Regional Director, Asia Pacific

CEA Study Abroad, Inc.; Australia; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

CEA CAPA is seeking a Regional Director, Asia & the Pacific to partner with the Senior Director of Regional Operations to manage study abroad programs across Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America. You will collaborate with regional teams and leadership to ensure high-quality student experiences and compliant operations on-site.

The role emphasizes strategic leadership, program delivery, budgeting, and cross-functional collaboration to support organizational growth and standardization across sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master’s degree preferred in Education, International Relations, Business, or related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years in international education or operational management.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and complex operations across locations.

Responsibilities

• Support regional leadership in managing program operations and continuous improvement.
• Oversee program delivery, budgeting, and financial reporting across sites.
• Ensure brand consistency and high-quality student experiences in Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America.
• Lead stakeholder engagement with host institutions, housing vendors, and partners.
• Develop and implement regional SOPs, training, and performance KPIs.
• Coordinate with on-site teams for readiness, communications, and crisis response.
• Manage on-site staff, recruitment, and onboarding processes.
• Provide detailed program wrap-up analyses and post-program reviews.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget oversight

Strategy development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in Education or related field

Job description

The Regional Director, Asia & the Pacific is responsible for assisting the Senior Director of Regional Operations, APAC and Latin America in managing a portfolio of CEA CAPA and CIS Abroad study and intern programs in Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America. This position communicates regularly with all teams at CEA CAPA to ensure a smooth student experience on-site and to support on-site directors with compliance in their duties. This position collaborates with regional teams, APAC on-site teams and leadership, and internal stakeholders to support the delivery of high-quality programming and operational consistency across assigned areas. The role contributes to key organizational initiatives and broader strategic operational priorities. As CEA CAPA and CIS Abroad continue organizational integration, this position supports cross-functional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of resources to facilitate effective transitions. The role requires strong partnership skills, the ability to work effectively across teams, and a collaborative approach to supporting organizational change and continuous improvement.

The team operates under a shared management structure where both the Senior Director and Director have management responsibilities for the same direct reports. The Senior Director provides strategic leadership, organizational direction, and executive oversight, while the Director manages day-to-day execution, coaching, and operational delivery.

What You’ll Do:

Program Information:

• Assist onsite teams with parent webinars, supervise completion and updates of Student Guides
• Assist with pre-departure arrangements and facilitation (Continuity with CIS Abroad Systems and Process)
• Ensure that course registration issues are addressed promptly if beyond the scope of enrolment team and onsite academic teams’ work
• Coordinate program readiness and end of program handoff
• Ensure brand representation and consistency in communication
• Ensure that program dates are set with International Partner and On-site staff collaboration
• Assist onsite teams with program communications with enrolment team

Student Communication:

• Support staff with student inquiries when there are unfamiliar requests
• Ensure that student pre-departure communications are completed within pre-program deadlines (including but not exclusive to Housing allocations, group communication enrolments and onsite arrival coordination)

Program Delivery:

• Support onsite teams in preparing for high-volume arrival periods by ensuring readiness, alignment with best practices, and effective student communication systems.
• Ensure program evaluation completion with a target of 70% response rate
• Oversee high-quality program delivery by ensuring on-site calendars, cultural curricula, and playbooks are implemented effectively and in collaboration with Site Directors and OSPs

Program Finances:

• Manage program finances by monitoring budgets, reviewing expenditures, and coordinating with onsite leadership to ensure accurate and timely financial updates
• Review RAMP card charges
• Ensure that onsite teams have the information they need so that the website remains updated with current program pricing and financial aid budget information
• Assist with the development and managements of sites annual operating budget
• Working with finance teams and onsite leadership, monitor expenditures to ensure fiscal discipline and cost-effective service delivery
• Collaborate with global finance and operations teams to ensure systems and policies are adhered to
• Drive focus on cost saving efficiency and opportunities to maximize revenue

Student Assistance:

• Support onsite teams with key academic and logistical processes, including enrolment verification, add/drop assistance, and resolution of elevated concerns in collaboration with VPGO onsite teams
• Back up on-site staff as they address elevated student concerns related to accommodations, academic experience, or student affairs issues
• Assist with projects and initiatives to enhance student support best practices

Post Program:

• Review program evaluations
• Provide detailed program wrap-up analysis

Program Delivery and Quality Assurance:

• Maintain a strong leadership presence to reinforce connections among students, onsite teams, and partners, serving as the primary escalation point for operational concerns
• Lead the region’s operational framework, ensuring all sites, programs, and services run smoothly and effectively
• Champion the student experience by ensuring location leaders and their teams deliver consistently high-quality academic, cultural, and support services
• Drive performance across all sites in line with budgeted costs, NPS, Survey results, compliance, etc
• Maintain strong communication across departments, facilitating collaboration between regional leadership teams and internal stakeholders

