Job Description
Title: Assistant Director – Student Programs
Reporting to: Executive Director, UChicago Center in Beijing
(In collaboration with the College Study Abroad Office)
About the Center
UChicago (Beijing) Consulting Co., Ltd (the “Center”) is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise established in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, on 20 February 2010. The principal activities of the Beijing Center include management consulting, educational consulting, investment consulting, business information consulting, cultural information consulting (excluding agency services), organizing cultural exchange activities (excluding performance agency services), conference services, and technical development, consulting, service, and training.
Position Description
The Assistant Director – Student Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for all student programs hosted at the UChicago Center in Beijing. This position oversees the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of the Center’s student program portfolio, including short-term academic programs, short-term academic visits, career treks, summer programs, and visiting student delegations. The Study Abroad program, offered annually, is the Center’s flagship academic initiative and represents the most substantial and complex program within this portfolio. The Assistant Director ensures its successful implementation while also managing year-round student programming. This role requires strategic planning, institutional coordination, risk oversight, and partnership management across multiple stakeholders in both the United States and China. The Assistant Director operates with significant autonomy and serves as a senior member of the Center’s leadership team.
Responsibilities
- Lead the strategic planning and development of the Center's student program portfolio.
- Ensure alignment with institutional priorities and study abroad best practices.
- Monitor enrollment trends, capacity constraints, and growth opportunities.
- Identify operational improvements and implement scalable systems for program delivery.
- Contribute to long-term planning for student engagement in China.
- Provide end-to-end oversight of the study abroad programs.
- Coordinate closely with faculty and the College Study Abroad Office.
- Manage all academic, logistical, and institutional components of program delivery.
- Oversee coordination with local hosting university and relevant service providers.
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Supervise planning and hosting of:
▫ College Study Abroad programs
▫ Career Advancement/Development Office China Treks
▫ Summer academic programs
▫ Faculty-led student initiatives
▫ Other student delegations
- Develop standardized protocols for hosting short-term and long-term programs.
- Serve as senior liaison with Chinese institutional partners, including but not limited to Renmin University and other collaborating universities.
- Negotiate and coordinate arrangements related to visas, housing, facilities, language instruction, and student services.
- Maintain strong working relationships across multiple partner institutions and vendors.
- Oversee student welfare and on-site support systems.
- Coordinate health, safety, and emergency response protocols in collaboration with Center leadership and relevant institutional offices.
- Ensure compliance with institutional policies and applicable regulations.
- Prepare program reports, enrollment data, and operational analyses.
- Represent the Center in communications with campus offices and external partners.
- Manage and update program data and contacts by utilizing Salesforce.
- Any other related duties assigned.
Preferred Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in higher education administration, international education, public policy, or related field.
Experience
- Minimum three to five years of relevant experience in higher education, international program management, or study abroad administration.
- Demonstrated familiarity with academic culture.
- Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder institutional relationships.
- Supervisory or leadership experience.
Competencies
- Fluency in English and Mandarin Chinese (oral and written).
- Strong strategic thinking and operational execution capability.
- Excellent project management and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently with sound judgment.
- High level of professionalism and discretion.
- Strong cross-cultural communication skills.
- Skilled at problem-solving in dynamic environments.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce.com and related productivity tools.
Working Conditions
- Full-time position based in Beijing.
- Peak workload during Autumn Quarter and other program periods.
- May require evening or weekend availability during active program sessions.
How to Apply
Please send the following materials to: zge@uchicago.edu
- Cover letter
- Latest CV (in English)
- A writing sample of no more than 500 words (in English)
- Names and contact details of two references
Application Deadline: March 31. 2026
We will reach out to shortlisted candidates for a virtual interview.
