Job Type

Full-time

Description

Position Summary: The associate director supports the development and delivery of programs, products, and services for the education abroad community, using core competencies in program development and delivery, communications, people development, and relationship cultivation. Responsibilities include serving as the strategic staff partner to education abroad volunteer leaders; leading outreach to increase awareness of NAFSA’s resources for education abroad; creating, encouraging, and/or reviewing new and refreshed content in education abroad; monitoring regulatory issues affecting education abroad; and managing virtual and onsite events with effective communication and event planning.

Essential Functions:

Serve as the strategic staff partner to education abroad volunteer leaders. (40%)

• Provide guidance and support to education abroad volunteer leaders on the Education Abroad Knowledge Community, its subcommittees, and its regional liaisons to ensure the development of annual work plans and the timely delivery of outcomes and projects outlined. Monitor and report on the progress of projects and bring challenges to the attention of the senior director.  
• Offer strategic focus, operational tools and technology guidance to volunteers to ensure their effective action. Maintain the Network.NAFSA closed communities to ensure effective collaboration among volunteer leaders.
• Schedule and attend leader meetings and advise on agenda.
• Onboard new leaders to their roles and facilitate networking and relationship-building with continuing leaders, in coordination with chairs.  
• Encourage volunteering by promoting available short and long-term volunteer opportunities, ensuring role descriptions are current, and recognizing leadership. Ensure database and website content regarding volunteer leaders is up to date.
• Manage the EA inbox and forward queries for action.

Lead outreach to increase awareness of NAFSA’s resources for education abroad (20%)

• Leverage NAFSA platforms to highlight new resources, products, services, and publications supporting education abroad professionals.
• Write a monthly post on the EAKC Network to highlight new, existing, and forthcoming existing resources and opportunities for engagement.
• Draft and develop marketing collateral for social media and direct email campaign to promote events and opportunities.
• Ensure that events, resources, and announcements are included in NAFSA outreach efforts, such as NAFSA.news. and promoted via Network.NAFSA communities.
• Moderate discussion posts, blogs, and announcements on the EAKC Network on Network.NAFSA. Encourage volunteer leaders to respond to posted questions for which they have content expertise.

Create, encourage, and/or review NAFSA’s education abroad content and resources. (15%)

• Monitor trends in education abroad and offer suggestions for addressing gaps in NAFSA resources.
• Review and provide content expertise for publications, workshops, and presentations and make suggestions to keep the content up to date and relevant.
• Recommend and/or recruit subject matter experts to contribute to content and resources.
• Propose and deliver sessions at education abroad conferences, in coordination with senior director and volunteer leaders.
• Support the submission of critical content at NAFSA annual and regional conferences, in conjunction with subject matter experts and volunteer leaders.

Monitor regulatory issues affecting education abroad and collaborate with the senior director on effective actions. (15%)

• Help position NAFSA as a leader in guidance on regulatory issues affecting education abroad.
• Monitor IssueNet and EA Visa Help submissions and facilitate their resolution in partnership with volunteer leaders or public policy staff.
• Disseminate up-to-date information federal regulations affecting education abroad as the result of changes in policy from the U.S. Departments of Education, State, Treasury, and other agencies.

Manage virtual and onsite education abroad events with effective communication and event planning. (5%)

• Support the education abroad volunteer leaders in their planned activities at annual and regional conferences (i.e. community dialogues, special sessions).
• Assist in developing education abroad or pan-NAFSA learning programs and products, in collaboration with the senior director.
• Manage the planning, marketing, and execution of events. 

Assume other responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Director. (5%)

• Represent NAFSA at various meetings, events and conferences.  
• Collaborate on cross-divisional projects as assigned. 
• Research special topics as assigned.

Decision-Making Authority

• Planning one's daily work tasks while operating from specific and definite policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols, standards, directions, or instructions.
• Arranging and facilitating meetings connected to the essential functions of the job.
• Recommending how to meet objectives for department-wide initiatives through the consistent follow-up and follow-through on plans and timelines.

About NAFSA

With more than 11,000 members, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the largest and most comprehensive association of professionals committed to advancing international higher education. Based in the United States, we provide programs, products, services, and a physical and virtual meeting space for the worldwide community of international educators. The association provides leadership to its varied constituencies through establishing principles of good practice and providing professional development opportunities. NAFSA encourages networking among professionals, convenes conferences and collaborative dialogues, and promotes research and knowledge creation to strengthen and serve the field. We lead the way in advocating for a better world through international education.

NAFSA believes that international education advances learning and scholarship, fosters under-standing and respect among people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, is essential for developing globally competent individuals, and builds leadership for the global community. We believe that international education lies at the core of an interconnected world characterized by peace, security, and well-being for all.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum three years’ work experience in an international education office at a college, university, or provider organization. 
• Knowledge of and experience in the education abroad field.
• Experience with program management and delivery.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite products.
• Ability to master various technology, web, and data management systems, including databases.
• Overall: Demonstrates understanding of job responsibilities, knowledge, and skills required to successfully perform essential functions and position requirements. Pursues opportunities for continuous learning to keep job knowledge current.
• Communication Skills: Demonstrates clear and effective oral and written communication; promotes two-way feedback through active listening and interpersonal skills; maintains composure and professional demeanor in difficult situations.  
• Multitask management: Manages multiple projects, tasks, and deadlines successfully. 
• Customer service: Ensures members, business associates, and colleagues are treated with respect and courtesy. Supports cross-departmental work by responding to requests promptly and efficiently.
• Productivity: Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for ensuring quality and quantity of work; meets professional standards; seeks assistance as necessary to clarify work objectives. Meets attendance/punctuality requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Professional experience in an education abroad office at a university, college, or provider organization.
• Experience coordinating volunteer groups or components.
• Knowledge of federal regulatory issues affecting education abroad.
• Previous experience with NAFSA, international education organization, or other membership association or nonprofit organization.
• Familiarity with the NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0.
• Initiative and Innovation: Suggests ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, or improve processes and customer experience; manages resources creatively; actively resolves problems or barriers to success. 

Work Environment

The workday is generally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The week after Memorial Day to Labor Day, it is 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday.

Travel is required occasionally related to job responsibilities, especially for the annual conference or other leadership meetings. Participation in the NAFSA annual conference the week of Memorial Day, including the holiday itself, is a job requirement. The annual conference is held in varying cities. 

Tasks are performed in a typical office environment, involving sitting for extended periods of time. Sitting, standing, bending, and lifting 10lbs or less will occur intermittently throughout the workday. Position involves constant use of computer keyboard and monitor, with intermittent use of headset and microphone. 

Salary Description

Salary range minimum/target: $65,000.