Director, Lewis Global Studies Center

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

Job Summary

Serve as a strategic leader for the Lewis Global Studies Center (LGSC) at Smith College. Advance the college's mission to prepare women for global citizenship and leadership, partner with other offices to successfully engage Smith students, faculty and staff in international and intercultural studies, and cultivate an understanding of the global context of a Smith education. Within the Center, provide strategic oversight and leadership for the Office of International Study, the International Students & Scholars Office, and the affiliated programs of the Center. Collaborate with the Faculty Liaison and Steering Committee of the LGSC in support of the College's strategic goals for the integration of global learning across the curriculum. Other responsibilities include oversight of international risk management for study abroad programs, short-term international student travel, international student & scholar engagement in campus life, and supervision of the Center staff and budget. Responsible for the academic integrity and institutional partnerships associated with the College's international study opportunities.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Lewis Global Studies Center Administration and Leadership (40%):

• Oversee the key operations of the LGSC and ensures that resources, procedures and staffing are managed through sustainable and innovative approaches that advance the mission of the college.
• In partnership with the faculty liaison, co-chair the LGSC Steering Committee with the goal of providing input into strategic planning of co-curricular and academic programming. Ensure compliance of LGSC policies with Smith's HR, IT, Finance and other administrative units.
• Collaborates closely with other centers to offer and assess integrated curricular and co-curricular opportunities for Smith students.
• Collaborate with the Provost's office in providing guidance and support to faculty seeking to develop international affiliations and Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) for international projects.
• Offer professional development workshops for faculty and staff on global learning, intercultural communications, risk management, faculty-led program pedagogy, and other related topics.
• Lead assessment and coordinate the implementation of Smith College international travel policies, international education risks, and compliance with local fiscal, labor and regulatory policies.
• In partnership with the faculty-liaison, provide strategic leadership to ensure that key academic programs of the LGSC, such as the Interdisciplinary Studies Diploma Program and Translations Studies Concentration, are well supported through intracampus administrative offices.
• Ensure consistent communication of the Center's mission across various digital platforms.
• Management of external grants, projects, and gifts associated with the Center.
• Supervise center staff.
• Partners with the Office for Equity and Inclusion and other offices to ensure that the diverse needs of the center are addressed within the overall mission of the college, and also provides support towards increasing a sense of belonging in the community and in programs offered by the LGSC..
• Coordinate the global risk assessment committee of the College.
• Leads global risk assessment and crisis management support when critical incidents or regulatory reforms impact students studying abroad or international students and scholars at Smith; serves as a campus liaison in communications and outreach to campus constituents and external constituents as needed

Office for International Study (25%):

• Provide strategic leadership and support the Associate Dean for International Study in the following operations:
• Strategic leadership for Smith study abroad opportunities and policies that support those experiences.
• Support the management of Smith Global Programs
• Coordination of Smith College compliance with local labor, fiscal, immigration, and academic policies at the different study abroad sites.
• Content and delivery of annual training and professional development to directors, especially around risk assessment and crisis management.
• Faculty Committee on Study Abroad; support and consult with Associate Provost and Associate Dean for International Studies regarding the review and development of policies that align the academic integrity of the study abroad programs with the College's curriculum and learning capacities.
• Development and implementation of assessment strategies and outcomes for the ongoing evaluation of study abroad program review, including financial analysis and key performance indicators for study abroad programs

International Students & Scholars Office (25%) :

• Provide strategic leadership and support the Associate Dean for International Students and Scholars in the following operations:
• Designing and implementing strategic approaches to better integrate international students and scholars with campus-wide resources, including student life, academic learning, career development, health services.
• International faculty and staff onboarding procedures and policies, including liaising with appropriate campus administrative offices.
• Maintaining current knowledge of federal immigration and Homeland Security regulations relevant to higher education and the international student and scholar community.
• Offering support in the interpretation and implementation of F- and J- visa compliance. Ensure that compliance with immigration and student visa policies are implemented in ways consistent with the values of Smith College and a liberal arts education.
• Serving as Designated School Official (DSO) in SEVIS for F-1 students, in case of emergencies.
• Assessment strategies and outcomes for regular review of international student programming.

Other Functions

Institutional Planning and Service (10%):

• Participate in college-wide strategic planning processes.
• Collaborates with the Five Colleges to enhance the global experience of the Smith community.
• Represent the College and the LGSC at international, national and regional meetings and conferences.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in international education or an equivalent combination of education/experience; international experience and fluency in a language other than English preferred; demonstrated experience in global risk assessment and crisis management required.
• Must be knowledgeable of best practices in international education -- especially in regard to study abroad and international students & scholars -- and maintain an in-depth awareness of the changing landscape of higher education.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D in a related field

Skills

Must exhibit sound judgment, creativity and vision, and a capacity to lead a complex program and its staff. Demonstrate ability to effectively develop and implement key projects, and to work collaboratively. Prior experience in international currency budget preparations and financial analysis preferred. Demonstrate ability to assess and ensure compliance with international labor, fiscal, immigration, and academic regulations as well as to mitigate risk in these areas. Must have strong organizational and supervisory skills, excellent speaking and writing skills, strong analytical and research skills, as well as the ability to work well with a diverse student population and with faculty and staff.

Review of applications will begin

Position Type:

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women's colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.