally “China Educational Tours,” CET began operations in Beijing, later expanding to other locations across the globe. Today, CET offers a varied portfolio of semester, summer, and customized programs around the world.