Under the general supervision of the Director of Global Programs, the Assistant Director is responsible for developing and executing study abroad programming and assisting the Director in setting the strategic direction of the Global Programs Office. The Assistant Director will interface with both internal stakeholders (students, faculty, and staff) at the Graziadio Business School and external entities, including partner universities, exchange students, vendors, and agencies abroad.

This position directly supports the University's mission and strategic plan by sharing our commitment to transforming students' lives through education by supporting students in education abroad and international student exchange.

Duties

• Develop and implement faculty-led study abroad programming, which includes program design, fee negotiation with vendors, managing student enrollment, leading/coordinating pre-departure orientation, and analyzing student satisfaction data.
• Oversee study abroad programming to ensure high-quality and effective experiences for students, faculty, and staff. Occasionally work during the evenings and weekends to support programming.
• Independently conduct research and consult international educational networks to make recommendations to the Director when developing strategic plans and goals, as well as designing international education programming.
• Develop marketing plans to promote faculty-led study abroad programming to meet target student enrollment goals. Responsible for creating content and leading recruitment presentations, which includes working some evenings and weekends.
• Assist the Director in closely monitoring and balancing budgets and assist in designing financial strategic plans for the designated budget account. Process financial transactions related to faculty-led study abroad programming.
• Oversee the inbound and outbound trimester exchange programming; coordinate the selection and admission process, plan and lead inbound trimester exchange new student orientation, develop engaging activities and ensure student attendance, and provide overall student services support. Occasionally work during the evenings and weekends to support programming.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise the Graduate Student Assistant(s) and another short-term assistant(s) (when applicable). Collect, analyze, and manage student participation data. Create reports and share findings with various stakeholders.
• Act as interim director when the director is unavailable, overseeing operations and staff direction in the absence of the director.
• Travel domestically and internationally to support faculty-led study abroad programming, liaise with partner universities, and attend international education conferences.
• Represent Global Programs and serve on various committees within PGBS and Pepperdine-wide as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required: Bachelor’s degree; three years of work experience in office administration in an educational setting, student/academic affairs, customer service, or a related field. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Strong interpersonal skills and intercultural communications skills; ability to take initiative and work independently and effectively in a team-oriented environment; Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, professional, and courteous; Must have appreciation of other cultures and diversity. Must be proficient in MS Office applications, Google Workspace and social media for business use, and have good research skills.

Preferred: Master’s degree; three years of work experience in study abroad, international student services, or related student affairs field strongly desired. Experience with travel, study, or living abroad; proficiency in a foreign language is desired; and experience in intercultural communication with an understanding of the nuances of international education. Advanced skills in data management and data analysis.

Qualified individuals should be able to articulate a strong commitment to diversity, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $66,560 - $68,557 per year 

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.