The
Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs
Position Description: Executive Director
The Association of Professional Schools of International
Affairs (APSIA) comprises 31 member schools in the
Position Overview
The Executive Director (ED) of APSIA is the Chief Operating Officer of the Association. The ED works under the direct supervision of the Association President during his or her tenure, which is a rotating two-year term. As the sole operating officer of APSIA, the position includes a wide range of responsibilities, which are outlined below, involving communication and work within the Association, and between the Association and outside individuals, groups and organizations.
Prospective candidates must have a background in administration, including some knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, and auditing. Candidates should be personable, diplomatic, professional, and have the ability to work with a number of different groups and individuals in a leadership capacity. Candidates must be able to take initiative on a number of levels, and must have the ability to work comfortably in an independent capacity. International experience and knowledge of non-U.S. institutions of higher education is considered highly desirable. The ED is based at APSIA’s headquarters, which is located at the School of Public Policy of the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, about nine miles from downtown Washington, DC.
Job Responsibilities
- Manage the association’s finances and budget, including its accounting, auditing, and budgeting procedures.
- Work with the deans of APSIA’s member schools to address major issues or problems confronting international affairs education.
- Promote
membership in APSIA to interested schools located in the
- Work with the career services and admissions directors of member schools to plan and organize annual outreach trips and admissions fairs.
- Organize annual marketing campaigns to promote APSIA’s admissions fairs to a wider audience and to expand APSIA’s visibility in the scholarly and professional communities
- Develop a long-term strategy for promoting a more diverse applicant pool.
- Collaborate with APSIA’s institutional partners and related organizations to promote international affairs education.
- Serve as a liaison to and work with the leaders of other professional education organizations, such as NASPAA, APPAM, ISA, and others to address issues of common interest.
- Serve as a point of contact for non-U.S. APSIA members, as well as organize events and meetings of interest to non-U.S. members.
- Work with APSIA’s webmaster to update and maintain the association’s website.
- Organize and present data to the APSIA membership that is collected from the member schools.
- Together with the association’s president, plan APSIA’s Annual Meeting, where members discuss major issues facing international relations professional education, including curriculum, hiring and admissions trends, and best practices.
Candidate
Profile: Requirements and Preferred
Experience
- Graduate Degree in International Affairs, Public Policy, or a related academic discipline OR at least five years of previous work experience in a field related to international affairs.
- Demonstrated capability to work in a highly independent and inter-cultural environment.
- Experience in collaborating with a diverse group of stakeholders from many nations and cultures to produce sound and authoritative decisions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated skills in effective networking and organizational representation.
- Previous experience with budgeting or accounting.
- Demonstrated ability to handle and protect confidential material.
- Willingness to travel at least five or six times each year.
- Fluency in English. Additional language proficiency is encouraged, but not required.
Salary
Compensation includes a base salary of $65,000, with a total benefit package, including health and retirement, of $81,000.
Applications
Applications can be sent electronically to candidate@apsia.org or mailed to the following address:
Search Director
APSIA
225 Eggers Hall
All applications should include a resume or curriculum vitae with an accompanying cover letter. For best consideration, please submit your application no later than March 7, 2008. If you are interested in learning more about APSIA please visit our website at www.apsia.org or e-mail your questions to info@apsia.org.