Job Description
USF World is led by a VP and is comprised of units across Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota devoted to promoting ed abroad, supporting intl students and scholars, the management of intl partnerships, intl travel risk and security services, management of the Peace Corps Prep and support for a dedicated recruiter, tracking and documenting intl research collaborations and the global footprint of faculty, students and staff, collection of data related to international activities at the University, intl alumni development and outreach, and the marketing and communication of USF World programs and initiatives. Comprising a total of over 70 staff and a budget of approximately $4.5 M, clients are USF faculty developing intl academic experiences, curriculum, and research collaborations, administrators promoting the global priorities of USF, staff responsible for supporting intl activities across campuses, colleges, and other units, current and prospective students coming to USF from other countries and U.S. students seeking global experiences as well as university partners from abroad and foreign dignitaries. Community partners include local, state, national, and intl leaders of government and public and private organizations, including other institutions of higher ed, military, business, and industry.
The Director for Global Partnerships articulates and leads the university's global partnership strategy in alignment with USF's mission and goals as an AAU university. The position serves as the university's primary point of contact for global partners and is responsible for overseeing the quality and vitality of the university's diverse portfolio of global partnerships including general agreements and more specific MOUs regarding student or faculty mobility, exchange, and academic articulation. The role manages institutional partner relationships, nurtures existing partnerships, and evaluates and engages with opportunities for new partnerships, leads agreement and contract development and coordination, and plans and executes partner outreach efforts including visits to partners and partners visits to USF.
Responsibilities
Lead the university's global partnership strategy and manage the university's portfolio of strategic international partnerships: Collaborates with key stakeholders across the USF community to align global partnerships with the university's strategic priorities. Serves as the primary point of contact for institutional global partnerships. Nurtures and proactively manages existing strategic partnership relationships. Tracks existing partnerships and promotes automation of global partnership documentation, workflow, and communication. Manages partnership updates to the Global Discovery Hub. Assesses and implements opportunities for improving efficiency regarding the management of international partnerships. Advises departments/colleges on the process for international partnership engagement and delegates to departments and colleges for academic articulation and progression agreements. Coordinates with the Office of General Counsel regarding contracts and agreements as necessary. Plans and executes partner visits to campus. Engages in professional development activities and conference participation that enhances the position's knowledge base and the reputation of the University.
Partnership Assessment: Analyses the return on investment of individual partnerships and their alignment with university goals and priorities. Assesses the value of global engagement through a variety of types of partnerships including student exchange, inbound student mobility, research, and the Fulbright Program. Evaluates the impact of USF faculty participation in the U.S. Fulbright Program by connecting with returned Fulbright Scholars and tracking teaching innovation, scholarly productivity, and honors and awards resulting from the Fulbright experience. Connects with the universities that are hosting or have hosted USF Fulbright Scholars where such outreach dovetails with strategic goals. Promotes opportunities to host inbound Fulbright Visiting Scholars.
Strategic Partnership Promotion and Prospecting: Utilizes data to proactively identify and assess new partnership opportunities for feasibility and strategic alignment. Conducts outreach to prospective partners and communicates the value of partnership with USF. Contributes to the caliber of USF's global partnership profile - ensures it reflects the
prestige of an AAU institution.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications: This position requires a Bachelor's degree in international education, higher education administration, business, or a related field. Two years of progressively responsible experience in international programs, study-abroad/exchange operations, or higher-education partnership management. Experience advising students and managing application workflows in an academic or administrative setting.
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.
Knowledge and Skills
Requires broad knowledge and expertise in Partnership Assessment; Experience resolving interpersonal conflicts and guiding those who need assistance; Experience in higher education with a focus on international partnership.
About Us
Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
About USF
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
Compliance and Federal Notices
This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.
