Director, Global Engagement and International Student Services

The Role

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, International Education, the Director of Global Engagement and International Student Services provides leadership and operational management for Douglas College’s international student services and internationalization goals. The Director is responsible for student mobility, international projects and programs, international engagement, operational management of services provided by Douglas College International, and assists the Associate Vice President, International Education with inter-institutional partnerships. As part of the International leadership team, the incumbent is the champion for identifying and developing new strategies and opportunities to successfully engage departments, faculty, and domestic as well as international students in all phases of the international teaching or learning experience.

The Director works closely with Deans and Directors at Douglas College along with international partner institutions, the Consular Corps of B.C., and other organizations to advance the growth and quality of international engagement at the College. Responsibilities Under the general direction of the Associate Vice President, International Education, the Director is accountable for the following:

Program Development and Management
• Creates and implements programs to foster international student success at the College, which includes student support programs, student services, and workplace transition.
• Acts as a catalyst for integrating international content and activities into the student experience across the College, including international field schools and Collaborative Online International Learning (COILs).
• Creates and implements programs to foster and integrate internationalization at the College, including supporting the Global Competency Certificate, which enables students to receive recognition for international participation.
• Oversees the College and Provincial financial awards for faculty and students going abroad on College programs.

Student Mobility
• Provides leadership regarding international student mobility activities meant to engage students and faculty.
• Works closely with Deans, Directors and the Manager, Global Engagement, to identify and develop new international mobility initiatives to meet the goals of the institution.
• Evaluates and conducts research into study abroad practices; uses the findings to implement and promote approaches for activities such as international field schools, exchanges, practicum/internships, and volunteering.
• Works with the Manager, Global Engagement to review student mobility activities and ensure the necessary faculty and student training and support to mitigate risk.
• Works with decision-making committees to draft and promote policies to facilitate student participation and recognition for study abroad.
• Takes a leadership role in creating policies and procedures to encourage and support faculty engagement; key areas include faculty exchange, scholarly visits and collaborative research.

Partnerships and Agreements
• Under the direction of the Associate Vice President takes a lead role in identifying, developing and negotiating strategic relationships with international partner institutions and organizations. Ensures that new partnerships are beneficial to the College’s mission and strategic goals.
• Creates submissions and participates as a member of internal decision-making committees related to Education Council (EDCO), Vice President’s Academic Council (VPAC) and other bodies as appropriate, to promote and seek approval for international affiliations.
• Reviews and recommends to Associate Vice President for approval of partnership agreements.
• Builds and maintains an active network of key contacts in partner institutions and organizations, professional associations and business/government to promote the reputation, and add-value to the College.

International Development, Contract Projects and Revenue
• Provides leadership regarding international customized contract programs, on a self-funded basis.
• Oversees and works with the Manager, Global Engagement to develop growth and expansion activities within the Global Engagement department.
• Takes the lead in working with academic and service departments to ensure that clients’ expectations are met.
• Leads the development and submission of large-scale international funding proposals to Federal/Provincial governments or organizations such as Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).
• Takes full responsibility for project implementation including budget and ensuring that the project is consistent with the terms of the agreement with the funding agency.

International Student Services
• Provides leadership by directing the department’s work with faculty and staff, colleagues and students in order to support, provide and/or facilitate activities that ensure Douglas College International achieves its student success, retention and engagement goals.
• Provides leadership and direction in organizing cultural events, fora, roundtables, and others to foment intercultural understanding within Douglas College. Organizes and leads, in alignment with other Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policies and processes, the creation and delivery of faculty and student workshops to build intercultural understanding.
• Liaises and collaborates with other departments and represents Douglas College International in the day-to-day operations of the student services team to ensure appropriate service integrations, and alignment with the College’s strategic goals, policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.

Communications
• Reports regularly and as requested on the progress and success of all internationalization initiatives.
• Participates in external international education events and delivers presentations and speeches to enhance the reputation of the College.
• Works with Global Engagement team to organize and facilitates annual International Faculty Forum at the College.

Other related duties
• Actively models the Douglas College Core Competencies.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

To Be Successful in this Role You Will Need • Minimum of a Master’s Degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 7years’ related work experience, including at least five years of internationalization experience in the Post-Secondary Education sector.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in international strategic planning; evidence of successful submissions of government and public-funded proposals.
• Significant experience and successful results in international agreements negotiation and relevant student services.
• Extensive knowledge of the post-secondary system and trends in Canada and internationally.
• Successful experience in working with faculty members, administrators and senior management to accomplish internationalization goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including negotiation, mediation, diplomacy, conflict resolution and intercultural communications, with a demonstrated commitment to collaborative and consultative processes.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and lead in a unionized environment including the ability to recruit, mentor and develop staff, train, organize and assign work and performance manage.
• Excellent English language written and verbal skills, including strong skills in proposal, report, letter and speech writing and public speaking.
• Demonstrated success in the development and management of significant budgets.
• Demonstrated abilities that align with the Douglas College Core Competency Framework.

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