General Statement of Job

Reporting to the President, the Executive Director of International Education will provide strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the institution's international education initiatives. This role involves overseeing international partnerships, study abroad programs, global engagement, and cross-cultural initiatives, while ensuring alignment with institutional goals and objectives. The Executive Director will also play a key role in fostering global awareness in an academic environment, supporting faculty, staff, and students in their international endeavors.

Essential Duties:

The Executive Director will actively collaborate and communicate with academic and admissions/enrollment leadership and will serve on the University Council.

Will actively lead the following, including initiatives associated with the Institute of International Studies:

• Faculty Led Study Abroad—with a commitment to broaden faculty and student engagement and measurably increase participation in study abroad across campus.

• International Partnerships—prioritize and affirm the university’s most strategic and productive partnerships, while cultivating new relationships.

• Student and Faculty Exchange—build upon existing and seek new opportunities for student, faculty and staff exchange (short-term and long-term).

• Community Engagement—serve as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic connector to the campus and broader community to build support and participation in MSSU’s international education efforts.

• Themed Semesters—provide leadership of this unique feature of MSSU that greatly benefits campus and the community.

• World Music and Cuisine Festival—provide leadership, while engaging others, in planning and executing this outstanding community event.

• Spring International Film Festival – provides oversight, while engaging others, in planning and executing an international film series.

Build strong, collaborative, and collegial relationships with campus leaders, both academic and administrative, seeking to understand their specific priorities and identify ways to create new opportunities for students.

Explore new opportunities for joint programs, international research projects, and faculty exchanges.

Promote intercultural competence across the institution and engage faculty in developing global learning outcomes in their courses.

Performs other related duties as required.

Education, Experience, and Licenses

A master’s degree from an accredited university is required, with a doctoral degree preferred.

Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with international education programs required

History of working with students and educators to facilitate international experiences such as study abroad and institutional partnerships is required

Significant academic and personal international/global knowledge and experience required

Intercultural competence and diplomatic skills to support effective collaboration with a range of students, faculty, and institutional partners is required

Five or more years of higher education experience directing, or playing a significant leadership role, in an Office of International Education that supports study abroad opportunities and international partnerships preferred.

Ability to engage in occasional international business travel and participate in on-campus events

A proactive professional with a spirit of initiative, innovation, and the ability to juggle multiple priorities, programs, and projects in a fast-paced environment.

Depending on qualifications, a concurrent faculty appointment is possible with the potential to teach on a limited basis.

Ability to travel abroad is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with internal and external constituencies.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to draft correspondence.
• Strong analytical skills including ability to assess and solve complex problems while ensuring compliance to state, federal and university policies.
• High level of organization and attention to detail, including the ability to anticipate needs, plan well in advance and a commitment to high standards of professional work.
• Excellence in project management overseeing large, cross-functional organization-wide projects or initiatives
• Personal qualities of integrity, professionalism, good judgment, appropriate discretion, a strong work ethic and a commitment to service and treating others with respect.
• Commitment to positively contributing to a campus climate that supports success for students, faculty and staff.
• Ability and willingness to work in a high-paced environment and to simultaneously assume responsibility for numerous and diverse tasks and projects—from the routine and arduous, to the unique and interesting.
• Attendance of university and external meetings and events, sometimes during evenings or weekends and occasionally requiring travel.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel including the use of a computer keyboard; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear including the use of a telephone. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

NOTICE: The above job profile does not include all essential and nonessential duties of this job. All employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact Human Resources to review and discuss the essential and nonessential functions of the job. An employee with a disability can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if she/he can safely perform the essential function of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.