Position: Student Life Director, CIEE Madrid
Reports to: Center Director, Madrid
Department: Study Abroad
Location: Madrid, Spain
Who we are:
CIEE is a nonprofit 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 culturally diverse world.
Why work with us are:
- You will change the world. CIEE builds bridges between different people, different countries, and different 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 be part of a fast-paced, international, diverse, and collaborative team of professionals. CIEE operates the largest nonprofit network of study-abroad locations, with facilities and staff in 29 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 75-year-old mission to make the world a more peaceful place.
Who you are:
You are an inspiring, organized and energetic leader who motivates your team to success. In collaboration with/under the supervision of the Center Director, the Student Life Director leads the coordination, quality assurance, and planning of all student services programming (activities, excursions, etc.), and residential life operations. You ́ll guide a passionate and dedicated team, of eight staff, ensuring that every aspect of the Student Life experience is engaging, supportive and enriching. More generally, your leadership as the Student Life Director provides intellectual leadership and you ́ll play a vital role as a senior staff member in delivering high quality high school, college, customs, and professional programs in Madrid.
What you'll do:
- Advising and Communication
- Serve as a resource and counsel for individual students, student interest groups, and student populations with unique needs
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Create a welcoming, trusting and open environment and meet informally and frequently with students to discuss all student life matters
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Provide referrals to individual students for professional counseling and medical services as required
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Keep student information confidential when appropriate and share relevant student information with CIEE colleagues, sending school or parents when necessary to protect student health and safety or to resolve disciplinary or academic issues
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Be available during business hours for regular advising and by phone for emergencies after-hours
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Student Welfare and Conduct
- Communicate applicable codes of conduct and the consequences of noncompliance to participants
- Take appropriate action when students violate codes of conduct, in coordination with the Manager for Student Welfare and Center Director depending on degree of severity and number of infractions
- Support the student welfare with networking and learning opportunities, such as meeting with Student Council Representatives, Ambassadors or alumni
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Arrange the logistics, invite speakers, and deliver orientation content for all center sessions regarding health and safety, housing, and logistics
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Develop and execute campus and city orientations, excursions and cohort-building exercises and activities.
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Orientation
- Develop, coordinate, and evaluate pre-departure and on-site orientation programs in consultation with the Center Director
- Coordinate with the Study Abroad Advisor to plan and facilitate online pre- departure orientation (OPDO) for each program
- Invite speakers and deliver orientation content for all center sessions regarding health and safety, housing, registration, and logistics
- Develop and execute campus and city orientations, excursions and cohort building exercises and activities
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Activities
- Work closely with the Academic Director, Program Managers and Center Director to design a program of activities and events that support the needs and learning goals of individual programs
- Develop and implement experiential learning and volunteer opportunities and events
- Conduct student evaluation and attendance of activities each term
- Coordinate and participate in staff rotations to chaperone and participate in cultural activities, day trips and/or occasional overnight program excursions
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Housing
- Work with Student Life Managers and Center Director to establish standards, best practices and objectives for student housing
- Plan and coordinate all housing arrangements, budgeting accommodation pricing for students to ensure CIEE standards and objectives are met
- Oversee the selection and management of roommates and homestay hosts
- Conduct evaluations of housing and host families during each term
- Oversee the communication with housing providers to ensure maintenance requests are adequately addressed
- Health, Safety and Student Welfare
- Deliver best practices of health and wellness through CIEE’s student life concepts, such as bystander intervention, community resources of care, and encouraging a positive learning experience.
- Work with other CIEE teams to monitor and resolve medical cases that impact participants ́ experience; in a timely and complete manner, following CIEE policies
- Perform necessary due diligence to ensure a healthy and safe environment in the office, classrooms, dormitory and during trips for both students and staff
- Plan and update emergency protocols, and introduce these protocols to students and staff each semester during orientation and prior to trips
- Ensure the emergency phone schedule is implemented operational and tested
- Maintain the Student and Program Travel Itinerary and ensure that students register all overnight or long-distance travel outside the city
- In coordination with the Program Management Team, provide appropriate advice and warnings to participants during orientation and throughout the program to help minimize risk and increase student accountability for their own health and safety
- Other duties as assigned
What you'll bring:
- Relevant work experience in Madrid.
- Superior communication skills, both written and verbal, and Spanish and in English.
- Ability to effectively communicate with students, providers, and CIEE staff internationally.
- Passion for student development and a commitment to fostering a positive and supportive learning environment.
- Proactive and solution-oriented mindset, with a focus on student welfare and safety
- Minimal of eight or more years of team leadership and supervisory experience
- Experience in emergency management, student counseling, and health and safety protocols is preferred
- Proven ability to deal calmly and empathically with students who are adapting to new learning environments.
- Familiarity with Spanish culture and local resources for health, safety, and student support.
- Analytical skills, budget and expense planning experience
- Availability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, and to be on-call for emergencies.
- Legal authorization to work in Spain without the need for employer sponsorship.
- University degree required
- Strong proficiency in using technology and software for communication, program management, and student engagement
- Familiarity with U.S. culture and higher education and direct experience with U.S. college and university students is a plus.
- Ability to embrace CIEE’s Core Values (Excellence, Integrity, Respect, Inclusion, and Problem Solving) and culture.
CIEE believes that professionals with varied backgrounds bring unique approaches and ideas to solving problems and advancing our mission to bring the world together. Qualified candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicant must have authorization to work in Spain.
