International Programs and Partnerships Manager

Job Summary

This position is responsible for coordinating activities related to the development and management of international partnerships in the Okanagan campus International Office. This includes identifying potential opportunities; partner recruiting; planning, developing, coordinating a wide variety of partnership initiatives, activities and materials; and supporting the development and delivery of programming related to campus internationalization at UBC Okanagan.

Organizational Status
This position reports to the Associate Director, Campus Internationalization. This position interacts closely with UBC faculty, students from partner universities, departmental staff, academic staff at partner universities, and portfolios at UBC’s campuses. In particular, this position collaborates closely with other UBC international-facing units including Go Global, Okanagan and the Office of Global Engagement.

Work Performed

• Manages and organizes partnership activities, including events, programs, meetings delegation visits, etc. for representatives and delegations from partner universities, organizations, and networks. that support UBC’s strategic objectives and enhance global collaboration. This includes developing and implementing programs, itineraries, budgets, bookings and logistics, event plans, liaising between units, preparing briefing materials/packages, developing post-activity reports and coordinating follow-up correspondence.

• Documents and prepares briefings on partnership meetings and visits in order to deepen relationships, and support campus strategic partnership development.

• Conducts initial screening of potential partners; uses analytical tools and evaluation frameworks to scope and assess fit, and makes recommendations to International Office regarding partnership development prospects.

• Conducts literature and web research as required. The scope of this research will be wide, including (but not limited to) existing and potential global partnerships, networks, universities, corporations, NGO's, community partners, funding organizations, regions, and interest areas (e.g., UN SDGs, etc.).

• Researches incoming international delegates/delegations and recommends potential collaborators and synergies with UBC (e.g. individual researchers, faculty/departments, research teams, etc.) in consultation with relevant departments and units (i.e. Faculties, VPRI).

• Reviews and documents interactions and engagement between partners, preparing briefings on partnership meetings and visits in order to deepen relationships, and support campus strategic partnership development. Creates plans based on interactions with partners and provides advice to different groups.

• Manages an International database of UBC's international formal partnerships; proactively builds a pipeline of partner prospects, identifying and creating lists of potential partners, and implements a system for monitoring.

• Research, analyze, and develop reports and materials to shape the strategic activities of the International Office.

• Identifies opportunities to improve the collection of partnership-related information at UBC Okanagan, and advises on the development of outreach strategy and materials for recruitment of future partners based on past experience; implements measures, where appropriate.

• Support the cycle of establishing and renewing partnership agreements (ex. MOUs), and other administrative support for partnerships as required.

• Ensures accurate and consistent international agreement/partnership records and information and maintains complete and accurate documentation during agreement stages

• Maintains and prepares partnership agreements/files for Senate Admissions and Awards Committee review and approval.

• Supports the planning and delivery of International Programs and activities, including summer programs; short-term international programs; workshops; and events.

• Manages partner institution recruitment for international programs (e.g.: Okanagan Global Summer Program, OGSP) including facilitating partnership development;

• Identifies and creates a list of potential partners, and tracks partnership development progress.

• Builds relationships with partner universities targeted at cohort recruitment for international programs.

• Collaborates to roll out integrated communication strategy for partners, including marketing campaigns and materials. Advises on the development of marketing strategies and materials for participant and partner recruitment. that follow UBC’s brand guideline. Supports annual brand assessments for partner programs.

• Supports the Associate Director, Campus Internationalization, with partnership management and acts as the administrative point of contact between the International Office and other UBC departments and resource groups working with International Programs.

• Develops, facilitates and maintains positive and productive working relationships with campus partners and local organizations and businesses relevant to/serving International Programs.

• Provides feedback and identifies areas of strength and weakness in overall program design and delivery and recommends adaptations.

• Performs other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The International Office is a high priority and high-profile portfolio within the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic (VPAO) and UBC Okanagan. Partnership and program outcomes can be expected to have a significant impact on UBC Okanagan’s public profile and standing in the eyes of international partners across all sectors, and the general public. Lack of professionalism and poor decision-making could lead to serious financial or reputational damage to the university. Frequent interaction with other UBC Okanagan units, as well as outside organizations, requires excellent communication skills and tact to avoid negative on the University and VPAO’s international reputation.

Supervision Received
This position reports to the Associate Director, Campus Internationalization and is a key member of a cross-functional team that includes program staff, faculty and other departments and resource groups on campus. Works under general direction within defined objectives, results are subject to review.

Supervision Given
n/a

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.

• Minimum of four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Highly organized with strong project management experience. Excellent organizational and multitasking skills and ability to work under pressure of changing deadlines.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to interact and build internal and external relationships with a diverse range of challenging personalities with a high degree of tact is critical.

• Strong analytical ability and business development skills to identify new opportunities, generate leads, and recruit new partners.

• Demonstrated time management and problem-solving skills. Must be entrepreneurial, self-directed, and able to complete projects with limited supervision.

• Strong, team-oriented work ethic.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience in writing and composing project documents, reports and other written materials using clear and concise business language.

• This position is expected to work independently, flexibly and collaboratively.