Site Director RomeDivision: EF Study Abroad and EF Gap YearEF Education First is the world's largest international education company, offering language learning, cultural exchange, and education travel opportunities for young people, students, and adults.
The higher education travel division of EF Study Abroad and EF Gap Year, provide life-changing, study abroad and gap year experiences for students to develop the skills needed to become global citizens.
Our mission is to remove the barriers of educational travel to build global competence, empathetic leadership, and open-mindedness in diverse student bodies across the U.S. EF Study Abroad partners with colleges and universities around the country to help them organize study abroad programs for their students – ranging from faculty-led programs, campus-wide programs, and first-year global semester programs.
We also provide open enrollment programs via EF Gap Year for students looking for broader study abroad opportunities that result in transferrable college credit.
We're looking for a Site Director to support EF's study abroad and gap year programs.WHAT YOU WILL DO: The Site Director's primary role is to ensure the successful execution of all ground logistics for any study abroad or gap year programs running in their city, largely with U.S. students ages 18-22 years old.
This may include programs that relate to U.S. students studying at a local University, U.S. students studying at an EF Language School, or U.S. students studying and traveling with their professors throughout the region.
Together with a Student Life Coordinator and Field Director on each program, the Site Director will manage the on-the-ground logistics of running the program, to ensure the students will be successful, engaged, safe, and academically progress throughout the duration of their study abroad or gap year program.
The Site Director will also work closely with EF local staff and serve as a liaison with the local University and both the Zurich and Boston offices.Responsibilities will include, : Provide local oversight of the program responsibilities to ensure the smooth coordination of student support and program logistics such as meals, accommodation, transport, and activitiesRepresent EF Study Abroad and EF Gap Year through formal and informal contact with university partners, including their administrators, staff, and facultyAdvise students on local customs and academic policies, and support their cross-cultural adaptation to their host settingLiaise with local partners and suppliers (Hotels, Restaurants, Guides etc.
)Serve as a primary point of contact for troubleshooting academic program logistics, cross-cultural support, and student emergencies Work collaboratively to support the safety and well-being of students and manage escalated emergenciesLead engaging and experiential activities Facilitate the inclusion of every person on the program and advance EF Study Abroad's overall DEIB effortsAssist students in meeting their academic goals through regular progress checks throughout the academic termServe as the official point of contact for visiting EF staff and U.S. sending schools, including faculty from EF's university partners looking to make an initial site visitAt EF headquarters' discretion, travel with students, Student Life Coordinator, and Field Directors during course-related academic field visitsWork in partnership with the Student Life Coordinator to manage the quality of the program product, hotels, and activitiesPrepare and submit regular program status reports to EF Zurich and Boston staffWork with EF Zurich Operations teams, and Product Development and Customer Teams in the U.S. to funnel insights about programming or co-curricular opportunities for future programsContinuously expand EF local knowledge of the region, including but limited to suppliers and logistics of the areaReview processes and approaches with an eye to continuously improve efficiency, quality, cost, and ultimately customer experienceSupport students, at times, during non-traditional hours like evenings and weekendsWHO YOU ARE:You are passionate about international education, dedicated to fostering a supportive learning environment, and possess strong leadership and organizational skills.
You're someone who loves details and execution.
You bring vision to life to create a beautiful experience.
You thrive from challenges and problem-solving.
Requirements:Top skills we're looking for: Communication, Problem Solving, Customer Experience, Logistics and Organizational SkillsFluent in English and the local languageLocation expertise – deep experience with and understanding of the local host setting, culture and higher educationStrong understanding of U.S. higher education, gained through hands-on experience working with US university students and faculty Must have a valid passportBe authorized to work in local country, without needing visa sponsorshipExcellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skillsOrganizational skills and good attention to detailExcellent ability to navigate ambiguous situations and highly adaptableAbility to prioritize, take action & work well under pressureEnthusiasm, positivity, resilience and a 'nothing-is-impossible' attitudeComfortable with communication tools and technologyPreferred qualifications:A strong interest or experience in working in international education and/or the travel industryInternational travel experienceABOUT EF EDUCATION FIRSTAt EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another.
Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves.
Our culturally immersive education programs—focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics—turn dreams into international opportunities.When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education.
Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day.
EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability, parental status, experience, and everything else that makes you unique..
