VIA Beijing Program Director | Volunteers in Asia
VIA is a U.S.-based experiential educational organization that has run programs in Asia since 1963 and in China since 1980. Our program operations take place in the U.S., Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Asia, our programs include a one-year fellowship for American professionals and short-term programs for high school and university students. Our U.S programs bring students from Asia to Silicon Valley for programs that focus on leadership, social innovation, medicine, American culture, and English language.
We currently have offices in San Francisco and at Stanford University and field staff based in China, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
Overview
- Location: Beijing
- Industry: Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
- Employer: Volunteers in Asia
Job Description
The Beijing Program Director oversees and manages VIA s program operations in Beijing and in Hunan and Guangzhou. Program activities include managing the Asia Program s long-term fellowship program and partner development and program management for our Silicon Valley Programs, including recruitment, orientation, and post-program activities for Chinese university students.
The Beijing Program Director works in close cooperation with the Senior Asia Programs Director, the Senior Silicon Valley Programs Director, and other program staff.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
Silicon Valley Programs
Partner Development and Management
• Manage existing university partner relationships.
• Initiate and cultivate new partner relationships with universities in China to increase applicants and enrollments for Silicon Valley Programs.
Recruitment & Selection
• General and targeted outreach to prospective applicants through participation in recruitment fairs, information sessions, on-line resources, and outreach to universities.
• Work in collaboration with staff to design and produce promotional materials.
• Interview and select participants.
Program Management and Development
• Lead pre-departure orientations for Chinese participants.
• Design and manage a post-program engagement plan for Chinese participants.
• Occasionally support short-term programs in the U.S.
Asia Programs Training
• Prepare new fellows for their time in China by updating and creating training guides.
• In collaboration with other Asia Programs staff, facilitate all arrangements for the Asia Programs pre-departure orientation. Organize and run China group training sessions and some Asia Programs training sessions.
• Facilitate all arrangements for in-country training in China, including language classes, running China group training sessions and reflections, arranging teaching practice and participating in feedback sessions, identifying speakers and outside activities, etc.
Program Management and Development
• In collaboration with fellows and the Senior Asia Programs Director, assess and refine the strategic goals of the China program and its fit with VIA s overall mission.
• Maintain regular communication with all China fellows.
• Respond to all field emergencies and otherwise trouble-shoot as needed.
• Maintain and cultivate strong relationships with existing and new partner organizations in China. Develop goals and evaluate outcomes of these collaborations. Negotiate contracts annually.
• Maintain, update and develop forms and reports which aid in program management and evaluation, including mid-year and end of year reports, student evaluations, partner evaluations, etc.
• Develop and manage the China program budget, including monitoring and tracking of expenses and facilitation of payments to fellows.
• Represent VIA in meetings and correspondence with school administrators and relevant government offices in China, and with peer organizations and China specialists.
• Arrange and lead the mid-annual China conference.
• Keep abreast of changes, news and issues in China.
• Lead or support 1-2 short-term programs per year in China.
QUALIFICATIONS Required:
• Permanent legal residence and working status in China.
• Strong project management and leadership skills.
• Fluency in English and Mandarin.
• Demonstrated ability to multiRtask and prioritize projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong computer skills.
• Desirable: Experience in cross-cultural training and/or teaching. Experience participating in and/or managing cross-cultural exchange/volunteer /service programs in China.
