Job Description

Reports to: Vice President, Global Programs

Salary Range: $107,100 - $123,000 per year

Base of Designation: Preference for candidates located in Washington, DC or Vermont (Fully Remote Eligible - candidate must be based out of the U.S.)

The Director of Partnerships & Advocacy is responsible for World Learning and School for International Training (SIT) external relations, policy analysis, and advocacy with respect to the U.S. government, foreign governments, and intergovernmental organizations, think tanks, local and state officials in Vermont, and other entities to advance the organization's mission and core values. The Director works to raise the profile of World Learning and SIT, as a thought leader in people-to-people exchanges, higher education, and basic education, among other areas.

The Director will report to the VP of Global Programs, and will advance the organization's strategies for maximizing external relations, relationship-building with government stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels, and communications with key partner organizations to identify new partnership and growth opportunities, expand and deepen relationships, monitor frequently changing policies, engage program alumni in advocacy efforts, and track emerging legislation and trends. This position will rely on the Director's deep understanding of legislative processes, ability to build strategic relationships across political spectrums, represent World Learning's interests in coalition advocacy, and influence external stakeholders.

The Director will support the Office of the CEO, Global Programs, SIT, Business Development &

Partnerships, Philanthropy, and other key faculty and staff. They will advocate for policies aligned with World Learning's mission and values related to higher education, youth, professional and academic exchange, basic education, refugee support, study abroad, and English language teaching and learning (TESOL). It is expected that this position will also have direct engagement with the World Learning Board of Trustees through the CEO's office.

Responsibilities

• Relationship Development: Identifies opportunities and strategies for partnership and relationship cultivation and strengthening.
• Advocacy: Develops effective advocacy messaging and tactics. Participates in advocacy activities with relevant coalitions in global leadership, foreign policy, higher education, international exchange, and basic education.
• Education and Communication: Creates educational and engagement opportunities for staff and faculty with key external stakeholders. Prepares senior leaders and staff for external engagements by providing targeted message points and background materials.
• Representation: Serves as a key organizational representative for select officials and external partners. Represents the organization as appropriate at community and governmental meetings and conferences.
• Evidence-Based Knowledge: Furthers a culture of effective storytelling and advocacy within World Learning. Leverages impactful alumni and participant stories and compelling data from the breadth of World Learning's global portfolio as a basis for partnership development and advocacy.

Requirements Required Experience/Education:

• A bachelor's degree in a related field is required. A master's degree is preferred.
• A minimum of seven or more years of recent public policy and/or government relations experience specialized in foreign affairs, global development, and/or higher education.
• Demonstrated success in developing comprehensive policy and advocacy approaches that consider multiple viewpoints.
• A deep and practiced understanding of effective messaging and a successful history as a team player.
• A strategic and analytical thinker who can see connections between policy and personalities and between current and future programs and foreign policy developments.
• A relentless connector who creates common cause among people with differing interests
• Familiarity with legislative language and a thorough understanding of the appropriations process for the U.S. Department of State.
• Precise and persuasive written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in relevant databases and software applications.

Benefits

World Learning provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, FSA/HRA, Life/AD&D, Short Term/Long Term Disability, EAP, Parking and Transit, 403 (b) retirement plan for full-time and eligibile part-time employees.

The World Learning Inc. Family

For more than 90 years, World Learning Inc. is a thriving global organization made up of The Experiment in International Living, the nation's most experienced provider of international education through exchanges for high school students; School for International Training, offering accredited undergraduate study abroad programs through SIT Study Abroad and internationally focused master's degrees through SIT Graduate Institute; and World Learning, a global development and exchange nonprofit organization.

World Learning | worldlearning.org

World Learning has worked to create a more sustainable, peaceful, and just world. World Learning's education, development, and exchange programs help people find their voices, connect with their communities, strengthen the institutions that form the backbone of a democratic society, and build relationships across cultures. With World Learning's support, these emerging leaders tackle critical global issues like poverty, conflict, and inequality.

The Experiment in International Living | experiment.org

The Experiment in International Living is the nation's most experienced provider of international education through exchanges for high school students. For more than 90 years, The Experiment has empowered young people to step off the beaten path, experience the world as a classroom, immerse themselves fully in another culture, and build the knowledge and skills needed to confront critical global issues.

SIT | sit.edu

School for International Training (SIT) was founded in the early 1960s as a training center for the first Peace Corps volunteers. For nearly 60 years, SIT has prepared students to be effective changemakers and global citizens through experiential education focused on the world's most critical global issues. SIT Study Abroad offers accredited summer and semester undergraduate programs in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs on multiple continents. SIT Graduate Institute offers global and hybrid certificates, master's, and doctoral degrees.