Director of Global Learning and Partnerships - Center for Global Engagement

James Madison University • Harrisonburg, VA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

James Madison University’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE) is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as the Director of Global Learning and Partnerships. Reporting to the Associate Provost for International Initiatives & Executive Director of the CGE, this position provides leadership for JMU’s international partnerships, global learning initiatives, and collaborative academic engagement efforts. The Director oversees the strategic growth and operational management of the Global Learning and Partnerships (GLP) unit and works closely with faculty, academic leaders, students, and international partners to advance the university’s mission of comprehensive internationalization. This is a full-time, primarily in-person position based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, with some flexibility and occasional international travel required.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in International Education, International Relations, Public Policy, Business Administration, or a related field
• Significant professional experience with international education, specifically in partnership development, global engagement, or administrative management
• Proven track record of developing, negotiating, and managing complex international partnership agreements and multi-stakeholder projects
• Experience overseeing administrative operations, budgets, and professional staff
• Experience leading complex projects and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced higher education or international education environment
• Demonstrated intercultural communication and relationship-building skills with experience working across diverse global stakeholders, faculty, and university leadership
• Collaborative, strategic, and systems-thinking approach to leadership and problem solving

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in a second language and experience living or working overseas
• Deep regional expertise and/or professional networks in key global regions such as East/Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, or the Middle East
• Experience bridging university administrative operations and faculty-led academic initiatives
• Experience developing and sustaining international institutional partnerships in higher education
• Experience supporting collaborative academic initiatives such as COIL, exchange programs, dual degrees, or faculty-led global engagement programs

Responsibilities

• Lead the Global Learning and Partnerships (GLP) unit, providing oversight for departmental budgets, operational workflows, and strategic alignment with CGE goals
• Design and execute a comprehensive global partnership strategy that integrates university-wide academic goals with robust administrative and financial models
• Oversee the full lifecycle of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and a variety of activity agreements (MOAs), ensuring legal compliance, risk mitigation, and mutual benefit
• Develop and implement frameworks to evaluate the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of partnerships in accordance with the JMU and CGE strategic plans
• Serve as the primary administrative partner to faculty leadership (including the Faculty Director of Global Learning), translating academic and pedagogical goals into actionable international agreements and programs
• Coordinate between the GLP staff and academic leads to ensure that global learning initiatives (such as COIL, exchange programs, or dual degrees) are supported by robust administrative and contractual infrastructure
• Partner with academic deans, department heads, and other university divisions to curate and scale partnership opportunities that align with faculty research and student learning objectives
• Serve as the lead relationship manager for a portfolio of high-priority global partners, cultivating long-term trust and alignment with senior leaders at international institutions
• Coordinate and host international delegations, lead global networking and partnership missions, and support other global activities, including international recruitment
• Identify and share external funding opportunities and grants to support collaborative projects and international partnership activities
• Direct and supervise Global Learning and Partnerships (GLP) professional staff, fostering a culture of professional growth and operational excellence

Benefits

• Dual Career and Community Resources Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director