Office of the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning

University of Michigan

12 months – Full-time position

Executive Summary

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is a world leader in teaching, public engagement, and it is the preeminent public research university in the nation. Its mission is to “serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.”

The Office of the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning at the University of Michigan has an opening for its Associate Vice Provost for International Engagement. 

The University of Michigan is highly dedicated to supporting international experiences for all of its students, through academic and programmatic initiatives. International engagements are at the core of the University’s goals. With over 3,400 domestic students earning credits in education abroad programs in 137 countries (Open Door report 2018-19), the University of Michigan ranks at the top of the Big Ten schools and fourth in the nation. This volume is only a portion of the over 5,600 U-M students who completed over 6,000 travels abroad during the same academic year, and the over 9,000 international visitors to the University of Michigan campuses. For additional information, visit https://global.umich.edu/.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic university community committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. Potential applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply.

Position summary

The Associate Vice Provost provides leadership, direction, and administrative oversight to the international engagement staff, under the direction of the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning. The Associate Vice Provost works closely with approximately 40 Education Abroad units, embedded in many of the University’s schools and colleges, and in the Dearborn and Flint campuses. The individual in this position collaborates also with many central units connected to international education, including the Office for Student Life, Financial Aid and Registrar Offices, the Office for Services to students with disabilities, the Spectrum Center, the International Center, the Office of the General Counsel, etc. Finally, the position promotes, facilitates, and support connections with the University’s strategic international partners.

The Associate Vice Provost serves as a member of the Provost’s Staff at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, providing advice and guidance to the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning on matters related to international partnerships and engagements for the institution, and the support and promotion of international and multi-cultural experiences for University of Michigan’s students. The Associate Vice Provost provides visionary, strategic, innovative, flexible, and change-oriented leadership. The Associate Vice Provost’s primary duties and responsibilities are:

• Provide leadership, direction and overall administration for the development, coordination, and implementation of activities offered by the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning related to international engagements.
• Initiate, supervise, and perform analysis relevant to institutional planning, policy and program development, program evaluation, and decision-making. Assist senior administrators in identifying and understanding emerging internal and external events, issues and changes that may provide opportunities or challenges to the institution’s international engagements as a whole, and to University of Michigan’s students considering experiences abroad, as well as faculty and staff traveling internationally.
• Leverage the expertise of Education Abroad units across the campus’ schools and colleges to create meaningful collaborations, promote the pursuit of experiences abroad for all University of Michigan’s students, and elevate the visibility of the Office of the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning and its activities and services.
• Provide strategic leadership to the Council on Global Engagement and the International Education Network, in fulfilling the University mission of serving the people of the world and of educating global leaders. Manage and facilitate the sharing of information and updates across the campus community, on topics related to international travel and experiences abroad.
• Provide oversight in supporting and advancing the shared data infrastructure that the University leverages in organizing, planning and providing services to its community members traveling abroad on University business, in consultation with the international engagement staff and the Chief International Safety Officer. Oversee data gathering and reporting for education abroad participation.
• Supervise and lead the international engagement staff to achieve success and foster a culture of innovation and high-level performance at both the individual and the organizational level.
• Provide leadership for the creation and offering of internal professional development and training opportunities for the staff who is dedicated to the development, support and promotion of study and experiences abroad across the institution, in collaboration with their leadership.
• Represent the Vice Provost of Engaged Learning in her absence, on all matters related to international engagements, and on unit and campus committees as appropriate.
• Serve as liaison between the Provost’s Office and various schools, colleges and campus entities.
• Provide oversight and implementation of unit and campus policies and procedures. Support the harmonization of key policies and best practices across units, as related to study and experiences abroad.
• Liaise with the Chief International Safety Officer as necessary to advance U-M’s travel risk management initiatives and to resolve crises.
• Support units in the preparation of international agreements, in collaboration with the Office of the General Counsel.

Required qualifications

• J.D. or Ph.D. degree, or other terminal or professional degree.
• A minimum of 6 years’ experience in leadership roles within an academic institution, with budgeting responsibilities and functional supervisory roles.
• Significant experience studying or living in another country or experience working in another country within the higher education sector.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, diplomatic, and negotiations skills; skills in planning, organizing, integrating information, making decisions, and attaining results.

Preferred qualifications

• Terminal or professional degree in a field related to International Education, International Studies, or International Language, Cultures and Literature.
• 8 or more years of leadership experience with successive levels of responsibility, either in academic administrative roles or in professional societies.
• Familiarity and knowledge in working at a large research university with a strong commitment to international education.
• Expert skills in interpersonal communication and relationship building.
• Strong program management, organizational, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with a customer-service orientation.
• Ability to develop and implement an organizational vision, strategy and goals with, and for, staff and key stakeholders.
• Ability to successfully lead, collaborate with, and interact with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to think strategically and resolve conflicts.
• Ability to engage constructively and diplomatically with a wide variety of constituents.

Campus and community

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is a comprehensive and major public land-grant university that is ranked among the best in the world. Founded in 1817, it provides undergraduate education in over 200 majors, and it offers over 90 Master’s and 100 doctoral degree programs, conducting theoretical and applied research, and providing public service to the state, the nation, and the globe. As of Fall 2019, the University enrolls over 48,000 students, including 31,000 undergraduates. More information about the campus is available at https://umich.edu/about/. The city of Ann Arbor is considered one of the nation’s best college towns, and one of America’s most bike-friendly and sustainable communities, with art and culture everywhere — theater, music, literature, and lectures.

Salary and appointment information 

Salary is commensurate with experience.  The University of Michigan also has a dual-career partner placement program and is strongly committed to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for faculty and staff https://hr.umich.edu/about-uhr/service-areas-offices/work-life-resource-center. This position may be filled as Associate or Assistant Vice Provost, depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

How to apply

Please direct any inquiry about the position and/or nomination of qualified candidates to Valeria Bertacco, Vice Provost for Engaged Learning, at valeria@umich.edu . For full consideration, please create and submit your candidate profile at https://careers.umich.edu and upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information, including name, email, and phone number for three professional references. All requested information must be submitted for the application to be considered. Candidates will be reviewed immediately upon application, until the position is filled. For best consideration, applications should be submitted before 08/22/2021. Applicants are encouraged to specifically relate their background and experience to the requirements of the position as outlined above. Interviews may be conducted before the closing date; however, no hiring decisions will be made until after the search has closed. You may also visit https://global.umich.edu/ for additional information.