Director, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Contingent Upon Funding)

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

Salary Range: $100,000 - $130,000 Per Year

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director will provide visionary and strategic leadership for the administration of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, a high-impact initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of program execution, including planning and operations, outreach and recruitment, application and selection processes, participant support, compliance, and reporting. This position is contingent upon the organization being awarded the cooperative agreement to implement the FY2025 Gilman Program.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Management

• Lead the development and implementation of all components of the Gilman Program, ensuring alignment with ECA goals and federal requirements.
• Oversee program-wide planning, policy development, risk management, and quality assurance.
• Manage key milestones and timelines, including coordination of quarterly timelines and deliverables.
• Serve as primary liaison to ECA, ensuring responsive, transparent communication and compliance with cooperative agreement terms.

Team and Operational Oversight

• Build and manage a multidisciplinary team, including program, technical, recruitment, communications, and alumni engagement staff.
• Ensure high performance and accountability across functions, maintaining strong internal controls, especially related to data privacy and fiscal responsibility.
• Develop and implement emergency management protocols and ensure continuity of programming.

Outreach, Marketing, and Partnerships

• Lead the development of national recruitment and marketing strategies that engage student populations across the U.S.
• Supervise implementation of outreach campaigns across digital, print, in-person, and media platforms.
• Oversee the Advisor and Alumni Ambassador programs and manage key partnerships with higher education institutions and military-related organizations.

Application, Selection, and Awarding

• Design and manage a transparent and merit-based application and selection process, including panel recruitment and training.
• Ensure system and process integrity for eligibility verification, award disbursement, and participant tracking.
• Collaborate with IT and data teams to maintain robust application platforms and secure data systems.

Scholar Support & Program Enrichment

• Oversee delivery of virtual pre-departure orientations and reentry programming.
• Promote engagement with U.S. embassies and consulates abroad and integrate career-readiness, leadership development, and civic engagement into scholar support.
• Ensure supplemental resources for health, safety, counterintelligence awareness, and academic success.

Evaluation, Reporting, and Compliance

• Lead monitoring and evaluation strategies to assess program effectiveness, participant outcomes, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Provide regular and ad hoc reporting to ECA, including data uploads, metrics analyses, and narrative updates.
• Ensure compliance with all federal policies, including participant eligibility, branding requirements, and communications guidance.

Required

• Master's degree in international education, public administration, higher education, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including at least 4 years managing international education or exchange programs.
• Demonstrated success in managing large, federally funded or complex multi-stakeholder programs.
• Experience working with higher education institutions, U.S. government agencies, and underserved student populations.
• Strong knowledge of study abroad trends and scholarship administration.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, strategic planning, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multi-million-dollar budgets.

Preferred

• Experience administering programs under cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of State or similar federal entities.
• Familiarity with Title IV financial aid and Pell Grant eligibility.
• Experience in military-affiliated student outreach or support.
• Experience with U.S. public diplomacy programs and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hays Act).

Please note: This position is contingent upon securing funding.

BENEFITS

This position is eligible for healthcare benefits.

American Councils is committed to providing employment opportunities for all individuals, in accordance with current federal regulations. Our focus is on ensuring that all individuals have equal access to employment and advancement opportunities based on merit. American Councils' commitment to employment opportunity is driven by federal requirements, including Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (supporting individuals with disabilities) and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) (protecting covered veterans). We also ensure our employment practices comply with all applicable regulations, including E-Verify requirements for work eligibility. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed and grow, in full compliance with federal law.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.