Director, Custom Program Development

Your Role:  

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.  

What You’ll Do: 

• 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.

What Makes a Great Candidate:  

• 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, and Salesforce (or similar CRM).

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Significant experience in a leadership position in the education sector.
• Direct experience living, working, or studying in multicultural environments.
• Advanced proficiency with Salesforce and data analysis tools for reporting and performance tracking.

We believe great talent comes in many forms and that there is no one size fits all in hiring. If you feel you may be a great fit for this role but do not check all of the boxes, we encourage you to apply and show us why you're the right candidate for this position.  

Who We Are:  

CEA CAPA is a premier provider of transformative international education experiences, committed to empowering students to become thoughtful and thriving leaders through living and learning abroad. With a presence in 62 cities across 22 countries in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Australia, we offer comprehensive study abroad and career readiness programs that integrate academic excellence and cultural immersion. Our global footprint includes 11 international study centers, and we proudly support over 10,000 students annually in partnership with more than 375 U.S. universities and over 50 international institutions. CEA CAPA is in a dynamic phase of growth and is powered by a global team of nearly 700 professionals who are deeply mission-driven and committed to creating inclusive, supportive and enriching environments that help students grow academically, personally and professionally. 
  

Why You’ll Love CEA CAPA:  

• Wellness & Snacks (In-Office): Fresh Fruit Wednesdays, coffee bar, wellness room, and ergonomic workspaces.
• Time Off & Giving Back: 12 paid holidays, generous PTO, and up to 8 hours paid volunteer time—because balance matters.
• Support for Your Whole Life: Benefits coverage for domestic partners and optional pet insurance, helping you care for everyone who matters most. 
• Perks & Discounts: Save at 35 vendors, including Apple, HelloFresh, Walt Disney World, T-Mobile, and more.
• Fun & Community: We encourage team connection and celebration, from office events to informal get-togethers and virtual hangouts—exact activities vary by team.

Our commitment to creating a sense of belonging means we welcome individuals of all abilities, ages, citizenships, educations, ethnicities, family statuses, gender identities, genders, genetic information, languages, marital status, military experiences, political views, pregnancy, races, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, and work experiences and therefore we encourage applicants from diverse lived experiences to apply.  

Salary : $100,000 - $110,000