[Hiring] Director, Ambassador & Lifecycle Programs @abf422db-62a5-428c-8857-1f375ff66821

Role Description

The Director, Ambassador & Lifecycle Programs is a strategic leader responsible for the vision, growth, and performance of CIEE's Ambassador Programs and Lifecycle Sales initiatives. This role oversees a team of managers responsible for ambassador engagement, alumni lifecycle sales & marketing, and conversion strategies that support participation across CIEE's portfolio of study abroad programs.

• Directly manage and coach a team of managers responsible for Ambassador Programs and Lifecycle Sales initiatives.
• Establish departmental goals, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with organizational objectives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support professional development and growth opportunities for team members.
• Ensure successful execution of annual program plans, budgets, deliverables, and performance goals.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for ambassador engagement and alumni lifecycle conversion.
• Establish the long-term roadmap for programs designed to increase participation, referral activity, customer retention, and repeat enrollment.
• Ensure alignment between ambassador programming, alumni engagement, lifecycle communications, and enrollment objectives.
• Identify opportunities to create and scale programs that support the student journey from high school participation through college study abroad enrollment.
• Evaluate and pilot new engagement models, outreach strategies, and customer experiences that improve program effectiveness and return on investment.
• Provide strategic oversight of CIEE's alumni lifecycle strategy and associated enrollment goals.
• Monitor performance across the lifecycle funnel, including engagement, lead generation, application activity, and enrollment outcomes.
• Establish annual conversion goals and key performance indicators tied to enrollment growth and participant retention.
• Identify opportunities to increase customer lifetime value and repeat participation across CIEE programs.
• Oversee recruitment, engagement, training, performance management, and measurement of ambassador programs.
• Ensure ambassador initiatives effectively support awareness, referrals, enrollment objectives, and institutional relationship-building efforts.
• Guide the evolution of ambassador programs to meet changing market and organizational needs.
• Develop scalable structures that support both campus-based and alumni ambassador initiatives.
• Establish KPIs and reporting frameworks that measure program effectiveness across engagement, referrals, conversion, enrollment, and revenue outcomes.
• Utilize data and market insights to inform strategic decisions and resource allocation.
• Ensure consistent reporting, dashboard development, and performance review processes across teams.
• Regularly evaluate program performance and implement improvements based on findings.
• Assess ROI of ambassador, lifecycle, and alumni engagement initiatives.
• Serve as the senior leader responsible for ambassador and lifecycle strategies across College Study.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Enrollment, and Operations teams to ensure systems, processes, and communications are integrated and scalable.
• Align team initiatives with broader enrollment, retention, customer experience, and organizational objectives.
• Identify operational challenges and opportunities and lead cross-functional solutions.
• Provide strategic updates, recommendations, and performance reporting to the Executive Director and senior leadership.
• Communicate program impact, risks, opportunities, and resource needs clearly and effectively.
• Contribute to departmental planning, budgeting, forecasting, and organizational strategy discussions.
• Represent CIEE at conferences, institutional partner meetings, and external events as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or international equivalent required; master's degree preferred.
• 5-8+ years of experience in program management, enrollment management, marketing, sales, alumni engagement, customer success, or higher education outreach.
• 2-3+ years of experience leading and developing people and teams.
• Demonstrated success using data and analytics to drive business decisions and measurable outcomes.
• Proven ability to develop strategy while successfully leading operational execution.
• Exceptional project management, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including executive-level communication.
• Experience collaborating across multiple departments in a complex organization.
• Familiarity with CRM, marketing automation, and project management platforms such as Salesforce, Marketo, Asana, and related tools.
• Knowledge of study abroad, higher education, student recruitment, alumni relations, or enrollment management preferred.
• Ability to embrace CIEE's Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Respect, Inclusion, and Problem Solving.
• Ability to travel as needed for partner engagement, conferences, and organizational events.

Benefits

• Paid time off and Parental leave.
• Gym Reimbursement Program.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Short-term & Long-term Disability.
• 6 floating Fridays (based on our eligibility rules).
• CIEE Study Abroad Program discounts.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer contribution.
• Insurance Coverage (life, travel, medical, dental, and vision).
• Flexible Spending Accounts/Health Savings Accounts (medical and dependent).
• Voluntary Benefits (identity theft protection, pet insurance, accident, and critical illness).

Company Description

CIEE is a non-profit 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 multi-cultural world.

CIEE operates the largest nonprofit network of study abroad locations, with facilities and staff in over 30 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 almost 80-year-old mission to make the world a more peaceful place.