Lead, Outreach & Communications, Gilman International Scholarship Program (Hybrid)

The Institute of International Education (IIE) is hiring a Lead, Outreach and Communications for our Gilman International Scholarship Program. We invite you to join a team united by a single goal: to transform our interconnected world into a network of more peaceful and equitable societies. IIE’s team members share a belief that when education transcends borders, it opens minds, enabling people to go beyond building connections to solving problems together.

Learn more about IIE, our culture and commitment to DEIA here.

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Job Summary

This role is with the Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program). IIE administers the Gilman Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The Gilman Program aims to support underrepresented students in their educational pursuits abroad by offering scholarships to talented undergraduates with significant financial need, enabling them to study or intern internationally. Gilman Scholars represent all fifty states and embody the diverse tapestry of the United States. These scholars act as citizen ambassadors while abroad and return to the U.S. equipped to effect positive change within their communities and industries. Furthermore, Gilman Alumni benefit from lifelong access to career advancement opportunities and networking initiatives.

The Lead plays a crucial role within the Gilman Program’s leadership team, contributing to the IIE’s execution of deliverables and long-term objectives. The Lead for Outreach and Communications oversees the development and implementation of the Gilman International Scholarship Program’s national outreach, communication, and recruitment plans. This includes the marketing and outreach strategy, conference attendance plans, engagement with institutions of higher education, website, social media, and promotion of program events and activities. The Lead also has oversight of communication campaigns with Members of Congress and other stakeholders such as the higher education community. The Lead regularly liaises with U.S. Government officials and represents IIE at meetings and events. The position has daily sponsor contact requiring a high level of autonomy and professional maturity.

Essential Functions:    
• Develops and implements the Gilman Program’s annual outreach, marketing, and communications plan.
• Supervises a team to carry out the Gilman Program’s outreach activities. Guides individual team members’ performance via timely communication and support. Identifies training opportunities for team and provides feedback.
• Monitors changing trends in the higher education and political landscape, making recommendations to position the program for success.
• Ensures the Gilman Program voice and communications and are in line with sponsor requirements.
• Continually looks for innovative and effective ways to engage and support key stakeholders.
• Regularly updates communication protocols based on lessons learned and shifting environments.
• Serves as a day-to-day contact for officials from the U.S. Department of State for routine and non-routine matters. 
• Designs and leads national campaigns and events including the annual Gilman Program Top Producer announcement. Drafts press releases, marketing content, and outreach materials.
• Oversees website, social media, publicity materials, and other collateral to maximize and drive engagement with key stakeholders, particularly the U.S. higher education community.
• Uses program and external data to make data driven decisions regarding the Gilman Program’s outreach strategy and engagement with the public.
• Oversees the Gilman Program’s outreach and marketing budget.
• Collaborates with units across the department to maximize efficiencies, ensuring a seamless delivery of required activities.
• Develops and updates process charts, ensures staff compliance with processes. 
• Leads biannual selection panels. Serves on periodic weekend watch. 
• Makes ongoing and continuous improvements, develops best practices, and leads with innovation in mind.
• Travels to conferences to support, organize presentations, and represent the program. May attend ad hoc events in the U.S.  Frequency varies and is dependent upon changing circumstances.

Education and Work Experience: 

• Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least eight (8) years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Appreciation and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. 
• Experience developing and designing marketing and outreach initiatives. Solid understanding of social and digital media and brand management. Ability to create innovative outreach approaches to reach a wide array of stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Experience working with external stakeholders or clients.
• Understanding of U.S. higher education and American college students. Understanding of education abroad at the university level.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing processes and systems to support the execution of deliverables.
• Experience managing and designing budgets.
• Experience collecting and analyzing data as well as producing quantitative reports.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, negotiate, advise, and persuade on highly complex and sensitive matters. Superior interpersonal skills are required.
• A minimum of five years of experience leading large, complex projects with superior attention to detail. 
• Knowledge of cross-cultural matters and understanding. 
• Ability to influence without authority and be a strong collaborator.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced degree in a related field.
• A minimum of five years of supervisory experience of professional staff preferred. Experience coaching employees for success. Enthusiasm for leading and collaborating with diverse teams. 
• Experience as a seasoned leader who is adaptable, nimble, flexible and can lead a team to pivot when needed. Experience leading teams in high pressure environments.
• Experience with editing, journalism, design, preferred.
• Experience working at a U.S. college or university.
• Experience working with the U.S. Government.
• Experience living or working outside of the United States.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary Range: $77,623 – $101,244. A candidate’s salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, internal organizational equity, and geographic region. 

IIE offers a robust suite of benefits to team members including medical, dental, and vision plans, paid time off and holidays, student loan and tuition reimbursement programs, professional development reimbursement program, retirement plans and a family medical leave benefits. Please visit our careers page for further details. 

The Institute of International Education (“IIE”) has a hybrid work environment that allows team members a combination of in-office work and telework at any of the locations listed above.