Director of Programs Abroad

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) seeks a collaborative, innovative and strategic candidate to lead the Programs Abroad Office (PAO). Reporting to the Vice Provost for International affairs, PAO is a critical component of the UT global vision. It is an exciting and highly visible opportunity for an innovative leader with demonstrated education experience to oversee UT’s education abroad portfolio. UT has prioritized its vision for global engagement, with plans to enhance the institutional global brand and the comprehensiveness of the global learning for our students. The successful candidate will bring vision and strategy for undergraduate education abroad that compliments UT’s global vision, integrates the student international experience and the Volunteer experience. The selected candidate will have the vision to deepen the faculty engagement, and to ensure that global opportunities are high quality and accessible to all students.  The director must champion diversity, equity and inclusion and lead with a spirit of humanity, generosity and empathy. The successful candidate will possess a demonstrated commitment to these principles.

The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem surrounded by eight gorgeous lakes, with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene including internationally recognized festivals, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of diverse cultural and outdoor activities. UTK is located within easy driving distance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Louisville, and Cincinnati. It is only a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a population of more than 850,000 people.

Position Summary:

The Director oversees the leadership and management of the Programs Abroad Office in the Center for Global Engagement (CGE). The Director is a member of the CGE executive committee and works with the Vice Provost to develop and implement a global strategic vision/plan for the CGE and UTK. The PAO is responsible for students participating on UT faculty-led, service learning and affiliate study abroad programs. This population numbers approximately 1500 students annually. The financial scope of the office is $5 million annually and carries a sizable account portfolio of nearly 300 accounts.  The position’s key areas of responsibility include:

• Leadership and innovation
• Management and supervision
• Program management and development
• Risk management and crisis response
• Study abroad advising
• Committee membership, advisory boards and service to the field
• External partner relationship management