Partner and Industry Leadership

• Assist onsite teams and Senior Director with relationships with host institutions, housing vendors, and key partners through regular meetings and effective communication across all levels
• Monitor local and industry trends, competitor offerings, and cultural shifts to provide strategic insights that strengthen program relevance and competitiveness
• Partner with Global Academic Affairs to ensure each location’s curricula meet the standards of sending institutions and student expectations

Onsite and Emergency Response

• Ensure that on-site staff receives training and professional development to improve their ability to manage student issues
• Assist in the resolution of on-site participant concerns with on-site staff
• Assist sites with Health and Safety compliance
• Ensure full compliance with all local laws, including labor, tax, health and safety, and education regulations in collaboration with onsite teams and Senior Director
• Assist local teams in crisis response in coordination with Regional and Global leadership
• Be a point of escalation for any health & safety matters and provide support onsite and to the global H&S team
• Serve on the Emergency Response Team, overseeing incident and emergency protocols, including documentation, communication, and coordination with on-site staff
• Address complex arrival logistics
• Review on-site participant issues, escalating severe or sensitive situations to Senior Director or relevant teams as needed
• Support on-site teams during emergencies, including health, safety, and student well-being incidents, providing high-level intervention and guidance
• Supervise the maintenance of up-to-date contacts, processes, and resources for local authorities, hospitals, and emergency response organizations to ensure efficient crisis management

Custom Programs

• Act as regional lead in the creation of Custom Program Budgets, plans and staffing approaches
• Assist onsite teams in delivery of CP’s when required
• Act as a liaison with CPD team for the region
• Ensure Health and Safety preparedness for non-traditional locations and for new program focus areas
• Ensure proposals are delivered and program logistics are implemented on time

People Management

• Partner with the Senior Director to provide shared leadership and management of direct reports, ensuring alignment on performance, development, priorities, and team engagement
• Foster team collaboration and ensure adherence to team SOPs
• Manage on-site staff payments, contracts, and onboarding
• Translate regional and global strategies into actionable national plans
• Deliver training across the region
• Ensure that the agreed process for team member recruitment, team member exits, etc. are managed in a timely and professional manner
• Deliver against agreed KPIs aligned to regional objectives
• Assist with the leadership and development of an inclusive, high performing in-country leadership team
• Assist with the Recruitment, training, and retention of local leadership talent aligned with workforce planning and succession priorities
• Prepare for regular leadership reviews, coaching, and performance appraisals to support leadership development
• Foster a positive and inclusive culture aligned with CEA CAPA values

Stakeholder and Partner Engagement

• Support partner site visits, contributing to business development and retention in conjunction with the onsite team
• Represent CEA CAPA at local education events, forums, and community engagements
• Engage with partners and vendors in exploratory work as CEA CAPA seeks to expand its footprint in the region

What Makes a Great Candidate:

• Bachelor's degree required, master’s degree in education, International Relations, Business, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in international education or operational management.
• Extensive experience managing cross-functional leadership teams and complex operations across multiple locations.
• A track record of success in leading strategic initiatives, budget oversight, and stakeholder management.
• Experience living or working abroad, with knowledge of the country’s culture, history, business practices, and academic environment.

Who We Are:

CEA CAPA is a premier provider of transformative international education experiences, committed to empowering students to become thoughtful and thriving leaders through living and learning abroad. With a presence in 62 cities across 22 countries in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Australia, we offer comprehensive study abroad and career readiness programs that integrate academic excellence and cultural immersion. Our global footprint includes 11 international study centers, and we proudly support over 10,000 students annually in partnership with more than 375 U.S. universities and over 50 international institutions. CEA CAPA is in a dynamic phase of growth and is powered by a global team of nearly 700 professionals who are deeply mission-driven and committed to creating inclusive, supportive and enriching environments that help students grow academically, personally and professionally.

Our commitment to creating a sense of belonging means we welcome individuals of all abilities, ages, citizenships, educations, ethnicities, family statuses, gender identities, genders, genetic information, languages, marital status, military experiences, political views, pregnancy, races, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, and work experiences and therefore we encourage applicants from diverse lived experiences to apply.

Note: This role profile is intended to provide an overview of the key responsibilities and qualifications for the position. It is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake additional tasks and duties, as necessary and in line with evolving business needs. Any proposed permanent modifications to this role profile will be made in consultation with role incumbents, and relevant stakeholders in accordance with applicable policies and legislative requirements.