Academic Programs Specialist

Company Introduction

WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.

Job Description:

Reporting to the Director/Sr Dir of Account Management, the Academic Programs Specialist serves as the primary liaison to university partners, ensuring all experiential programs align with academic goals, learning outcomes, and faculty expectations. This role owns the academic vision and curriculum alignment for faculty-led programs.

Responsibilities:

Academic Leadership

• Gather and translate course objectives, learning outcomes, and academic goals into program design
• Act as a trusted advisor to faculty, providing recommendations on program structure, themes, and content
• Lead client calls relating to program planning discussions, and academic briefings
  Program Design & Quality
• Design high-quality experiential learning programs aligned to curriculum and learning objectives
• Ensure all engagements (company visits, panels, projects) support defined academic outcomes
• Align strategy challenges, deliverables, and educational content with course requirements
• Maintain oversight of program quality, ensuring academic rigor and consistency
  Client Engagement & Relationship Management
• Build strong, long-term relationships with university partners
• Manage client expectations, timelines, and deliverables to meet service level agreements
• Address client concerns proactively and escalates when needed
• Ensure a seamless and high-touch client experience
  Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with Sales and Account Management to support program proposals and positioning
• Collaborate with Global Partnerships team to translate academic needs into company engagement briefs
• Provide input on program feasibility, trends, and academic innovation
  Market Expertise & Thought Leadership
• Stay informed on global trends, higher education needs, and emerging academic topics
• Develop destination briefings and program materials incorporating relevant global context
• Position yourself as a strategic partner for faculty seeking meaningful global experiences
  Operational Execution
• Manage multiple programs simultaneously and ensure deadlines are met
• Track progress and maintain accurate records in CRM (Dynamics) and internal tools

Qualifications:

• Strong communication, interpersonal, relationship-building and organizational skills
• Highly self-driven sense of motivation and perseverance
• Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity, while being able to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to overcome objections and facilitate negotiations
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse groups including faculty, community partners and internal stakeholders
• Ability to exercise professional/ethical judgment, manage time and prioritize competing deadlines with acute attention to detail
• Positive and forward-thinking attitude with a strong work ethic
• Understanding of global markets including languages, currencies, and world events is helpful but can also be learned if you have the desire
• Flexible as needed with work hours to accommodate international time differences and client schedules
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 including Dynamics, SharePoint and OneNote
• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3+ years of experience in higher education, international education, experiential learning, faculty engagement, academic partnerships, or client relationship management
• Experience with CRM systems
• Experience utilizing virtual collaboration platforms (Teams, Zoom)
• Strong communication, relationship management, and consultative skills
• High attention to detail with strong project management capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills; experience communicating effectively with executives, faculty and academic stakeholders
• Conflict resolution and negation skills
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule when needed
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience working with faculty or academic programming
• Experience supporting study abroad, global education, experiential learning programs, or faculty-led travel programs
• Knowledge of experiential learning principles
• Experience with curriculum design and learning outcome assessments

Work Perks:

• Comprehensive health benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, accident, critical illness, disability insurance, FSA/HSA options with employer HSA contributions, and a generous 401(k) match.
• Generous paid time off including 11 paid company holidays, 25 PTO days the first year (prorated), 1 paid volunteer day, 4 mental health days, and bereavement
• Professional development support, including up to $5,250 annually for tuition reimbursement and up to $1,000 for certifications annually
• Opportunities for paid and discounted travel
• Flexible work schedule providing on-site, remote, and hybrid office opportunities
• Encouraged participation in a wide variety of Employee Resource Groups
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness resources, including fitness centers at select locations
• Paid parental, caregiver, and disability leave
• Team Member Discount Program
• Engaging, collaborative, and fun work environment