Director, English Language Institute

Center for Global Engagement

Director, English Language Institute

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Expected salary $80,000 - $90,000

Regular, Full-Time Exempt

The Center for Global Engagement, (CGE), is committed to serving as a gateway to the world for all our students, faculty, staff and to making a global impact. CGE is comprised of seven units (Asia Engagement, Communications, English Language Institute, Global Research, the International House, International Student and Scholar Services, and Programs Abroad) who are responsible for working throughout campus, across Tennessee and around the world to provide enriching and diverse international experiences for faculty, students and scholars. As a unit of CGE, the English Language Institute (ELI) is a far-reaching academic unit that is central to CGE’s internationalization efforts.

The center for Global Engagement invites applications for the Director of the English Language Institute (ELI) to contribute to our global impact through intensive English programming, outreach, and engagement with local and global partners. As a key component for the University of Tennessee to serve East Tennessee, ELI strengthens institutional relationships with its residents and responds to workforce development needs. Among the programs it manages are the Intensive Academic English, program, a general English program, a Saturday community program, short-term programs for foreign universities, corporate ESL and U.S. cultural programming, courses for joint-degree programs with foreign universities, partnerships with local nonprofits serving refugees and other immigrants, and partnerships with other Tennessee universities to provide English language programming. ELI is a self-supporting unit and follows its own academic calendar. The CGE supports ELI’s needs in marketing, recruiting admissions, registration, new student orientation housing, transition to undergraduate and graduate schools at UTK, cultural programming and student life operations.

Position Summary:

The Director will provide leadership and strategic direction for ELI by executing strategy development and implementation. This will be accomplished by analyzing new business opportunities and developing innovative programs that generate revenue to sustain the operations of the English Language Institute. The Director will create and sustain a business model that is nimble and responds to the changing landscape of global post-secondary education. In collaboration with the CGE leadership team, the Director will work to accomplish the goals of the global vision, develop and manage budgets, provide expertise and analysis for long-range strategic planning, and translate the strategic plans into operational plans. In addition, the director provides operational support, consults with the Assistant Director on curricular and student matters, oversees the bookkeeping and administrative specialist work, approves expenditures, serves as a DSO and may occasionally substitute teach.

Required Education and Experience:

• Master’s Degree in Linguistics, English, Second Language Acquisition, Educational Administration
• 5+ years teaching English for speakers of other language (ESOL)
• 3+ years administration of university intensive English program.
• Experience writing and managing grant awards.
• Experience with program development and implementation

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of intensive English language education.
• Ability to approach strategic planning with an entrepreneurial mindset
• Demonstrated skills in planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating.
• Consulting, problem-solving, and collaborative skills.
• High level of analytical and decision-making skills.
• Ability to analyze complex situations and provide and implement successful solutions.
• Ability to develop and lead and motivate successful teams.
• Ability to define work objectives, plans, priorities to delegate routine tasks.
• Ability to create short- and long-range strategic plans and forecasts.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Doctoral degree in Linguistics, English, Second Language Acquisition, Educational Administration
• Experience with computer assisted language learning (CALL)

Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of immigration policy and issuance of I-20s for F1 students
• Knowledge of placement instruments/methodology for English language learners
• Working knowledge of at least one foreign language (especially French, Spanish, Chinese or Arabic)

• Experience working in the ESOL field in a non-English-speaking country
• Ability to network in the ELP and EAP professional arenas
• Interest in development of innovative approaches to ESOL instruction

Work schedule: This is an on-campus position. The successful candidate must be willing to work occasionally on weekends, evenings, and/or overnights while traveling.

To be considered, interested candidates must submit a formal application that includes a cover letter, CV or resume and the names and contact information of three professional references. Inquiries about the opportunity may be directed to Tennion Reed, Executive Recruitment Coordinator, at treed7@utk.edu.

Please submit the application and all requested materials before Sunday, April 2, 2023.

UT Knoxville has prioritized its vision for global engagement, with plans to enhance the institutional global brand and the comprehensiveness of global learning for our students. The successful candidate will bring a vision and strategy for undergraduate education abroad that complements UT’s global vision, and integrates the student international experience and the Volunteer experience. The selected candidate will have the vision to deepen ties between ELI faculty and the broader UTK community and to provide opportunities for UTK students to engage the ELI community. The director must champion diversity, equity and inclusion and lead with a spirit of humanity, generosity and empathy. The successful candidate will possess a demonstrated commitment to these principles.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is a modern R-1 land-grant university with approximately 29,000 students, 9500+ faculty and staff, 11 colleges, and 300+ degree programs. There are more than 1600 international students and scholars on the campus. The University is located on a 580-acre campus in the city of Knoxville in eastern Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains. The University of Tennessee Knoxville campus is seeking candidates who have the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the University.

The City of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene including internationally recognized festivals, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of diverse cultural and outdoor activities. Knoxville is located within easy driving distance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Louisville, and Cincinnati. It is only a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a population of more than 850,000 people.