Senior Director of Program Development

CEA CAPA Education Abroad; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

CEA CAPA Education Abroad seeks a Senior Director of Program Development to lead cross-departmental collaboration for innovative academic programs. In this strategic role, you will manage program development workflows and foster team motivation, ensuring alignment with institutional partner needs.

Located in Phoenix, AZ, this position allows remote work within the continental U.S. Candidates must have a Master’s degree and extensive experience in study abroad program design. The salary ranges from $100,000 to $110,000.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience designing study abroad programs.
• 5+ years of experience managing curriculum integration initiatives.
• Experience living, working, or studying abroad.

Responsibilities

• Lead program development workflows and project plans.
• Manage a portfolio of programs and guide team progress.
• Support the Chief Innovation Officer with innovation strategies.

Skills

Curriculum design

Project management

Intercultural communication

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Education

Master’s degree

Job description

Your Role

As the Senior Director of Program Development, you will lead cross‑departmental collaboration to design and deliver innovative, high‑quality academic programs aligned with institutional partner needs. Success in this role requires a deep understanding of higher education and the ability to translate partner priorities into effective program models and solutions.

The Senior Director oversees program development workflows and project plans, coordinating execution across globally dispersed teams. You will manage a portfolio of programs while motivating and guiding a team to achieve established annual objectives. This role is both strategic and operational, requiring creativity, strong problem‑solving skills, and a solution‑oriented mindset to serve internal and external stakeholders. You will establish frameworks, standards, and best practices for university engagement, program design, and team training.

You will support the Chief Innovation Officer in shaping and advancing long‑term innovation strategies, providing insights, resources, and leadership to drive continuous improvement and growth.

This role is eligible to be worked remotely within the continental U.S. or on a hybrid schedule based out of our office in Phoenix, AZ.

What You’ll Do

• Establish annual development strategies with the Chief Innovation Officer, inclusive of curricular and geographic priorities
• Build project plans to achieve established strategies and set a launch calendar in collaboration with cross‑functional leaders
• Manage development workflows, assigning projects to team members and global colleagues, and lead efforts to meet established deadlines
• Establish a framework and cadence for regular reporting and project status updates to key internal stakeholders including Global Operations, Academic Affairs, Enrollment, Marketing, Institutional Relations and the Executive Leadership Team
• Manage the Program Development team, setting annual goals and regularly managing progress to goals
• Liaise with leaders in Institutional Relations, Academic Relations and Global Operations to ensure alignment on development initiatives
• Model and lead core development processes: monitor market trends, engage institutional personnel, lead focus groups, analyze data, coordinate program design and launch, resolve complex cross‑functional challenges, recommend new curriculum, and serve as internal lead for advisory board committees
• Oversee maintenance and data integrity of the program portfolio, develop training frameworks in collaboration with Go‑To‑Market and Global Operations, and support GTM efforts to grow partnerships
• Develop session proposals in collaboration with U.S. institutions and participate in industry conferences
• Engage with other leaders within the Program Development & Innovation team to support shared objectives and continuous improvement of workflows
• Support the Chief Innovation Officer with a multi‑year innovation roadmap

Salary: $100,000 – $110,000

What Makes a Great Candidate

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree required
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience designing study abroad programs
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience managing department‑ or campus‑wide curriculum integration initiatives
• Experience living, working, or studying abroad
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with faculty, university administrators, and international colleagues using proactive training and strong listening skills

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Expertise in educational theory, curriculum design, and alignment of programs to academic standards and learning outcomes
• Knowledge of best practices and trends in education abroad, with strong research and analytical skills to inform program design
• Evidence of strong organizational, problem‑solving, and project management skills
• Excellent intercultural communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong writing skills, including experience preparing proposals and reports
• Comfortable and effective working in both business and academic environments
• Resourceful, action‑oriented, and able to work with a strong sense of urgency
• Commitment to providing timely, reliable support and follow‑through to internal and external stakeholders
• Flexibility and adaptability in a rapidly changing, entrepreneurial environment