Associate Director, Learning Abroad Programs

Competition 1470

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Administrative and Professional Officer Agreement, this full-time continuing position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and an annual salary range of $76,395 to $127,323.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person at North Campus, Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Department

Driven by our vision of “Expanding Horizons for a Better World”, the University of Alberta International (UAI) supports the university community in the development and delivery of impactful international experiences, partnerships, and opportunities to foster global citizenship for students, faculty, and staff. Our diverse, globally-minded team strives to strengthen the experience of international students, deepen the university’s global engagement, and increase students’ global learning.

UAI’s Global Learning team delivers learning opportunities on campus and internationally that enable students to learn about the world, enhance their global competencies, and understand their potential as global citizens. The unit provides support to both institutional and faculty-level programming.

Position 

The Associate Director is one of two leadership roles reporting to the Director, Global Learning, and leads a high-performing team coordinating a portfolio of exchange, short-term, faculty-led, and internship programs in over 50 countries.

The successful candidate will have experience leading diverse teams, developing education abroad programming, and a deep understanding of academic cultures and systems. They will have an understanding that the work of sending students abroad starts on campus by ensuring programs are well integrated with students’ academic programs. With a student-centered focus, they will oversee an advising team whose goal is to find the best-fit education abroad experience for interested students.

Duties 

Student Advising and Service Delivery

• Develop advising models that provide advisors with strategies and tools to
  • Assess and understand the student’s motivation and capacity for international experience
  • Work with students to set goals, identify options, and find the best match for an education abroad opportunity
  • Facilitate the student’s application and preparation to go abroad
  • Support the student while abroad and ensure that post-experience details (e.g. credit transfer) are managed.
• Establish service standards. Monitor unit achievement of standards. Engage the team in identifying areas for improvement and possible solutions. Implement changes that streamline processes, and enhance advisors’ experience.
• Manage the education abroad student service provision in the International Service Centre, ensuring appropriate coverage and cross-training with the advising team and front counter staff.

Program Development, Implementation, and Evaluation

• Develop and implement a comprehensive portfolio of international programs that respond to student interests and institutional goals.
• Oversee and manage institutional-level exchange agreements and the operation of UAI’s e3 and internship programs.
• Oversee the student administration of faculty-level programs, ensuring that clear service expectations and responsibilities are established with faculty partners and that outcomes are achieved.
• Build positive relationships with the campus community, develop campus advocates for education abroad, and advance strategies for engaging academic units in developing and implementing education abroad programming.
• Identify resources and strategies for all programs and partners that can minimize health and safety risks or that can be drawn upon in emergency situations.
• Implement strategies and tools to evaluate UAI Education Abroad programming with respect to achievement of learning outcomes and student satisfaction.

Partner Relations

• Contribute to the evaluation of new partners and programs.
• Oversee existing relationships with exchange partners, third-party providers, and program coordinators based overseas, ensuring partners have up-to-date information on UofA policies, and timelines and that any challenges are proactively and efficiently resolved.
• Ensure all agreements are in place and monitor activity to ensure agreement obligations are met.
• Managing reciprocal exchange balances and developing strategies with partners to improve student flows where necessary.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience (10+ years) in a relevant field.
• Experience in academic program development, administration, project management, and process improvement.
• Expertise in recruiting, supervising, mentoring, and evaluating staff or volunteers, with proven leadership, team-building, and strategic alignment skills.
• Strong advising, counselling, and problem-solving abilities, with knowledge of intercultural communication theory, particularly with program learning outcomes.
• Familiarity with student development and sojourner adjustment theory.
• Understanding of international education systems and academic cultures.
• Strong decision-making, analytical, and research skills.
• Excellent communication skills, especially in diplomatic and intercultural settings.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, capable of fostering trust and respect across diverse cultural, gender, and religious backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in a second language.