CIS Abroad
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Position: Sorrento, Italy Site Director

Weekly Hours: Full Time Contract Position, with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities, including responding to emergencies while students are in-country

Location: Sorrento, Italy

Anticipated Dates: May 1 - December 31, 2025, with the strong possibility of extending permanently

ABOUT US: Who is CIS Abroad, and why do you want to work with us?

At CIS Abroad, we believe that education abroad offers students the best chance to realize their potential and change their world. We’re a nationally recognized organization that offers transformative study, intern, short-term, and custom programs across the globe. Our shared values--Passion, Fun, Cultural Competence, Trust, Change & Growth--form the foundation for all we do, and we look for employees who embody these values in their personal and professional lives. We are innovative and fast-moving, and have a fantastic home office (complete with friendly office dogs!) located in a renovated mill building in Easthampton MA. We are proud members of The Forum on Education Abroad, NAFSA, DA Access Network and advocate members of The Global Leadership League. For more information about CIS Abroad, please visit our website at www.CISabroad.com.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Sorrento, Italy Site Director (SD) is a contracted position responsible for assisting CIS Abroad with on site programming and operations in Sorrento, Italy. A few of the SD’s primary responsibilities include: overseeing logistics, partner/university relations, and student support services and operations for CIS Abroad in Sorrento, Italy. The SD will work with US based staff to ensure that the company is delivering safe, consistent, and high value programs that are in line with the values and the mission of the organization. This individual must be legally able to work in Italy and must live in or near Sorrento. This position reports to the International Operations Director.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Student Support

  • Engage with students on-site, following the guidelines in the ‘Checklist for Onsite Delivery’ according to the On site Service Expecations
    • Warm Program Welcome
    • Deliver The Local Life Excursions / Activities
    • Conduct Mid-point check ins
    • Host Farewell Celebration
    • Deliver Program Evaluations with a target of 70% responses
  • Remain in close contact with students throughout their program
  • Maximize the student experience with resources, reflections and addressing issues when they arise.
  • Oversee cultural program delivery
  • Check students into housing, and give them a housing orientation when apartments are in use
  • If additional staff are needed seasonally, plan for their time and support their efforts on-site

Assist with Health and Safety

  • Mitigate/manage risks in the local environment, including potential issues on program excursions
  • Establish and follow local safety and emergency protocol
  • Create Incident Reports following SOP to share and keep them up to date
  • Communicate current and reliable information concerning health and safety to program participants and CIS Abroad Staff
  • Manage BYO situations arising on-site with OPCs and with the support of the CP Program Coordinator, if applicable
  • Remain reachable by mobile phone when program participants are experiencing a true emergency
  • Work closely with local resources, US-based Program Coordinators and/or emergency response team as problems or emergencies happen on site
  • Enforce the CIS Abroad code of conduct when appropriate
  • Maintain close communication with CIS Abroad’s university partners during site visits
  • Assist students in getting help when mental health issues arise
  • Vet all possible accommodations to ensure that they meet CIS Abroad’s standards
  • Communicate with students who submitted Low Score responses to Evaluation #1 to identify ways to improve their experience before too much time has passed in the term.

Program Development/Maintenance

  • Work with the International Operations Management Team to develop changes and improvements in the Program Delivery for the upcoming term the components for future terms ‘Checklist for Onsite Delivery term’
  • Plan, budget and schedule in the On-Site calendar present the excursions and activities 9 months ahead of time
  • Collaborate with US office to coordinate local/regional activities and accompany program participants on these activities
  • Participate in Program Wrap ups to address learning and provide suggestions to the International Operations Team for program delivery that will improve the student experience.
  • Review the academic programs and give home office any updates when changes are noted
  • Contribute to the assessment and evaluation of each program, and work to ensure continuous improvement
  • Assist BYO team and IOAD/IOCD Team with the creation of proposals

Marketing and Promotion

  • Share pictures and videos though Air, following the Marketing Team’s instructions
  • Review the Program Information published on our website every semester and send updates or suggestions
  • Review the Information on The Italy Student Guide every semester and send updates or suggestions
  • Represent the CIS Abroad brand onsite and share engaging program content on the local Instagram Account
  • Ensure that the CIS Abroad brand is favorably presented when US partners are visiting the site; help to coordinate these visits

Finances

  • Ensure that program stays within budget and submit monthly expense reports to supervisor
  • Make recommendations for program inclusions, which include budget changes, well ahead of time so that budgets are set prior to student enrollment
  • Seek proactive ways to keep program costs low while ensuring excellent quality delivery

Communications

  • Check emails regularly and respond to urgent emails within 24 hours to acknowledge receipt, even if an answer is not immediately available.
  • Be available by telephone throughout working hours and check voicemails regularly when this is not possible.
  • Attend the SD monthly meetings, the CIS Abroad ‘All Hands’ monthly meeting, and regularly scheduled meetings with IO

SUCCESS TARGETS

  • Marketing and Branding guidelines/standards are followed 100% of the time
  • SD presence on pre-dep webinars 100% of time, and SD presence at all company wide meetings 90% of time (if not possible, then watch recording every time)
  • All site visits receive a 90%+ rating
  • On-site checklist (LL, housing checks, whatsapp group, things to do, evaluations, meetings/connections with OSP, etc.) is delivered consistently 100% of the time
  • NPS post-program baseline is established and improves YOY
  • 90% of students report that they felt supported by their SD
  • 100% of sites have accurate and up to date site specific risk plans
  • On-site response follows our risk management plan 100% of the time
  • Student health or safety issues are resolved within 24 hours or have a clear plan for how to resolve
  • Within 2.5% of actual SD funds

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

  • Excellent computer skills. Functional knowledge of Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, CRM. Salesforce, a plus
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience working with international students, preferably US university students in the field of International Education
  • Aptitude to thrive without a routine or daily supervision
  • Team player with a rockin’ sense of humor
  • Must have a positive attitude
  • Outgoing, flexible, reliable, honest with an open mind
  • Legal ability to work, and be paid, in Italy
  • Must be willing to undergo background check
  • Fluent in English and Italian

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Good photography skills
  • Comfortable working with tight deadlines in non-traditional office settings
  • International study/intern/volunteer/work/travel experience
  • Knowledge of Italian Business Etiquette
  • Experience working/living in Southern Italy

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

  • CIS Abroad training program for new site directors, educating you in all facets of our organization and field, and providing you with the tools for success in your role as site director (up to 16 paid hours in your first year).
  • Monthly wage of 1.900 euro net per month through the Italian system
  • Paid time off: 26 days of Vacation / Ferie, 12 days of Bank Holidays / Festivita, 8 days of Personal / Permessi
  • Wellness bonus - $300 per year to spend on massage, gym membership, skiing, etc.
  • Global Leadership League membership

TIME COMMITMENT

The Sorrento, Italy Site Director is a full time position. The SD will be expected to be available when students are on site.

CIS Abroad provides equal opportunity to all people regardless of age, race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or physical or mental disability. Equal opportunity applies to hiring, placement, promotion, salary determination, and all other conditions of employment. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document upon hire. By submitting your application materials to us you are also providing explicit consent for our People & Culture department to process that data within reasonable limitations under the scope of consideration for your employment. For details on how we handle sensitive data please view our Privacy Policy: https://www.CISabroad.com/privacy-policy

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