Director, International Education Programs - TAAAC
About The Position
The Director, International Education Programs is the director of the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC), including both established programs and new TAAAC programs funded through the University of Toronto African Health Collaborative Mastercard Foundation grant. The director is responsible for cultivating and maintaining institutional partnerships, as well as ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of one of the University of Toronto’s flagship international academic partnerships. Reporting to the TAAAC Governance Committee and the TAAAC Academic Lead and working in close alignment with the VP, International Partnerships, the Director shapes and implements TAAAC’s mandate at the highest institutional level. This includes directing a portfolio spanning 25+ education programs, 90+ UT faculty participants traveling annually to Ethiopia, ~20 learners exchanged between Ethiopia and Toronto, multimillion-dollar operating and grant budgets, and partnerships with Addis Ababa University, the Government of Ethiopia, the Canadian Embassy in Addis Ababa, and affiliated institutions across Africa. The Director operates in a complex geopolitical environment requiring exceptional diplomatic acumen, cultural humility, and the capacity to exercise independent judgment on matters of institutional strategy, risk, and reputational significance. The role reports to the TAAAC Academic Lead and the TAAAC Governance Committee.
Requirements
- Completion of Master Degree in a relevant field (Public Health, International Development, Health Administration, Global Affairs or related discipline) or recognized equivalent required.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience leading the development, implementation, and continuous evolution of a multi-year international education program
- Demonstrated senior-level experience managing complex multi-stakeholder programs in sub-Saharan Africa; direct knowledge of the Ethiopian academic, health, and diplomatic landscape strongly preferred.
- Proven track record in strategic planning, institutional partnership development, and MOU negotiation at the most senior levels.
- Demonstrated accountability for multimillion-dollar budgets and external grant portfolios.
- Established relationships with government ministries, diplomatic missions, hospital executives, and university senior leadership.
- Track record in fundraising, donor stewardship, and major gift cultivation.
Nice To Haves
- Doctoral degree preferred.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development, implementation, and continuous evolution of TAAAC’s multi-year strategic plan in alignment with University of Toronto and Addis Ababa University priorities and the broader landscape of global academic health partnerships.
- Working with the TAAAC Academic Lead, maintain TAAAC as a recognized centre of excellence in international academic collaboration.
- Work with the Academic Lead, to ensure institutional and grant reporting requirements (for example to the TAAAC Governance Committee, the Office VP International (OVPI), and the Office of the Vice-Provost Relations with Health Care Institutions) are fulfilled including the production of a comprehensive annual report.
- Identify and lead special projects aimed at improving operational efficiencies, addressing emerging institutional needs, and advancing TAAAC’s strategic priorities.
- Direct business development initiatives to support growth and long-term sustainability of TAAAC programs and services.
- Maintain an authoritative, current understanding of the Ethiopian political, regulatory, and academic landscape through senior stakeholder engagement, diplomatic relationships, and regular review of relevant policy sources and media.
- Support the negotiation, execution, and renewal of the overarching Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Toronto and Addis Ababa University, including providing documentation for timely legal review by UofT General Counsel.
- Provide strategic oversight for all program-level MOUs, signing within delegated authority and ensuring institutional compliance and contractual validity.
- Develop and implement organizational standards for emerging international education opportunities, proactively identifying regulatory or policy gaps.
- Develop solutions and contingency plans for contractual obligations at institutional risk.
- Oversee and manage all TAAAC programming including outbound and inbound exchanges of personnel between Toronto and Ethiopia.
- Conduct mandatory pre-departure briefings for all faculty, participants, and students prior to each program deployment, ensuring all participants are fully informed on health and safety protocols, cultural expectations, emergency procedures, and program requirements.
- Provide on-call support and direct response to questions, concerns, and emergencies from UT faculty while they are deployed in Addis Ababa
- Ensure supports and logistics are in place to welcome fellows and observers from Ethiopia to Toronto
- Provide on-call support and direct response to questions, concerns, and emergencies from Ethiopian learners while they are in rotations in Toronto
Benefits
- Competitive offer packages
- Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
- Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
- A flexible work environment
- Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
- Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
