NGO JOBS

Organization: World Learning
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 01 Sep 2013

Executive Director

SUMMARY:

World Learning seeks the ideal leader to implement a strategic plan to rejuvenate The Experiment in International Living, the original flagship program of World Learning and one of the nation’s oldest youth organizations. The Experiment's foundation is built upon deep cultural immersion and strives to provide life skills that enable high school students to find their passion on one of its summer youth programs.

The Executive Director will provide visionary leadership for the Experiment in International Living. The Executive Director will develop a portfolio of dynamic, high quality summer international programs for high school students. Programs will focus on global issues and youth leadership and be mission aligned and financially viable. The Executive Director will work in close collaboration with other colleagues to build upon existing institutional relationships and to forge new relationships with high schools, mentoring organizations, international partners, and donors. The Executive Director sets strategic objectives for The Experiment and is responsible for its long-term financial viability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Academic and Programmatic Leadership

• Design and develop The Experiment’s global issues and leadership curriculum and its experiential pedagogy.
• Ensure the institution’s commitment to diversity by designing programs that are attractive to students from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Build effective relationships across the institution by working with colleagues in senior management, advancement, admissions, marketing, and student affairs.
• Work effectively with our Washington DC youth programs division and other colleagues throughout World Learning who work on youth issues.
• Design, develop, and implement new educational tools and innovations for the portfolio.
• Design and implement institutional metrics that assess impact and effectiveness of Experiment programs.
• Oversee the development of and maintenance of relationships with overseas partners and service providers who deliver content for our programs around the world.

Institutional Relations and Outreach

• Set fundraising priorities for Advancement on the development of new alumni and donor relationships; be available to support outreach efforts when called upon.
• Work in close collaboration with the Enrollment Management division to develop and to maintain excellent relationships with high school partners across the country, to review recruitment goals, and to set pricing.
• Energize alumni to support outreach and build more community or regional alumni supported scholarship initiatives.

Operations and Financial Management

• Establish and implement strategic planning, including the development of short- and long-range goals and objectives.
• Develop an annual budget and monitor costs closely by working with program staff and the Finance Department. Authorize expenditures in accordance with budget. Approve budget and expenses of direct reports.
• Manage staff development and empower the team to achieve the overall goals for the Experiment.
• Interview and select a highly motivated and qualified team of youth professionals. Recommend, review and approve personnel actions, including hiring, promotions, raises, and separation.

Student Life and Risk Management

• In collaboration with the Office of the Dean of Students, design and implement appropriate staff training and policies for overseas group leaders.
• Work in close collaboration with the Office of the General Counsel and Dean of Students to assess, monitor, and mitigate risk.
• Serve as an integral member of the Crisis Management Team and be on call as necessary.

Communication and Collaboration with other Divisions of World Learning

• Serve as an integral member of the Senior Academic Affairs Team, collaborating with other units including SIT Study Abroad and SIT Graduate Institute.
• Serve on institutional planning and policy-making committees.
• Participate in World Learning events and initiatives.

Perform all other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Master’s degree in education, leadership, youth development, or a related discipline. Ph.D. desirable.
• Experience: 10 to 15 years related experience in experiential education/international exchange with at least five to seven years of this experience in a senior management role.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• Other: Must have demonstrated skills in change management and organizational development. Must possess excellent interpersonal communication and public speaking skills. Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Word and excellent skills with Microsoft Excel required. Must be able to learn new software quickly. Ability to read, write, speak and understand English is required; multi-lingual preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and work/type at a computer.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• General office working conditions, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

COMMENTS:

• This position requires US and international travel, approximately 20%.

How to apply:

Please apply at http://www.worldlearning.org