The University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) is committed to promoting excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. In keeping with the academic mission of the University of California, UCEAP recognizes that diversity is integral to the University’s achievement of excellence and strives to create an environment that is welcoming for all. UCEAP upholds the principle of equal opportunity for all and adheres to the University of California Diversity statement.

Through international academic experiences, UCEAP inspires students to explore and transform their lives, UC, and the world. Since 1962, UCEAP has served as the UC systemwide study abroad program, supporting this mission and serving over 100,000 students across all 10 UC campuses and over 30,000 international exchange students. UCEAP typically has over 6,000 student participants annually and is active in over 40 countries worldwide. Sustained by strong academic excellence, spirited faculty collaboration and an interrelated support system, UCEAP produces future global citizens and thought leaders. www.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu

Brief Summary of Job Duties

The Student Health, Safety and Emergency Response Director oversees risk and crisis management, emergency response, student incidents, health, disabilities, code of conduct, travel insurance, health and safety training, UC policy, and regulatory compliance.

Analyzes issues, problems, and crises with or without prior precedent. Creates, develops, and implements strategies; formulates and administers policies and programs with significant impact on UC student welfare. Directs systematic and uniform student emergency response, incident response, risk management, compliance, crisis preparedness, and student travel insurance matters, while observing health and safety standards and laws in countries of operation.

Leads comprehensive, systematic, international student emergency assessment and response within the UCEAP Risk Framework. Provides reliable data to mitigate risks, ensuring sound decisions and policy/reporting compliance. Creates and implements objectives for standards and best practices, global readiness, and successful responses, ensuring operational continuity/recovery. Links stakeholders on protocols, emergency preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery; improves resilience, providing for the safety and security of students, staff, and faculty abroad.

Audits global readiness and recovery plans, response protocols, and compliance with applicable US and in-country laws. Monitors geopolitical issues and trends. Leads 24/7 response team; monitors and analyzes threats; assesses situations; coordinates responses and provides guidance and direction during crises and major world events (e.g., terrorism, civil unrest, environmental disasters, epidemics, fires, outages, etc.). Oversees UCEAP student travel insurance program; negotiates terms for specific services and coverage levels, based on student demographics, and program location/needs.

Responds to sensitive incidents, such as mental health crises and sexual violence or assault, that require decisions/direction on complex matters with or without precedent. Formulates response strategies with the appropriate Program Director, considering students' best interests, while observing UC policies and applicable laws. Guides Program Directors and program teams to provide immediate crisis intervention and resource information and referrals, supportively and confidentially. Serves as liaison with students and campus Title IX Officers/CARE Advocates. Provides advocacy and support, including implementation of safety plans as recommended by a treating physician. Works with the Student Health, Safety and Emergency Response Team, in-country, and UC campus experts to provide appropriate support.

Identifies threat scenarios and responses; guides local staff abroad to develop crisis management plans for each location abroad. Provides training for staff, including campus health/psychological and disability services, on student risk management issues, health, safety and security, sexual violence, student code of conduct, mental health, and others, based on student incident trends. Implements and maintains security processes to reduce risks, respond to incidents, and limit UC liability. Facilitates the continuous development, upgrade and enforcement of security, safety, and health policies, procedures, and accountability across UCEAP.

Serves as a subject matter expert to provide leadership, providing guidance for emergencies and incidents with global impact (e.g., pandemics). Keeps up to date on current research, trends, and technology in the field. Participates in outreach for health and safety standards within the field of education abroad and in a professional network of UC global risk administrators. Maintains involvement in professional organizations, such as the US Diplomatic Security (OSAC), NAFSA, and Forum on Education abroad.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 10 yrs. progressively responsible experience in international safety and security, campus crisis management, and/or risk management, in a higher education/NGO, or similar complex organization, and/or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Ability to be on call 24/7 as emergency situations dictate and monitor world events to determine appropriate escalations for potential impact on students/programming.
• Demonstrated ability to identify factors, trends, and issues of concern; ability to summarize implications and make recommendations for action by senior leadership.
• Expert skills to direct the response to student emergencies/critical situations and adjust to emergency situations as required.
• Strong consensus-building and professional relationship-building skills within and outside the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to calmly, timely and authoritatively work effectively in emergency situations to lead and direct emergency response for individuals and groups.
• Strong presentation skills: exceptional ability to communicate clearly, effectively, persuasively, and publicly, both verbally and in writing, to diverse audiences of various sizes.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills to address complex and potentially sensitive subject matter, including expertise and skill to interact successfully with a diverse community of faculty, administrators, providers, insurers, attorneys, and entities, in the US and other countries.
• Demonstrated team leadership to develop strategies and provide effective direction and guidance to diverse UCEAP and campus constituents.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills to uphold accountability; provides team members with clear roles, responsibilities, direction, and support to meet service-delivery objectives.
  Experience developing, implementing, and delivering training materials and programs.
• Ability to work effectively under extreme pressure in complex, high stakes, emergency response situations.
• Demonstrated confidentiality and discretion in response to sensitive issues. Sets and demonstrates high standards of integrity; demonstrates diplomacy and tact.
• Ability to exercise sound, professional judgment, and the flexible use of a wide range of advocacy skills.
• Expert skills in assessing levels of clients'/students' emotional distress and reacting appropriately.
• Experience working in an international and multi-cultural setting with demonstrated intercultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Ability to effectively evaluate, interpret, synthesize, and apply policies and procedures. Demonstrated skills to analyze critical data and information and make recommendations; ability to devise reasonable and workable solutions.
• Understanding of compliance mandates such as Clery, Title IX, FERPA, HIPAA, Data Privacy, VAWA.
• Proficiency with a range of technology tools, including data management systems/software and emergency communications tools; ability to incorporate technology changes and migration to emerging technology tools, as necessary.