Director, Study Abroad and Distinguished Scholars

Proposed minimum salary commensurate with experience. Job location: Canyon, Texas.

About the Role

The Director of Study Abroad and Distinguished Scholars is responsible for advising students on WTAMU study abroad, distinguished scholarship programs, and the Texas Leadership Scholars program. This position will be essential in the promotion and outreach activities of the Office of Study Abroad and Distinguished Scholars Programs and the development and implementation of creative strategies to promote study abroad and distinguished scholarships on campus. This position will also assist in the development of faculty-led programs, preparation and monitoring of budgets, reports, events, and in the update and development of training materials for students and faculty.

Benefits

The A&M System strives to maintain a competitive, high-quality benefit package to support the health and wellness needs of our workforce. This includes:

• Comprehensive health and welfare insurance plans
• Additional health and lifestyle programs
• Optional retirement savings opportunities
• Paid leave programs
• 13-15 paid holidays each year

For more information regarding the benefit package, visit West Texas A&M University: Human Resources Benefits.

Responsibilities

Departmental Leadership

• Provides visionary, strategic leadership to ensure that department is innovative and continuously improving to assist students with Study Abroad, Distinguished Scholar, and Texas Leadership Scholar programs.
• Builds strong relationships with students, staff, employers, alumni, and faculty.
• Develops departmental strategic plans and learning outcomes on a yearly basis and develops procedures and programs to meet those goals and objectives.
• Creates partnerships with academic colleges, employers, alumni, departments, and student organizations to meet the strategic objectives of the department.
• Prepares and administers budgets and ensures compliance with university policies.
• Conducts periodic program evaluations of operations, personnel, and use of resources.
• Develops and maintains statistical records and uses the information to make data-informed decisions to expand services to additional students and employers.
• Implements engaging marketing and communication plans to tell the story of the department and to attract students, faculty, and staff to participate in the programs.
• Participates in division, departmental, and committee meetings as needed.
• Cares for the graduate assistant and student workers of the department, and oversees hiring, supervision, staff development, and performance evaluation for those on the team.

Study Abroad

• Advises and assists students with their study abroad programs from initial inquiry, program selection, pre-departure orientation, through program completion.
• Assists faculty members with designing, budgeting, and implementing faculty-led programs abroad.
• Travels for the purpose of training faculty, vetting providers and sites for future programs, and representing WTAMU at international meetings and conferences.

Distinguished Scholars

• Recruits and acculturates potential candidates to nationally competitive programs and target activities needed to build comprehensive portfolios for application, and identifies suitable scholarships, fellowships, internships, and graduate and professional school programs for individual students.
• Critiques and edits candidates’ application essays, resumes, and required documentation, and composes endorsement letters for students advancing to candidacy as the WTAMU representative to scholarship foundations.
• Maintains 100% compliance with timely completion of required System, University, and job-specific online training courses.

This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Six (6) years of experience developing and coordinating programs or projects in a college/university setting, or in an equivalent environment.
• Leadership, marketing, and program management experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Current knowledge of international and/or distinguished scholars’ best practices and policies, laws, and regulations affecting college students, or how to obtain that information.
• Ability to multi-task and work collaboratively with staff, faculty, and other departments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Demonstrated creative communication and marketing abilities.
• Budget development experience and knowledge of health, safety, and liability issues.
• Experience with study abroad, distinguished scholar, or equivalent programs.
• International Education Professional Certificate or Professional Certification in Education Abroad.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations regarding universities and international and/or distinguished scholar programs.
• Knowledge of THECB rules and regulations regarding international education.
• Awareness of current foreign and U.S. rules regarding immigration.
• Experience with developing programming to mitigate risk and manage crises in study abroad environments.

Due to budgetary reasons, West Texas A&M University will not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. Texas law requires all males age 18 through 25 to be properly registered with the Selective Service System.