Job Description
The Regional Director of Operations, Pacific-Rim has overall business management responsibility for a set of CIEE Centers in the Pacific-Rim region, requiring the delivery of high-quality programming, logistics and related services all while attending to the safety and security of the student experience. This position currently oversees CIEE operations in Shanghai, Kyoto, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and Singapore.
The Regional Director of Operations (RDO) oversees the management and administration of CIEE Centers that support U.S. college and high school study abroad programs as well as faculty-led, internship, and other special programs. The RDO achieves objectives through the supervision and management of international staff as well as through strong collaboration with other business units at CIEE that directly impact successful delivery – Health, Safety and Security, Academic Affairs, Enrollment, Institutional Relations, Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Participant Services.
The RDO plays a key role in the overall management of CIEE Centers while contributing in all key areas of business and financial management, as well as program development and strategic planning. This position requires the use of superior judgment and the ability to make key decisions relative to policy, timing, and implementation in all areas of responsibility.
Responsibilities:
(1) Administrative, Academic and Staff Management
- Oversee the delivery of high quality academic programs and co-curricular program components including cultural and community engagement activities and housing and student services
- Maintain overall responsibility for staff; including hiring, developing and retaining staff to maintain a productive and positive work environment in compliance with local employment laws and CIEE employment policies and procedures
- Provide day-to-day management of center directors, including setting expectations, managing performance, recordkeeping, and ensuring staff have the resources and tools to succeed
- Work closely with directors to negotiate agreements/maintain relationships with host institutions in each location
- Participate in program development as directed
- Manage IT infrastructure needs, including ensuring Center equipment meets CIEE standards
- Ensure on-time and accurate staff completion of deliverables throughout the year, including program quality reports, syllabi submission, marketing input, and a range of administrative tasks
(2) Student Experience and Health, Safety and Security
- Manage effective and expedient response to all health, safety, and security incidents
- Ensure that all Center teams are adhering to CIEE policies and procedures on reporting of incidents, testing emergency communication systems, submitting annual reports on Emergency Response, Sexual Assault Guidelines and the like
- Work closely with CIEE management team and staff on monitoring and mitigation of local risks, including possible political disruptions and natural disasters
- Review student evaluations and make recommendations to mitigate risks posed to students in your region in conjunction with the Health, Safety and Security team
- Manage high level interaction with parents and administrators as necessary
(3) Financial Management and Legal Compliance
- Develop annual program budgets in consultation with center directors and CIEE management team and monitor center financial performance
- In conjunction with Finance Department, oversee financial controls protocols and train staff on financial systems
- Coordinate and lead on-going management of CIEE legal entities in each location and determine best legal structure for existing and new operations
- Lead overall legalization efforts in locations in which a new or different legal entity structure is required
- Ensure that all required financial reporting is accomplished by established deadlines
- Maintain all documentation related to program facilities and equipment, including current leases for all facilities.
- Collect and review annual program and term reports and follow up
Other
- Ensure CIEE brand is well-represented at sites and all regional programs are well-represented in CIEE marketing materials
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Master’s degree required
- At least eight years work experience with significant hands-on managerial experience in study abroad, international educational exchange, or a related higher education institutional setting required
- Fluency in English required; competency in an additional regional language preferred.
- Familiarity and experience within the Pacific-Rim region required
- Authorization to work in the region without sponsorship strongly preferred
- Experience developing and managing budgets required
- Proven ability to lead a team through the complexities and challenges of a broad range of operational, programmatic, and student affairs issues required
- Proven ability to be an extremely strong people manager and be able to accomplish challenging objectives and goals through others
- In-depth knowledge of and first-hand experience with U.S. academic institutions and their culture and processes required
- Experience developing, implementing, and managing projects and processes required
- Exceptional communication skills with students, parents, faculty, sending school advisors, board members and colleagues required
- Familiarity with the Microsoft suite of software and proven interest in using technology to improve business functions required
- Ability to travel 1/4 time and 24/7 availability in case of urgent situations required
About the Organization
A nonprofit, non-governmental organization, CIEE is the world leader in international education and exchange. For 70 years CIEE has been committed to bringing the world together through meaningful international exchange programs to help humanize international relations – all students, all nations. Driven by this purpose, CIEE has helped thousands of people gain the knowledge and skills necessary to live and work in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world by offering the most comprehensive, relevant, and valuable exchange programs available. Serving over 400 U.S. College and University consortium members, CIEE operates thirty-two centers in twenty-six countries that support study abroad programs for thousands of students annually. In addition, as the largest sponsor for U.S. Department of State J-1 Visa programs, CIEE helps nearly 30,000 international students participate in U.S. based exchange programs annually. CIEE programs and services span study abroad, teach abroad, international faculty development seminars, and inbound exchange study, work, and internship programs for today’s high school and university students, professionals, and educators.
