Associate Director of Custom Programs, High School Study Abroad

Position:  Associate Director of Custom Programs, High School Study Abroad

Reports to: Executive Director of Sales, High School Study Abroad Programs

Department: High School Study Abroad

Location: U.S. Remote

Who we are: 

CIEE is a non-profit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization that transforms lives and builds bridges between individuals and nations through study abroad and international exchange experiences that help people develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and multi-cultural world. 

Why work with us:   

• You will change the world. CIEE builds bridges between people, countries, and cultures. We help young people participate in high-quality international exchange and study abroad programs that bring the world together. We change lives; our alumni change the world. Be part of the change! 
• You will receive a competitive total rewards package (only applicable for U.S. employees).CIEE provides all employees with exceptional benefits offerings that increase total compensation by up to 25%. Our top-tier benefits include: 
  • Paid time off and Parental leave 
  • Gym Reimbursement Program 
  • Employee Assistance Program 
  • Short-term & Long-term Disability 
  • 6 floating Fridays (based on our eligibility rules) 
  • CIEE Study Abroad Program discounts 
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer contribution 
  • Insurance Coverage (life, travel, medical, dental, and vision)  
  • Flexible Spending Accounts/Health Savings Accounts (medical and dependent) 
  • Voluntary Benefits (identity theft protection, pet insurance, accident, and critical illness) 
• You will be part of a fast-paced, international, and collaborative team of professionals. CIEE operates the largest nonprofit network of study abroad locations, with facilities and staff in over 30 countries. Additionally, we help international participants from over 140 countries come to the USA each year.  Committed to excellence and solving whatever problem the world throws at them, CIEE professionals work on international teams and are dedicated to advancing our almost 80-year-old mission to make the world a more peaceful place. 

Who you are:

The Associate Director of Custom Programs leads the strategy, growth, and delivery of CIEE's High School Custom Programs, faculty-led international trips designed in partnership with schools and CIEE's local teams around the world. You’ll drive ambitious year-over-year growth by expanding the breadth of programs with returning schools, winning new school partners, and designing richer, longer programs. This is a role for someone who is equal parts sales strategist, program designer, people manager, and account leader. You understand private schools and how to design experiential, place-based programs that align with their academic goals and appeal to their distinct culture and expectations. You bring a strong foundation in experiential education and can translate a school's vision into a meaningful itinerary. You are also a successful seller and sales leader. You can build a growth strategy, coach a team to execute it, and personally steward the department's most important accounts. 

You'll manage two Custom Program Managers, each of whom owns a territory and portfolio  of schools. Custom Program Managers carry their programs from initial sale through program delivery, and post-travel debriefs. You'll also personally hold 2-3 of CIEE's top strategic Custom accounts, modeling the standard of service and program excellence you expect from your team.You’ll work closely with the national sales team who owns school relationships. Your job is  to make the national sales team more effective at introducing Custom to their schools.You’ll equip the national sales team with program knowledge, help them procure qualified leads, and support their school relationships with expertise, presence, and follow-through on delivering outstanding Custom programs. This role is fully remote, open to candidates anywhere in the U.S

What you’ll do:

• Sales Strategy & Growth
  • Own the Custom Programs growth strategy across three major levers of opportunity: retaining and expanding the breadth of programs with returning school partners, acquiring new school customers, and building longer, higher-value programs.
  • Monitor progress against goals and course-correct quickly when targets are at risk.
  • Bring a deep understanding of private schools, their decision-makers, academic priorities, and culture, to the design of programs that align with and appeal to their unique needs.
  • Apply a strong foundation in experiential education and place-based learning to shape best practices and standards that deliver academically aligned programs.
  • Represent CIEE and the Custom Programs line at industry conferences, association meetings, and CIEE-sponsored events.
• People Leadership & Team Management
  • Manage and develop two Custom Program Managers, each owning a territory and portfolio of schools across both the sales and operational lifecycle of their programs. Set clear expectations, provide consistent feedback, and support Custom Program Managers in meeting their sales and program goals.
  • Coach and train your team to strengthen their sales, program design, account management, and operational delivery skills.
  • Coach Custom Program Managers to work effectively with the national Sales team and sell in collaboration, not competing for the same relationships.
  • Delegate projects effectively across the team, provide feedback, and jump in directly to support when an account, a program, or a territory needs it.
  • Build a culture of accountability and high standards, recognizing strong work and addressing gaps directly.
• Strategic Account Management
  • Personally manage 2-3 of CIEE's top strategic Custom accounts, delivering best-in class customer service and program design from initial conversation through traveled program.
  • Lead by example, setting the standard of excellence your Custom Program Managers will model in their own portfolios.
• Cross-Team Collaboration & Sales Enablement
  • Partner with the regional Sales team to bring new Custom customers into the pipeline. Design and lead Sales Manager trainings on identifying and advancing Custom opportunities.
  • Support Sales team relationships by joining calls, contributing to proposals, and providing expert advice on selling Custom in addition to existing business at the school.
  • Establish and own the standard operating procedures for the full Custom customer journey from lead to traveled program, refining the process as the program line grows.
  • Work closely with Sales Managers and Custom Program Managers to define clear roles, responsibilities, and handoffs across teams.
• Operations, Budget & Strategy
  • Oversee Custom Programs budgets and financial performance.
  • Serve as the final review and approval on Custom program MOUs.
  • Partner with the Executive Director on high-level strategy, budgeting, and future staffing as the program line scales.

What you’ll bring:

The ideal candidate will possess: