Location: Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
Reports To: Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Academic Affairs
Term: 1 year, renewable, full-time
Anticipated Start Date: January 2027
Salary Range: $50,000–56,000(gross)
Application Deadline: Open until filled – rolling review
Apply: Submit a letter of interest and CV (with three references) via https://worldlearning.applicantpro.com/jobs/4245868 by November 15, 2026.
Contingent on Enrollment
School for International Training (SIT) seeks Center Director (CD) in Tunisia to lead programs in Sidi Bou Said. We seek an experienced educational administrator with teaching experience in political science, history, religious studies, Middle Eastern studies, or related disciplines. SIT is an accredited US higher education institution and global leader in experiential education, offering undergraduate and graduate programs focused on critical global issues. Our immersive learning model connects students with local communities, fostering intercultural understanding and social justice.
Position Description:
The CD leads SIT’s Tunisia-based programs, overseeing academic quality, operations, and student services ensuring the highest levels of quality and student satisfaction The CD manages a diverse portfolio of experiential learning programs, ensuring alignment with SIT's mission of academic excellence and community engagement. The Center Director must be familiar with in country issues and practices, have experience in program management and administration, and understand higher education in the United States. CDs will teach a 3-credit course in mixed or qualitative methods and ethics or a thematic course in their area of expertise. Center Directors are expected to be active members of the SIT community, giving service to the institution, and acting as a thought leader in institutional initiatives. Center Directors at SIT are eligible to apply for faculty rank per established guidelines.
The CD must remain current in their areas of expertise and familiar with in-country issues and practices in higher education. CDs are expected to be active members of the SIT community, giving service to the institution, and acting as a thought leader in institutional initiatives.
For compliance with local labor and employment laws and when circumstance warrants, the CD will have a local employment contract through an affiliated local entity or as determined by SIT.
We invite you to learn about SIT's mission and values: https://www.sit.edu/about-us/mission-vision/
The CD will be responsible for the quality and success of SIT current and new programs offered in Tunisia. Programs may also have excursions to other locations. The CD will work with a team of professionals to ensure effective, timely and on budget delivery of the following program aspects:
• Academic Program Management: Oversee curriculum design, teach one course per semester, and guide student research projects and internships. Ensure academic rigor and experiential learning components align with SIT standards. Manage SIT student class and program evaluations according to protocols.
• Student Services: Provide academic advising, cross-cultural guidance, and student well-being support in collaboration with SIT's Office of Student Health, Safety, and Well-Being.
• Operations & Compliance: Manage center operations, finances, and local partnerships. Ensure compliance with local laws and SIT policies. Serve as in-country entity representative for compliance purposes as required.
• Human Resources: Recruit, supervise, and support faculty and staff, fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
• Health, Safety & Security: Implement SIT health and safety protocols, act as the primary contact for student emergencies, and maintain contingency plans.
• Community Engagement: Build partnerships with local organizations, promote SIT's mission, and integrate community-based learning into the curriculum.
• Marketing: Support the production of SIT promotional materials by providing updates, content, and other information as requested.
Other: Participate as needed and possibly present at conferences or at other professional meetings; other duties as assigned.
The nature of the Center Director position is such that they may be called upon during irregular hours to deal with emergencies. Responding to urgent program or student needs off-hours is a regular part of the duties of a center director. For the duration of the program, the center director must remain in-country and physically at the program site or with the student group and will be reachable by mobile phone on an emergency basis.
SIT programs are situated in urban as well as remote locations where accommodations may be rudimentary, and accessibility limited. Some aspects of the program may require physical exertion such as, but not limited to, occasionally driving, walking, as well as remaining stationary for long periods. Depending on the theme of the program there may be excursions in rugged terrain which may require, but are not limited to, activities such as hiking, climbing and/or water-based sports.
Qualifications:
• Terminal degree in Political Science, History, Religion, Middle Eastern Studies, European Studies, or related field. (Master's degree in related discipline and proven academic program management experience will be considered).
• Minimum 5 years' experience in academic program management, program administration, experiential education, or international higher education
• Fluency in English; Arabic or French proficiency
• Academic and practical knowledge of Tunisia
• Knowledge of Mediterranean region desirable
• Italian language proficiency preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to SIT's values in approach to experiential education and student well-being.
• Legal right to work/reside in Tunisia
BENEFITS
World Learning/SIT provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, FSA/HRA, Life/AD&D, Short Term/Long Term Disability, 403 (b) retirement plan, where applicable, for eligible full-time and part-time employees.
THE WORLD LEARNING INC. FAMILY
For more than 90 years, World Learning Inc. has been a thriving global organization made up of The Experiment in International Living, the nation’s most experienced provider of international education through exchanges for high school students; School for International Training, offering accredited undergraduate programs through SIT Study Abroad and internationally focused master’s degrees through SIT Graduate Institute; and World Learning, a global development and exchange nonprofit organization.
A Commitment to Our Values
We're a global community of staff, faculty, board members, alumni, students, and participants who use our core values -– community, intercultural understanding, sustainability, and social inclusion & justice – to inform our programs and how we operate as an organization. We are committed to acting with accountability, transparency, reciprocity, authenticity, and empathy.