Assistant Director of Institutional Relations

This position works primarily with visiting study abroad and away students and partners, managing a portfolio of partner universities and coordinating high-level administrative support for visiting student enrollment. Reporting to the Associate Director of Institutional Relations, the Assistant Director collaborates with the rest of the IR team, the Admissions team, and other units within Syracuse Abroad to contribute to and implement a comprehensive data-driven strategy for engaging students, faculty, and administrators from existing partner institutions and other U.S. colleges and universities. The position also helps implement goals related to the recruitment of visiting students to study away programs. The position requires a highly motivated, well-organized leader with excellent written and speaking skills, who is able to represent the University and Syracuse Abroad professionally and authoritatively to university-level administrators and faculty both internally and externally. Travel and event work is often required during evening/weekend hours during the recruitment season; the position visits partner universities and attends external events.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree plus 4+ years of progressively responsible experience in international education, higher education, or a related field required, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Ability to travel frequently required (4-8 weeks each semester).
• Experience studying, interning, volunteering, or working abroad required.
• Experience studying abroad with one of Syracuse Abroad’s center programs preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in data management and Terra Dotta preferred.

Skills and Knowledge

• Engaging, effective communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to handle high pressure situations and produce results.
• Ability to connect with diverse audiences of students, faculty, and administrators.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and productively in an ever-changing fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to set priorities, exercise initiative, and execute projects.
• Experience with Terra Dotta or other database software preferred.
• Marketing and communications experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of Syracuse University and Syracuse Abroad center programs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Institutional relations portfolio oversight; travel and recruitment: Serve as lead liaison and relationship manager for assigned portfolio of study abroad and away partner schools. Represent Syracuse Abroad at partner school events including study abroad and study away fairs, pre-departure orientations, conferences, and professional meetings. Assist in maintaining a relationship management database for the IR team. Analyze enrollment trends and develop and track enrollment projections. Represent and communicate the evolving needs of visiting students/partner institutions and market trends in meetings with Syracuse University colleagues. Conduct year-over-year analyses of visiting student enrollment trends and develop school-specific outreach plans based on those trends. Serve as a thought partner for developing strategic initiatives in collaboration with IR, Admissions, and other units.
• Coordinate high-level administrative support for partner schools: Maintain awareness of partner billing arrangements and billing related process timelines and deadlines. Assist in maintaining a database of agreements with partner institutions. Play a key role in renewing or signing new agreement with new partners. Liaise with Student Services on elevated health and safety issues involving visiting students, serving as the primary contact with the partner school and mitigating partner school concerns as needed. Work with high-sending partner institutions to develop and implement customized processes to streamline student enrollment in coordination with Academics, Admissions, and Operations. Implement components of a strategic plan for growth in specific academic areas based on critical assessment of existing Syracuse study abroad and away programs and the curricular needs of partner schools (areas may include STEM, Architecture, and other targeted fields of study).
• Marketing and communication; campus engagement: Strategically increase visibility through designing critical events and identify resources to reach diverse audiences. Assist in the creation of marketing materials and strategic promotion for various audiences including students, staff, and faculty both on Syracuse’s campus and at partner schools. Assist with outreach to partners (newsletters, workshops, presentations, etc.) towards increased visibility and promotion of Syracuse study abroad and away programs. Using data and data analysis, contribute to strengthening, fine tuning, and more effectively targeting Syracuse Abroad’s marketing outreach initiatives. Support Syracuse Abroad’s visibility in various international education venues to reinforce Syracuse Abroad’s reputation and position as a major institutional provider and thought leader in the field of education abroad.
• Institutional relations special projects/initiatives: Lead special projects/initiatives that will improve IR team’s collaboration within Syracuse Abroad and with partner institutions. Serve as the team lead for the creation and delivery of robust training materials to adequately brief non-IR staff members attending partner school events. Monitor trends in education abroad and incorporate best practices into IR processes and strategy with the goal of supporting visiting student enrollment and driving innovative program growth.
• Other duties as assigned.

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.