Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world. Building on its motto of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), Virginia Tech is dedicated to InclusiveVT-serving in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence. We seek candidates who adopt and practice the Principles of Community, which are fundamental to our on-going efforts to increase access and inclusion, and to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members. Virginia Tech actively seeks a broad spectrum of candidates to join our community in preparing leaders for the world.

Position Summary:
The Director of Communications and International Engagement is a new strategic administrative/professional faculty position within the Department of Engineering Education. This position will manage the department's communications for both undergraduate and graduate academic programs as well as communication of the department's research activities to a variety of stakeholders. The position will also manage the administration of the department's international activities. The individual will report to the Department Head, work closely with the Business Manager and the Assistant Department Heads, and work with faculty PI's/co-PI's of research grants. Specific roles and responsibilities are as follows:
Manage communications for undergraduate and graduate academic programs, including social media engagement, printed forms of media, video, and the departmental website. Work with academic program leaders to identify departmental activities to communicate externally and develop communication products in a variety of formats. Engage with a variety of stakeholders, including students, prospective graduate students, parents, faculty, staff, university administrators, alumni, industry partners, and community members. Liaise with college and university communications personnel.
Work with faculty PI's and co-PI's to manage communication of department's research activities, including new grant announcements, broad dissemination of grant-related scholarly activities, and the co-development of new products that communicate research findings and activities in a variety of ways (e.g., distilling academic papers into one-page briefs, videos, etc).
Direct administrative and logistical aspects of the department's Rising Sophomore Abroad Program (see www.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate/ RSAP ), offering strategic leadership for expanding and enhancing program offerings. Work in consultation with departmental personnel to lead the following: recruitment, selection, scholarship disbursement, travel logistical planning in consultation with third party providers, coordination of faculty and graduate student personnel, program budgeting, travel reimbursements, and risk management. Liaise with appropriate university offices, such as the Global Education Office. Some teaching within RSAP (i.e., ENGE 1644) is anticipated. Engagement with students and parents via emails and phone calls is an important aspect of this role.
Advance and support the department's international portfolio. This individual will help form and develop strategic relationships with international partners, manage logistics for visiting international scholars, and develop new strategic international opportunities.

Required Qualifications:
-Successful candidate will have at least a Master's degree in communications, business, marketing, education, a STEM discipline, or a related field.
-Demonstrated experience in program administration and/or communications;
-Prior experience traveling outside the United States is necessary.
-Must have computer proficiency especially with Microsoft Office applications, and adapt quickly to new software tools.
-Ability to prioritize tasks, apply policies, and meet deadlines;
-Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem solving skills.
-Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
-Ability to organize, multi-task, and work independently.
-Must be an enthusiastic team player, have a strong work ethic, and be interested in working with faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
-Must be able to engage in a collegial manner with parents, students, and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:
-Experience working in a university environment is desired, in particular in positions with a customer service orientation.
-Prior work which required the development of a variety of communications products is desired, including written documents, stories for the media, websites, social media, and videos.
-Experience with study abroad or international programs would be beneficial.
-The ability to understand and be able to paraphrase research products for a variety of stakeholders.
-Experience working with travel reimbursements and budgeting.
-Working knowledge of university policies and procedures.
-Prior teaching experience is preferred.



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