Assistant Director, Programs Abroad Office Center for Global Engagement – UTK Position Available In Knox, Tennessee

Assistant Director, Programs Abroad Office Center for Global Engagement – UTK
University of Tennessee Chattanooga Knoxville, TN Full-time Other
Posted on April 08, 2025
Job Description
This is a full-time position that reports to the Director of Programs Abroad and provides oversight of the daily operations within PAO and strategic support for all the operations and initiatives of the Programs Abroad Office (PAO) that, in turn, support the Center for Global Engagement and UT’s Global Vision.

Main responsibilities include:

overseeing all day-to-day operations of Programs Abroad including (but not limited to) student advising, program contracting, program payments, faculty relations, student application system processes and updates, fiscal management for programs, and participation in any risk management or emergency crises that may arise; providing support for all PAO staff members (in conjunction with the Director) and formal management (including an equitable division of portfolios) of assigned staff members; cultivating and maintaining healthy, productive relationships with both campus and external stakeholders, conducting in-person or virtual site visits, as needed.
The Center for Global Engagement, (CGE), is hiring an Assistant Director, Programs Abroad Office to join a team of dedicated professionals in our Programs Abroad Office who are committed to fostering global awareness and academic, personal and professional growth by offering a broad range of study, intern, research and service learning opportunities outside the United States. CGE is comprised of six units (English Language Institute, the International House, Global Security Risk and Resilience, International Student and Scholar Services, and Programs Abroad, Global Research Innovation and Partnerships) who are responsible for working throughout campus, across Tennessee and around the world to provide enriching and diverse international experiences for faculty, students and scholars.
Responsibilities
Office and Personnel Oversight
Contributes to the development of and implements strategic goals, policies and procedures within the purview of the Programs Abroad Office.
Makes decisions about complex issues and has authority to grant exceptions to PAO guidelines and regulations.
Builds and maintains healthy, productive relationships with relevant units across campus (Financial Aid, Bursar, Student Disability Services, OneStop, select colleges/departments, other CGE units, etc.)
Supervises assigned program coordinators and provides supervision for all other PAO staff members in the Director’s absence.
Structures and facilitates, onboarding for all assigned coordinators, as noted above.
Proposes and facilitates, upon approval, appropriate professional development opportunities for coordinators.
Programs Abroad Budgetary (non-central budgets) and Funding Oversight
Independently manages, reviews, revises the process for and creation of Faculty-directed program
budgets
Responsible for seeking and gaining final approval for all program budgets with the appropriate entities
(generally, the PAO Financial Associate or assigned personnel in the CGE Business Office)
Manages, reviews, and revises the rectification of all Faculty-Directed Program account.
Primary approver in UTK financial system (DASH) for all Programs Abroad program-account-related
contracts, invoices and transfers.
Programs Portfolio Development, Management and Oversight
Manages the creation and maintenance of the project management workflow and system related to programs abroad.
Negotiates contracts and audits workflow of contracts related to programs abroad, including service contracts with foreign and domestic vendors, ensuring compliance with university policies.
Oversees a portfolio of 5-10 Faculty-Directed Programs with the support of specifically assigned coordinators, as needed.
Manages the application process for new and renewed programs and makes any necessary changes as requested or authorized by the Director.
Independently manages the opening and closing of the application cycle and compiles the needed information for all Faculty-Directed Programs for review from CGE Risk, PAO, and relevant
Department Head and college Financial Officer.
Creates and maintains training materials and establishes pipelines for faculty and staff related to creation and maintenance of various types of programs abroad.
Responsible for ensuring timely creation and distribution of marketing materials for all UTK programs abroad, in collaboration with the CGE Communications Manager.
Travels, at request or approval of Director, to foster better relationships, communication and outcomes with program partners.
Risk Management and Crisis Response
Contributes to the development and execution of risk management procedures and protocols for the university’s education abroad population.
Serves as a member of the on-call emergency team
Attends and participates in trainings and weekly meetings
Responsible for physical phone (if applicable) and for being primary and back-up contact during assigned rotation periods.
Actively participates both in and outside of normal working hours in crisis response discussions and duties, when they arise
Responsible for setting up incident response protocol and platform prior to each Academic Year
Conducts on-site or virtual reviews of program location, activities, lodging and amenities as requested or authorized by the Director
Responsible for seeking collaboration with appropriate university entities (Office of General Counsel, Title IX, Clery, Student Disability Services, etc.) during risk management and crisis response, as needed.
This includes auditing training of faculty in conjunction with the Clery office
Office Operations and Systems Responsibility
Serves as primary contact for the study abroad Student Application System for both UTK team members and Student Application System representative.
Independently creates and manages working groups including (but not limited to) organizing the project management, building and organizing shared information spaces, developing goals, timelines, agendas and minutes, etc. for the duration of the working group.
Supports the Director by making process improvement recommendations and handing escalations regarding student enrollment processes (including, but not limited to: student billing, course enrollment, etc.)
CGE and Service to the Field
Acts as office lead, in absence of the Director.
Represents PAO on campus committees, as needed/assigned.
Represents PAO, the Center for Global Engagement and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on international education committees both international and domestic, as appropriate.
Maintains membership to and actively uses resources available from
NAFSA
The Forum on Education Abroad
Other organizations approved by the Director
Represents PAO at select campus or events or tabling opportunities.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree.

Experience:

At least two years of experience working in an education abroad office at an institution of higher education OR five years of experience working in international education, student services, academic advising, international engagement, global learning, or a related field. Five years of progressively responsible experience with time spent in a leadership capacity.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Supervisory experience and office management skills.
Excellent ability to manage budgets and contracts, and demonstrate strong business acumen.
Working knowledge of higher education global programs, standards, requirements and practices.
Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion while executing program goals, policies, and regulations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Ability to interact with study abroad program representatives, faculty, and students in a professional manner with an understanding of protocol and confidentiality.
Demonstrated excellent written and oral formal/informal communication skills. Ability to communicate with international partners who are often non-native English speakers.
Ability to work periodic evening and weekend hours.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
Ability to manage emergency situations involving students studying abroad.
Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Doctoral degree

Experience:

Formal supervisory experience, project management oversight, working knowledge in a non-English
language, and experience with global cross-cultural interactions and engagement, which might include living, working, or studying abroad, are preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Previous supervisory experience.
Project management experience.
Experience with academic and study abroad software such as Banner, TerraDotta, etc.
Experience with global cross-cultural interactions, which might include living, working, or studying abroad.
Working knowledge of one or more non-English languages.
Work Location
This is an on-campus position.
Other Conditions of Employment
Must be available to work evenings, weekends and travel domestically and internationally, valid passport and legal ability to travel internationally.
Compensation and Benefits
UT market range: MR12
Anticipated hiring range: $60,000 – $75,000
Regular Full Time Exempt
Benefits include:
Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
Education for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV or resume, names and contact information for three professional references.
About The College/Department/Division
The Center for Global Engagement, CGE is comprised of seven units (English Language Institute, the International House, International Student and Scholar Services, Programs Abroad, Communications, Global Security, Risk and Resilience, & Global Research, Innovation and Partnerships) that are responsible for working throughout campus, across Tennessee and around the world to provide enriching and diverse international learning and research experiences for faculty, students and scholars.
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