Assistant Director, Study Abroad at Rice University in Houston, Texas

Job Description:

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The mission of the Office of Study Abroad is to provide Rice undergraduates substantial, transformational experiences that complement their Rice curriculum through academically rigorous and culturally enriching long-term international opportunities. Under supervision of the director, the Assistant Director is responsible for providing guidance and continuous support to students on all aspects of study abroad, during the entire process spanning from choosing the right program to returning from overseas. This includes information sessions as well as one-on-one advising before and during the application process, pre-departure guidance, support while overseas, and re-entry guidance.

The Assistant Director has a thorough understanding of all program types, partners, and providers, as well as specific features of the office's approved programs, and actively contributes to the ongoing assessment of programs. The Assistant Director is expected to be able to evaluate program options with regards to Rice undergraduate curricular needs, program support and resources, housing options and health and safety considerations. In order to provide high-quality, customized support, the Assistant Director spends a considerable amount of time engaging with students both in group settings at fairs, promotional events, and information sessions, as well as one-on-one, guiding students to find the best program fit academically and personally, while ensuring transfer credit and staying on track for timely graduation. Each semester, the Assistant Director is responsible for putting together and presenting several information sessions to promote study abroad opportunities and providing workshops to support students during the application process. Keeping in contact with study abroad alumni, the Assistant Director recruits students mentors and organizes social events for prospective study abroad students. Working closely with campus partners, the Assistant Director contributes both to the students' thorough pre-departure preparations for a safe overseas experience, as well as to the seamless administrative processing from study abroad registration to transfer credit to financial aid portability and to scholarship award selection. The Assistant Director utilizes the office's web-based study abroad management system, actively contributes to maintaining clear and up-to-date information on the office's website and represents the office at meetings and events.

Ideal Candidate Statement:
Ideal candidates should have considerable experience working full-time at an institute of higher education in an advising role, preferably in international education, personal experience in studying abroad or working overseas, excellent communication, organizational, and people's skills, and proficiency in a foreign language.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $56,000 to $58,000 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience

Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 2+ years of experience in an advising capacity in a higher education setting
• 2+ years of experience in international education

Skills:

• Independence and initiative
• Critical thinking and sound judgment
• Advanced ability to work collaboratively with faculty and staff
• Excellent organizational and computer skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including empathy and tact
• Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to prioritize
• Ability to see the big picture and focus on details

Preferences

• Master's Degree
• Substantial experience studying, living, or working overseas
• 3 to 4+ years of full-time experience working as a study abroad advisor for undergraduates

Essential Functions:

• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of Rice's approved study abroad programs
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of Rice undergraduates' academic needs
• Advises students on program selection, academics, finances, health and safety, and policies and administration
• Guides students through the transfer credit process / obtaining credit approval
• Determines individual student readiness to undertake study abroad
• Provides support with, evaluates, and approves student applications
• Contributes to and conducts study abroad orientations
• Maintains contact with students while abroad
• Organizes post-return programming
• Participates in campus-wide programming to promote study abroad
• Develops content for and presents at various campus events / information sessions
• Contributes to the office's digital library (presentation slides, recordings, etc.)
• Coordinates student mentor activities
• Contributes to the maintenance of the office's website
• Performs other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Conducts program assessment: reviews and evaluates program options
• Assesses potential risks for students planning on study abroad
• Liaisons with campus partners and program representatives
• Creates promotional materials
• Creates content for the office's website
• Keeps abreast of best practices in international education

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits-overview

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and the full inclusion of all qualified persons in the workplace. This commitment includes providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. For applicants with disabilities who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

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