Director, Custom Program Development

CEA CAPA Education Abroad provided pay range

This range is provided by CEA CAPA Education Abroad. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

$/yr - $/yr

As the Director of Custom Program Development, you’ll be responsible for the strategic leadership and oversight of the Custom Program Development team, ensuring the successful design and development of custom study abroad programs that meet the academic goals of sending institutions and align with CEA CAPA’s mission and best practices. You’ll lead the team in developing programs that fit within institutional budgets, ensure program quality, and foster strong institutional partnerships.

This role collaborates cross‑functionally to drive innovation, efficiency, and alignment with organizational priorities.

Our strong preference is for you to be based in Phoenix, but if that’s not possible, there is potential to discuss remote arrangements within the continental US.

• Provide strategic leadership to the Custom Program Development team, fostering a high‑performance culture that aligns with CEA CAPA's mission, vision, and values.
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team with varied roles focused on custom program development, fostering professional growth and maintaining a focus on performance, productivity, and engagement.
• Contribute to the development and execution of departmental strategic plans and initiatives, including integration efforts as the organization evolves and scales.
• Oversee team workload, setting clear goals and expectations while holding the team accountable for meeting established deadlines and producing high‑quality program proposals.
• Serve as the liaison between the team and senior leadership, advocating for resources and providing insights into departmental needs, challenges, and achievements.
• Provide strategic direction in the development of custom programs and consult with senior leadership for approval of program model, budget, and pricing exceptions.
• Partner with the Institutional Relations leadership team to assess custom program pipeline needs, prioritize requests, and align departmental objectives.
• Act as a point of escalation for internal and external stakeholders, providing solutions and strategic direction in complex or sensitive situations.
• Engage regularly with key stakeholders across the organization to align efforts and ensure the operational viability of custom program offerings.
• Support process optimization efforts and contribute to continuous improvements in program development, from the proposal stage through transition to program management.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to establish policies and workflows that ensure effective and timely delivery of custom programs.
• Ensure alignment with The Forum on Education Abroad’s Standards of Good Practice.
• Champion access, opportunity, and impact (AOI) principles in program design and development.
• Use data‑driven insights to assess program performance and recommend improvements that enhance program quality, student outcomes, institutional partnerships, and organizational success.
• Contribute to the innovation and evolution of the custom program offerings by staying informed of trends and best practices in international education.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 6+ years of experience in international education, including 2+ years focused on custom program development.
• Proven track record in program design, budgeting, and pricing within the context of international education.
• Significant experience collaborating with faculty, advisors, and institutional leaders to develop tailored academic programs.
• Strong leadership and people management experience, with a demonstrated ability to motivate and guide teams toward high levels of performance and professional growth.
• Expertise in fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the development and delivery of custom programs.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint,…