Global Engagement Programs and Initiatives Manager

University of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Michigan seeks a Global Engagement Programs and Initiatives Manager to lead a portfolio of international engagement programs and strategic initiatives. You will coordinate campus partners, manage resources, and ensure program success across education abroad, travel, and related systems.

The role involves optimizing scholarship programs, co-managing international agreements, and delivering enterprise-system administration for M-Compass and the University Travel Registry.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education administration or related field, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years in program administration or international education.
• Experience with enterprise systems (Terra Dotta, MoveON, or TeamDynamix).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication with diverse institutional stakeholders.
• Experience with event planning and large-scale workshops.
• Experience living, working, or studying outside the United States.
• Familiarity with best practices in education abroad.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional programs and initiatives advancing the University's international mission.
• Define program goals, workflows, roles, timelines, and measures of success; coordinate campus stakeholders; manage risks and dependencies.
• Oversee administration of scholarship and grant programs and co-manage international agreements.
• Develop training for M-Compass and the Travel Registry; support data reporting and user materials.
• Analyze program outcomes and drive continuous improvement across units.
• Serve as primary administrator for MoveON workflows and enterprise-system enhancements.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Event planning

Cross-cultural experience

Education

Master's degree in higher education administration

Tools

Terra Dotta

MoveON

TeamDynamix

Job description

Global Engagement Programs and Initiatives Manager

Job Summary

The Global Engagement Program Manager oversees a key portfolio of ongoing programs and strategic initiatives that advance the University's international engagement mission. Reporting to the Associate Vice Provost for International Engagement, the manager leads program strategy and delivery, coordinates campus partners and resources, manages competing priorities, and ensures the continuous success of unit initiatives.

Responsibilities include administering University-wide scholarship and grant programs, co-managing international agreements, organizing professional development opportunities, and providing ongoing functional administration for enterprise systems related to education abroad and international travel. The manager also systematically evaluates program outcomes, improves processes, and recommends solutions that strengthen international engagement across U-M.

Responsibilities*

The Global Engagement Program Manager portfolio encompasses continuous programmatic operations and strategic initiatives. Core responsibilities include:

Strategic Program and Initiative Leadership (40%)

Lead cross-functional programs and strategic initiatives that advance the University's international mission, including programs aligned with the Global Engagement Strategic Plan. Define program goals, operational workflows, roles, timelines, and measures of success; coordinate campus stakeholders; manage risks and dependencies; resolve operational challenges; and communicate outcomes and recommendations to leadership. Establish procedures and documentation that support consistent and effective program delivery.

Examples of core program areas include:

• Strategic International Engagement Grants & Events: Administer grant programs supporting student professional development in global affairs and faculty/staff-led international events. Oversee application, award, and reporting cycles; evaluate outcomes; and lead the execution of marquee global engagement events.
• First-Generation Education Abroad Scholarship: Direct multiple annual scholarship cycles supporting up to 150 first-generation undergraduate students pursuing education abroad. Manage application, selection, and review processes; coordinate with the Office of Financial Aid; lead student communications; track awards; and analyze program data to drive continuous improvement.

Enterprise Systems Administration and Functional Support (40%)

Serve as a key functional administrator for M-Compass (the University's application management system for education abroad and engaged learning programs) and the University Travel Registry (which tracks faculty, staff, and student international travel).

• Oversee functional support queues in TeamDynamix, troubleshoot operational issues, manage access and change requests, coordinate with vendors, and track system enhancements through resolution.
• Consult with campus units to assess business needs, recommend system solutions, and build or modify M-Compass programs according to university's standards and unit requirements.
• Design and deliver instructor-led training, customized workshops, accessible support materials, and the annual administrator workshop for M-Compass system access.
• Develop queries and data reports to fulfill application, program, and travel requests; address data-quality issues; and provide ongoing application-management support to units across campus.
• Serve as the primary functional delegate and operational backup for the IT Project Intermediate Manager during planned and unplanned absences to ensure uninterrupted system operations.

International Agreements Management (10%)

Serve as a primary institutional contact for developing, executing, tracking, and administering international agreements in collaboration with the Associate Vice Provost for International Engagement and campus partners.

• Co-manage international agreements through their full lifecycle, coordinating institutional reviews, partner documentation, approvals, timelines, and renewals
• Advise campus partners on agreement requirements, identify workflow bottlenecks, and coordinate resolution across relevant stakeholders
• Support the administration of MoveON, the University's centralized platform for processing and tracking international agreements, contributing to workflow design, testing, user support, and process improvement

Other Programmatic Initiatives (10%)

Develop and coordinate professional development opportunities for U-M's international education community.

• Direct the planning and delivery of the annual Education Abroad Directors Retreat, including agenda design, speaker coordination, logistics, participant communications, and evaluation
• Organize workshops and training sessions on key practices such as pre-departure orientation, re-entry support, and education-abroad frameworks
• Manage funding programs for international education staff to attend conferences and professional training, overseeing application, selection, award allocation, and program evaluation
• Represent the unit on international engagement committees and working groups, contributing expertise to advance shared institutional priorities
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications*

• Master's degree in higher education administration, international education, public administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in program administration, higher education operations, international education, or non-profit management
• Experience with enterprise systems and platforms used in international education (such as Terra Dotta, MoveON, or TeamDynamix
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve system and operational issues efficiently
• Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to convey technical, system, and policy information clearly to diverse institutional stakeholders
• Experience with event planning, large-scale workshop coordination, and program execution
• Experience living, working, or studying outside the United States
• Familiarity with best practices in education abroad and intercultural learning

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.