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Director of Academic Relations, Fulbright (Hybrid)

Schedule: Full Time

Education: Master's Degree

Location: Washington DC – Washington, DC 20005 US (Primary)

Travel: 26 - 50%

The Institute of International Education (IIE) is hiring a Director of Academic Relations for our Fulbright Scholar Program team. We invite you to join a team united by our mission to help people and organizations forge brighter futures through educational exchange and lifelong learning. Working at IIE is more than just a job; it’s a chance to make an impact, collaborate with a passionate team, grow your skills, and contribute to programs that change lives around the world.

This position is contingent upon funding.

This position will work with the Fulbright Scholar Program team and will be responsible for higher education institution (HEI) leadership outreach strategy for the Fulbright Program. The Director of Academic Relations represents the Fulbright Program externally and engages higher education leaders at U.S. campuses and associations, to raise awareness about Fulbright, highlight the benefits to individual participants and institutions, and advise on best practices for strengthening Fulbright engagement.

The Director of Academic Relations coordinates HEI leadership engagement across all teams and oversees Fulbright outreach and recruitment activities that will impact and benefit Fulbright Programs. The Director has a special focus on extending the reach of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program through development and implementation of strategies that elevate the program's prestige and value, and encourage and support institutions in providing increased leave and support for U.S. Scholar awardees.

• Develops and implements a strategic plan to engage higher education leadership in the United States.
• Identifies any challenges related to Fulbright programming and the higher education community and recommends corresponding program improvements to counter these challenges.
• Manages the Fulbright Scholar Advisory Board (CIES) and works with board members to evaluate Fulbright Scholar Program administration and activities. Presents plans and strategic priorities to ensure the program remains aligned with the evolving needs of U.S. higher education—particularly in recruitment goals and strategies, selection processes, and program models—while actively seeking the Board’s guidance and feedback.
• Monitors the landscape and identifies trends in international higher education. Presents findings to Fulbright Program stakeholders including ECA, Fulbright Commissions, and U.S. Embassies.
• Represents the program externally by conducting presentations, attending conferences, and engaging with higher education leadership on the benefit and impact of the Fulbright Program, which requires frequent travel.
• Works with the heads of outreach to continuously evaluate existing outreach and recruitment strategies and recommend new activities to improve engagement with potential applicants and program stakeholders.
• Provides cross team coordination of HEI leadership engagement to maximize institutional relationships and outcomes across Fulbright programming.
• Liaises with U.S. campuses to ensure and improve Fulbright-friendly policies.
• Serves as the subject matter expert on emerging trends in academia and briefs program stakeholders.
• Leverages IIE institutional expertise to enhance the key role the Fulbright Scholar Program plays in U.S. higher education.

Education and Work Experience:

• Requires a Master's degree and at least ten years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ph.D. or other terminal degree strongly preferred and at least 10 years of increasingly responsible experience in the field of higher education administration, international educational exchange, or a closely related field.
• Significant knowledge of academia in the U.S. and abroad, with a preference for both faculty and administrative experience.
• Demonstrated management experience and ability to motivate, inspire, and direct team members.
• Excellent analytical skills and creative thinking. Demonstrated experience making presentations to groups of higher education leaders.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communications skills; proven ability to communicate on a personal, intercultural, and group level.
• Must thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, and challenging program environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically (26-50%).

• Hiring Range: $113,639 - $137,389. A candidate's salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, internal organizational equity, and geographic region.
• IIE offers a robust suite of benefits to team members including medical, dental, and vision plans, paid time off and holidays, student loan, tuition and professional development reimbursement programs, retirement plans and a family medical leave benefits.

IIE offers a flexible hybrid work environment which leverages both office work and telework.

Essential functions are performed in a general office setting with low noise. Job demands may require long periods of sitting; telephone work and/or computer work, as well as interactions with other team members and external stakeholders. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

IIE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.