Study Abroad Assistant Director

University of Notre Dame•Notre Dame, IN

About The Position

The Assistant Director plays a pivotal, student-facing leadership role within ND Global, driving the implementation, strategic growth, and daily operations of an assigned study abroad portfolio. Serving as a key mentor and strategist throughout the entire student life cycle, the Assistant Director recruits, evaluates, and prepares Notre Dame students for transformative summer and semester international experiences. This role leverages deep higher education administration expertise and cross-cultural, international experience to forge strong synergies across campus departments and Notre Dame’s worldwide network of Global Gateways and Centers. Through strategic planning, program assessment, and cross-cultural project management, the Assistant Director directly supports the broader global mission of Notre Dame.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (4 years)
3 to 4 years of experience
Strong communication skills
Intercultural competency
Interpersonal skills to engage with people of different backgrounds
Knowledge of scholarship and practice of study abroad

Responsibilities

Guide students through the entire study abroad lifecycle—leading targeted recruitment, advising applicants, evaluating candidate files, and selecting qualified cohorts.
Design and deliver robust pre-departure frameworks that prepare students academically, culturally, and experientially, while leading debriefing and reintegration programming upon their return.
Oversee and provide expert guidance on study abroad scholarships and financial aid to maximize program accessibility.
Ensure strategic alignment, quality, and compliance across assigned international programs in close collaboration with on-site partners and global staff.
Analyze program data and student feedback to generate actionable recommendations for program enhancement, sustainability, or strategic expansion.
Serve as the primary operational liaison to Notre Dame’s academic, professional, and administrative offices to streamline international education workflows.
Conduct targeted periodic site visits to evaluate program quality, assess risk, and advance strategic institutional goals.
Act as a central bridge between main campus and assigned ND Global Gateways and Centers, maximizing cross-location synergies and strategic initiatives.
Leverage deep international experience, regional expertise, and linguistic skills to facilitate relationship-building, cross-cultural diplomacy, and strategic ventures abroad.
Partner with NDG leadership on high-impact projects, including developing new global programming and enhancing international initiatives across the university.
Spearhead designated unit-wide projects, mentor staff, and take on emerging leadership roles within the study abroad team to support evolving organizational needs.