Director, Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Western Hemisphere

World Learning

  • Washington DC
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
Director, Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Western HemisphereGlobal Programs UnitReports to: Director of Academic ExchangesSalary Range: Grade 8Anticipated Start Date: 10/1/2024Term of Employment: Full-timeApply by: Until filledBase of Designation: Washington, DCRemote Eligible: Remote OR Hybrid - eitherConditional on Funding? YesWorld Learning seeks a Director for the anticipated Fulbright Foreign Student Program for the Western Hemisphere to oversee implementation of this important and complex graduate exchange program. The Fulbright Program promotes mutual understanding and creates lasting connections in a complex and changing world. It is the U.S. Government's flagship international educational exchange and is conducted in partnership with participating governments, host institutions, and other entities that provide both direct and indirect support. Participants are selected for their academic merit and leadership potential through a competitive process. The Director will be World Learning's primary point of contact with the Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), as well as bilateral Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies in the region. In addition, the Director will develop and maintain relationships and agreements with U.S. higher education institutions that participate in the program. The Director will supervise the Senior Manager to form a management partnership that prioritizes strong customer relations, compliant systems, and lasting impact.Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project.ABOUT GLOBAL PROGRAMSThis position will be a part of the Global Programs unit of World Learning which designs, implements, monitors, and evaluates global development and exchange programs. We work with various donors, including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, to achieve immediate impact and sustainable outcomes. Consistent with our organization's status as both a global nonprofit and an accredited institution of higher education, we prioritize experiential programs that are grounded in theory, proven in practice, and lift up diverse voices.RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Maintain overall responsibility for ensuring the successful implementation of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program for the Western Hemisphere, prioritizing effective relationships with key stakeholders, sustained impact, and responsible and compliant program processes.
  • As the primary strategic point of contact for ECA, develop strong relationships with the Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Fulbright branch and successfully navigate complex issues with the Bureau.
  • Similarly, serve as trusted point person for U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions in WHA, working with each to understand their particular aims for the program and the nuances of funding models and partnerships.
  • Develop and sustain partnerships with diverse higher education institutions to provide exceptional support, flexible financing, and high-quality academics to WHA grantees. Responsible for negotiating cost-share agreements with university partners that allow for program sustainability and pathways for continued funding at the conclusion of the Fulbright grant.
  • Effectively represent the program to government officials and other partners, actively participating in key Fulbright stakeholder meetings and contributing to high-level discussions of Fulbright policies based on the realities of program implementation. Some domestic and international travel required.
  • Engage in business development to support yearly organizational targets for academic exchange programming. This includes responsibility for the design and writing of the annual program renewal proposal.
  • Oversee program budget to ensure realism and adequacy based on complexities of this multi-stakeholder program.
  • Effectively represent program issues to World Learning internal partners on Finance, Compliance, IT, and Human Resources teams.
  • Supervise the Senior Manager who oversees day-to-day program placement and advising operations.
REQUIREMENTS
Required Experience/Education:
  • A master's or doctorate degree is required.
  • At least ten years of relevant work experience is required.
  • Applicants must be authorized to work in the location where this position is offered.
Required Skills:
  • In-depth knowledge of management of U.S. Department of State-funded academic exchanges, including participant recruitment, selection, placement, and advising.
  • Understanding of larger U.S. and partner country interests in investing in academic exchange.
  • Experience establishing, negotiating, and sustaining higher education partnerships.
  • Knowledge of U.S. graduate admissions processes.
  • Capacity to balance competing perspectives and resolve issues across program stakeholders.
  • Commitment to collaborative management.
  • Cross-cultural appreciation, sensitivity, and understanding.
  • Professional-level proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese.
Required Behaviors/Competencies:
  • Promote diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices that further the goals of the Fulbright Program in the Western Hemisphere, elevating opportunities for traditionally underrepresented populations to access the program and succeed on it.
  • Support a culture of continuous learning and improvement through diligent program monitoring, data tracking, and reflection to ensure strong outcomes.
  • Display curiosity about World Learning and be eager to represent the organization effectively to external audiences.
  • Show dedication to achieving the organization's mission and business development targets through ongoing program implementation and relationship building.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Understanding of higher education systems in Western Hemisphere countries.
Vaccination is strongly recommended for all employees in our U.S. offices except for those receiving medical or religious exemptions. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees and faculty will be recommended to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility.BenefitsWorld Learning provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, FSA/HRA, Life/AD&D, Short Term/Long Term Disability, EAP, Parking and Transit, 403 (b) retirement plan (when applicable) for full-time and eligible part-time employees.The World Learning Inc. FamilyFor more than 90 years, World Learning Inc. is a thriving global organization made up of The Experiment in International Living, the nation's most experienced provider of international education through exchanges for high school students; School for International Training, offering accredited undergraduate study abroad programs through SIT Study Abroad and internationally focused master's degrees through SIT Graduate Institute; and World Learning, a global development and exchange nonprofit organization.World Learning | worldlearning.orgWorld Learning has worked to create a more sustainable, peaceful, and just world. World Learning's education, development, and exchange programs help people find their voices, connect with their communities, strengthen the institutions that form the backbone of a democratic society, and build relationships across cultures. With World Learning's support, these emerging leaders tackle critical global issues like poverty, conflict, and inequality.The Experiment in International Living | experiment.orgThe Experiment in International Living is the nation's most experienced provider of international education through exchanges for high school students. For more than 90 years, The Experiment has empowered young people to step off the beaten path, experience the world as a classroom, immerse themselves fully in another culture, and build the knowledge and skills needed to confront critical global issues.SIT | sit.eduSchool for International Training (SIT) was founded in the early 1960s as a training center for the first Peace Corps volunteers. For nearly 60 years, SIT has prepared students to be effective changemakers and global citizens through experiential education focused on the world's most critical global issues. SIT Study Abroad offers accredited summer and semester undergraduate programs in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs on multiple continents. SIT Graduate Institute offers global and hybrid certificates, master's, and doctoral degrees.An organizational commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.We are a globally diverse community of staff, faculty, board members, alumni, students, and participants who believe that inclusive and equitable practices are at the heart of a peaceful and just world. Each of us strives to honor diverse voices and lived experiences, examine our own biases and privileges, actively work to address inequities in our structures, and foster a community of open dialogue. We are committed to acting with accountability, transparency, reciprocity, authenticity, and empathy.World Learning is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action/veterans/ADA employer, committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.

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