Global Partnership Specialist

WorldStrides; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Generous paid time off

Tuition reimbursement & certifications

Travel opportunities

Flexible work options

ERGs and wellness resources

Job summary

WorldStrides seeks an experienced Experiential Learning Specialist to liaise with universities and organizations, coordinating academic engagements across borders. You will research, outreach, and arrange programs that align with course goals while collaborating with sales and account teams for a top-tier learning experience.

Ideal candidates have 1–2 years in customer service, strong communication skills, and a willingness to travel internationally and domestically.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years’ experience in customer service.
• Client relationship management experience is a plus.
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, challenging environment.
• A highly self-driven sense of motivation and perseverance.
• Hunger to grow and openness to learning.
• Proactive and team oriented.
• Problem solver with attention to detail.
• Positive and forward-thinking attitude with a strong work ethic.
• Strong phone and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and communication skills.
• Highly organized with strong time management and follow up.
• Project management experience is a plus.
• Understanding of global markets including languages, currencies, and world events is helpful but can also be learned if you have the desire.
• Flexible as needed with work hours to accommodate international time differences.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
• BA/BS degree required.

Responsibilities

• Manage and confirm approximately 150 academic engagements.
• Adhere to Global Experiences Team Timeline.
• Complete Business Briefings at 21 days prior to trip departure.
• Track all contacts sourced using the Capstone CRM platform.
• Collaborate and support fellow Global Experiences Team members.
• Communicate with internal teams and customers regularly and in a clear, organized manner.
• Connect virtually with overseas contacts to form partnerships.
• Gather information on global markets.
• Research and understand emerging trends in assigned markets.
• Ensure client expectations and deadlines are met.
• Prepare for and lead client calls and meetings.
• Work effectively with other members of the university team regarding important on-trip details.
• Create and update curriculum and academic materials including, but not limited to: Academic Overviews, Program and Meeting Themes, Destination Briefings.
• Maintain and create Destination Briefings throughout the year, ensuring that relevant world events, economic trends, major elections, etc. are incorporated and current.
• Research trending themes and industries across the globe.
• Undergrad and Grad programs – contribute to sourcing company visits for programs by gathering academic and course goals from customer and identifying companies and people to target.
• Oversee Experiential Learning:
• Ensure Panel topics are relevant and focused.
• Align Strategy Challenges and Project topics, deliverables, and academics to ensure they match class curriculum.
• Match clients to service-learning opportunities that offer a safe, positive, and educational experience.
• Support the Sales and Account Management teams by providing “cheat sheets” for business content, what is trending, etc.
• Complete Global Experiences Team special projects assigned by the Director of Global Experiences.
• Contribute to weekly team meetings and attend monthly higher-ed team meetings.
• Support the Global Experiences Team with regular tasks including confirmation forms, confirming engagement details in the system, and other duties as needed.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Time management

Team oriented

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

Capstone CRM

CRM tools

Job description

Company Introduction

WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.

WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.

Job Description

The Global Experiences team of Experiential Learning Specialists works as a liaison between universities and organizations to source and schedule academic engagements internationally. Your primary responsibilities will be to research and outreach to executives and contacts globally to arrange academic engagements that align with program objectives. Experiential Learning Specialists work over the phone, email and virtual platforms (zoom/teams) to engage with both faculty and speakers to align content with course objectives. They partner with internal departments such as sales and account management to deliver a high-quality academic experience exceeding university expectations.

Responsibilities

• Manage and confirm approximately 150 academic engagements
• Adhere to Global Experiences Team Timeline
• Complete Business Briefings at 21 days prior to trip departure
• Track all contacts sourced using the Capstone CRM platform
• Collaborate and support fellow Global Experiences Team members
• Communicate with internal teams and customers regularly and in a clear, organized manner.
• Connect virtually with overseas contacts to form partnerships
• Gather information on global markets
• Research and understand emerging trends in assigned markets
• Ensure client expectations and deadlines are met
• Prepare for and lead client calls and meetings
• Work effectively with other members of the university team regarding important on-trip details
• Create and update curriculum and academic materials including, but not limited to: Academic Overviews
• Program and Meeting Themes
• Maintain and create Destination Briefings throughout the year, ensuring that relevant world events, economic trends, major elections, etc. are incorporated and current
• Research trending themes and industries across the globe
• Undergrad and Grad programs – contribute to sourcing company visits for programs by gathering academic and course goals from customer and identifying companies and people to target
• Oversee Experiential Learning:
• Ensure Panel topics are relevant and focused
• Align Strategy Challenges and Project topics, deliverables, and academics to ensure they match class curriculum
• Match clients to service-learning opportunities that offer a safe, positive, and educational experience
• Support the Sales and Account Management teams by providing “cheat sheets” for business content, what is trending, etc.
• Complete Global Experiences Team special projects assigned by the Director of Global Experiences
• Contribute to weekly team meetings and attend monthly higher-ed team meetings
• Support the Global Experiences Team with regular tasks including confirmation forms, confirming engagement details in the system, and other duties as needed.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years’ experience in customer service
• Client relationship management experience is a plus
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, challenging environment
• A highly self-driven sense of motivation and perseverance
• Hunger to grow and openness to learning
• Proactive and team oriented
• Problem solver with attention to detail
• Positive and forward-thinking attitude with a strong work ethic
• Strong phone and interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Highly organized with strong time management and follow up
• Project management experience is a plus
• Understanding of global markets including languages, currencies, and world events is helpful but can also be learned if you have the desire
• Flexible as needed with work hours to accommodate international time differences
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally
• BA/BS degree required

Our Values & Culture

• Act as one team with integrity, respect, transparency and inclusion
• Do the right thing to deliver exceptional results to every customer.
• Build education and learning into everything we do.
• Care for our people and communities
• Mission-driven: focus and passion on “transforming lives” through study abroad.
• Self-Motivated: When you have a goal, you own it. Ability to remain focused for months at a time in order to persistently pursue new business.
• Industrious & Hard Working: You’re willing to both make decisions and collaborate in the pursuit of getting things done. You don’t stop until the problem is resolved, especially if the problem is challenging and forces you to grow.
• Optimistic & Creative: This is less about having all of the answers and more about how you approach problems that come up.

Work Perks

• Comprehensive health benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, accident, critical illness, disability insurance, FSA/HSA options with employer HSA contributions, and a generous 401(k) match.
• Generous paid time off including 11 paid company holidays, 25 PTO days the first year (prorated), 1 paid volunteer day, 4 mental health days, and bereavement
• Professional development support, including up to $5,250 annually for tuition reimbursement and up to $1,000 for certifications annually
• Opportunities for paid and discounted travel
• Flexible work schedule providing on-site, remote, and hybrid office opportunities
• Encouraged participation in a wide variety of Employee Resource Groups
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness resources, including fitness centers at select locations
• Paid parental, caregiver, and disability leave
• Team Member Discount Program
• Engaging, collaborative, and fun work environment

The salary range listed for this position represents WorldStrides’ good-faith estimate of the base compensation for the role at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills and qualifications, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. The range does not include other forms of compensation or benefits that may be offered as part of the total rewards package.

Compensation Range: $50,000 USD - $50,000 USD

WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, WorldStrides is committed to building a diverse workforce, supported by an environment that promotes inclusion and belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

WorldStrides will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, J-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire. Select seasonal roles may consider students on J-1 or F-1 visas.