Director of Global Safety and Operations

About Drexel

Drexel is one of Philadelphia's top 10 private employers, a comprehensive global research university and a major engine for economic development in the region. With over 24,000 students, Drexel is one of America's 15 largest private universities. Drexel has committed to being the nation’s most civically engaged university, with community partnerships integrated into every aspect of service and academics.

Job Summary

The Director of Global Safety and Operations will provide leadership to the University on matters of health, safety, and security abroad and coordinate the development of strategic global operations. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Global Engagement and in collaboration with key stakeholders around the University, this position will oversee and champion a comprehensive strategy to promote and protect the well-being of Drexel students, faculty, staff, postdocs, and others traveling, studying, working and doing research and co-ops abroad and to develop systems to manage key global operations.

Essential Functions

• Policy Development, Review and Implementation: Regularly evaluate Drexel global health, safety and security policies to mitigate risks in international academic efforts. Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify needs for improvement and implement updates. Help units interpret policies and make recommendations for safety planning and compliance. Serve on relevant projects and working groups, including the Essential Travel and Travel Risk Review Committees, the Global Engagement Council, Enterprise Risk Management and others as appropriate. Support the University's legal compliance with various laws and regulations related to health and safety abroad, including FERPA, HIPAA, export controls, Title IX and the Clery Act.
• Proactive Travel Risk Assessment: Monitor health, safety and security trends throughout the world to understand their impact on Drexel. Coordinate decisions on University travel advisories and restrictions and provide expert consultation to colleagues, including senior administration regarding destination risk assessment, safety planning and program design. Contribute to the continuous improvement of integrated data systems for students, faculty, and staff, including security assessments and travel tracking systems for faculty and staff abroad, and use of Terra Dotta for student travelers. Monitor Drexel’s travel registration, and draft reports and recommendations for enhancing compliance as needed including an annual report on global safety activities.
• Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management: Coordinate Drexel responses to international events that impact our travelers and serve as the initial point of contact for international incidents. Manage communications, both proactive messaging and emergency responses. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to respond to urgent Drexel traveler needs, including Public Safety, General Counsel, Risk Management, Education Abroad, Global Health, Student Life, Steinbright, and Communications. Work with Risk Management to evaluate current resources and identify areas for improvement. Liaise with the University’s emergency assistance provider to coordinate care and/or support evacuations when needed.
• Training and Outreach: Manage an outreach plan to maintain visibility of Drexel’s travel policies and best practices across our campuses. Provide expertise on faculty training for education abroad and pre-departure preparation for students on both academic and co-curricular experiences. Maintain shared resources for global health, safety and security to be used on the Office of Global Engagement’s website and related web pages, on Info-boards and elsewhere (e.g. presentations, on-line learning modules, checklists, etc.). Work with the Counseling center to provide mental health supports and resources to student travelers.
• Development of Strategic Operations: Provide leadership and collaborate with units across campus to develop protocols needed for safe, ethical and effective global operations. Working with the Office of Research and Innovation, Human Resources, Procurement and Travel amongst others, create systems to support global activities. Maintain oversight of the protocols for Non-Credit Experiences Abroad including the assessment of international community-based learning opportunities and working closely with Student Life on protocols.
• Other duties as assigned. This position is part of the Leadership team in the Office of Global Engagement and will contribute to the Drexel’s global engagement strategies.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate or professional degree in higher education, international affairs, public policy, area studies, law or other field relevant to the position and 3+ years working in a position with safety and security responsibilities is required.
• The Director will have demonstrated experience in the following areas: international programs/partnerships management, global safety risk assessment, and emergency response. The ability to effectively communicate with a diverse group of stakeholders is critical, including faculty, staff, students and collaborators from around the world. A proven track record of effective collaboration with multiple internal stakeholders is critical. Familiarity with change management in complex organizations is required, as is the capacity to utilize information technology to streamline policy implementation and business processes. Experience living, working or studying abroad is required.
• Work Hours and Travel: Occasional international travel may be required. In case of a serious emergency, the Director will be expected to provide crisis management outside of regular business hours and possibly travel on short notice to provide in-country support as needed. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule (in person and remote).

Location

• University City.

Additional Information

• This position is classified as exempt with a salary grade of M . For more information regarding Drexel’s Professional Staff salary structure, https://drexel.edu/hr/career/ducomp/salstructure/

Special Instructions to the Applicant

• Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

Advertised:Oct 15 2021 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:Nov 15 2021 Eastern Standard Time