Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. While work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton, this position will require flexibility across time zones as needed due to virtual meetings with partners in different parts of the world, as well as international travel.

The Program Manager, Transnational Education (TNE) is responsible for identifying, developing, and managing international academic partnerships that advance the University’s strategic priorities and align with faculty capacity and academic standards. This role integrates market intelligence, partnership development, risk management, and project oversight to ensure the successful delivery and continuous improvement of TNE initiatives.

The Program Manager serves as a key liaison among academic units, central administration, and international partners, supporting the full lifecycle of transnational education programs — from opportunity identification through implementation, evaluation, and renewal.

Opportunity Identification & Intake

• Conduct market research and intelligence gathering to understand industry trends and identify potential TNE opportunities aligned with institutional strategy and academic priorities.

• Proactively seek and engage prospective partners to identify and evaluate opportunity
• Serve as the central intake point for proposed TNE initiatives, evaluating and triaging opportunities based on academic fit, capacity, financial viability, and risk.
• Prepare analyses and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Develop and maintain database of prospective partners (contacts etc)
• Contribute to the development of university’s TNE strategic plan including the development of multi-year action plans (Achieve multi-year outcome targets assigned to role)

• Support missions to markets of priority by senior university administrators

Partnership Development & Negotiation

• Lead or support the development and negotiation of international partnerships and agreements.

• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Human Resources, Registrar, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and other stakeholders to structure agreements that uphold academic quality and manage institutional risk.

• Develop comprehensive business cases and gain consensus with respect to the potential outcomes, risks, actions required to implement and evaluation criteria are well defined and support approval/decline decision making.

Risk Management

• Identify academic, operational, financial, regulatory, and reputational risks associated with TNE initiatives.

• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies and monitoring processes throughout the partnership lifecycle.

Program & Project Management

• Oversee approved TNE projects from initiation through implementation and ongoing operation.

• Facilitate project meetings and coordinate cross-functional teams, including faculty, academic units, student services, finance, marketing, and international partners.
• Collaborate with enrollment management, marketing, and partner institutions to support student recruitment strategies for TNE programs.
• Monitor student engagement throughout the program lifecycle, working with internal and external stakeholders to address recruitment, retention, and progression challenges.

• Monitor project plans, timelines, deliverables, enrollment targets, and performance indicators to ensure successful academic and operational outcomes.

Lifecycle Management & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain ongoing engagement with partners during implementation, evaluation, and renewal phases.

• Lead problem-solving efforts, documenting issues and resolutions.
• Collect and analyze data related to performance
• Prepare briefing notes, reports, and presentations for internal stakeholders
• Translate lessons learned into improved processes, tools, and partnership models.

• Update and maintain the TNE operating playbook, ensuring new practices and solutions are embedded for future initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (e.g., Education, International Relations, Business, Public Administration, or related field).

• Demonstrated experience in higher education program management, international partnerships, or business development, specifically in one or more of the following regions: the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Latin America.
• Experience negotiating or supporting complex agreements and managing multiple stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to represent the University of Alberta to senior international contacts/clients

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with transnational education, international academic partnerships, or global program delivery.

• Familiarity with academic governance, accreditation, and regulatory considerations.
• Experience working in a matrixed or cross-functional university environment.
• Knowledge of risk management and continuous improvement frameworks.

• Language competency in key TNE markets

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and analytical judgment

• Business development, customer relations, sales, network cultivation
• Relationship-building and negotiation
• Project and stakeholder management
• Problem-solving and adaptability
• Intercultural competency (relationship management, problem solving, negotiation are all done across cultures requires this role to also be a culture broker)
• Attention to detail with a systems-oriented mindset
• Ability to take initiative.

• Commitment to support the University’s goals of community, access and belonging

Application Instructions

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This position has a comprehensive benefits package and an annual salary range of $72,250 to $120,423.

The terms and conditions of this appointment are governed by Schedule F of the collective agreement between the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta.