Director of International Initiatives

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent plus 10 years of professional experience to include 3 years of supervisory experience

• International education or work experience demonstrating cross-cultural competency
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in international programs, partnerships, or related field

• Ability to identify, assess, and cultivate high-impact international collaborations aligned with institutional priorities
• Exceptional interpersonal skills for engaging various international stakeholders, government officials, and academic leaders
• Understanding of disciplinary research methodologies, funding landscapes, and academic collaboration models
• Experience with international agreements, MOUs, regulatory compliance, and risk management in global partnerships

• Ability to leverage data and metrics to evaluate partnership performance and identify strategic opportunities
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple complex initiatives, timelines, and stakeholder relationships simultaneously
• Budget development, monitoring, and reporting for international programs and grants

• Self-directed leader who can identify opportunities, take initiative, and drive innovation in international engagement
• Clear, persuasive communication skills for various audiences including faculty, administrators, and international partners

• Understanding of global higher education systems, trends, and best practices in international collaboration
• Familiarity with export controls, visa processes, international student/scholar regulations, and compliance requirements

• Be at a computer for long periods of time.
• Driving, as needed, to perform job related duties.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally

• Lead the planning and execution of senior-level academic and diplomatic visits, managing multifaceted logistics, protocol considerations, and stakeholder engagement to ensure seamless representation of UGA to international delegations, government officials, and institutional partners.
• Serve as the primary liaison for global partnership development, navigating complex institutional priorities, cultural nuances, and academic frameworks to broker sustainable, high-impact collaborations.
• Champion innovation by conducting environmental scans of global higher education trends, synthesizing insights across disciplines, and designing strategic initiatives that position UGA as a leader in international engagement.
• Lead and manage a professional staff team by providing strategic direction, assigning responsibilities, and delivering performance feedback to foster excellence in service delivery.

• Proactively identify and engage UGA faculty across various academic units, leveraging institutional data and strategic foresight to match faculty expertise with international opportunities and emerging global challenges.
• Facilitate cross-cultural academic exchanges and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, mediating competing interests, resolving complex partnership challenges, and fostering trust across a variety of cultural and institutional contexts.

• Direct internal grant programs supporting international initiatives, overseeing competitive review processes, compliance monitoring, and performance evaluation to ensure strategic alignment and measurable impact.
• Make sound decisions to optimize resource allocation, balancing strategic priorities with fiscal constraints, and implementing financial controls that safeguard institutional assets and support long-term sustainability.

• Oversee the execution and management of international agreements, MOUs, and service contracts, providing strategic direction and final review while delegating operational responsibilities to the Assistant Director. Ensure coordination with legal counsel, risk management, and external partners to maintain clarity, enforceability, and alignment with institutional goals.
• Supervise the Assistant Director in monitoring compliance with export controls and institutional policies. Provide high-level interpretation of complex regulatory frameworks and assist faculty and staff across departments.
• Maintain oversight of internal controls and audit preparedness by reviewing documentation compiled by the Assistant Director and other staff. Synthesize financial, operational, and programmatic data to ensure institutional accountability, mitigate risk, and uphold the integrity of international operations.

• Pursue federal and foundation grants to support capacity-building, public diplomacy, and global research initiatives, identifying funding opportunities, cultivating relationships with sponsors, and leading proposal development teams.
• Collaborate with faculty and external partners to develop competitive proposals, integrating interdisciplinary research goals, institutional priorities, and sponsor requirements into compelling narratives and budgets.

• Develop and implement departmental policies and procedures, ensuring consistency with university standards and responsiveness to evolving global engagement needs.
• Serve as a representative on university committees advocating for internationalization priorities, and influencing policy development at the campus level.
• Other duties as assigned.