Custom Programs Manager (Study Abroad)
Pubblicato il 12-08-2026 - Europe SAI Programs in Firenze
SAI Study Abroad has been curating transformative study abroad experiences for American university students since 1995. We partner with universities to design and deliver culturally relevant academic and professional development programs throughout Italy, France, and Spain. Our custom and faculty-led programs go beyond textbooks and classrooms, connecting students with local communities through unique experiential learning activities. **Qualifications**: - Excellent English communication skills (written and spoken)
- Professional working proficiency in Italian required; additional French and/or Spanish is preferred
- Strong familiarity and knowledge of U.S. higher education and study abroad programs
- 3-5 years of relevant experience in international education, study abroad, program operations, client management, or comparable program management with progressive responsibility
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple programs, set priorities and meet deadlines
- Strong customer service, stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills, and the ability to build and cultivate relationships
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite (especially Excel and Sheets), Hubspot CRM
- Strong time management, analytical thinking, and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to lead and improve operational processes, documentation, and cross-team workflows
- Experience mentoring, training, and/or supervising staff (direct or functional)
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Availability for occasional evening/weekend work and travel during high season
- Willingness to participate in a rotating emergency contact schedule **Key Responsibilities**:
**Program Development**
- Lead program development for assigned programs/partners, owning timelines, key program outputs, and internal coordination
- Develop program budgets, proposals,
and agreements
- Conduct and synthesize research on cultural activities, academic content, vendors, and logistics; ensure offerings align with partner goals and SAI standards
- Interface with faculty leaders and partner universities during development and recruitment; lead consultation calls and planning meetings as appropriate
- Maintain preferred vendor knowledge and support new vendor selection, negotiation, and performance evaluation **Pre-Arrival Program Management**
- Serve as the lead point of contact for assigned programs, ensuring all components are completed according to schedule
- Assist with booking and vendor management for viable programs
- Conduct online pre-departure orientation sessions
- Develop detailed program itineraries and maintain communication with faculty and university partners
- Ensure program materials (pre-departure guides, orientations, and local city guides) are complete and meet SAI standards, and review content prepared by other staff **On-Site Program Management**
- Welcome groups upon arrival and conduct orientation sessions for high-profile programs
- Provide on-site support and serve as an escalation point for issues or emergencies as needed; coordinate response with Director and in alignment with SAI protocols
- Support operational consistency across on-site delivery; document issues and improvements for future cycles
- Accompany groups on organized visits and activities as needed **Team Leadership in conjunction with Director**
- Provide day-to-day guidance to Custom Programs Coordinators, including workload planning, task delegation, and quality review
- Assist with onboarding and ongoing training
- Help maintain internal templates, checklists, standardized program development materials, and participant materials to improve efficiency and consistency
- Assist with hiring input, performance feedback, and coverage planning during peak season **Marketing & Promotion**
- Support Director with marketing and outreach activities (webinars, newsletters, presentations, and site visits); contribute to recruitment strategy for partner universities
- Ensure that programs accurately reflect SAI marketing materials and vice-versa
- Coordinate social media content collection for assigned programs and ensure timely delivery to relevant stakeholders **Administration**
- Perform accounting tasks and budget reconciliation in accordance with SAI procedures
- Maintain and improve internal tracking documents and update the SAI CRM system
- Complete additional administrative duties as required **Additional Details**: - Reports to the Director of Custom Programs
- Based in Florence
- Office hours: Monday to Thursday, 10:00am to 6:30pm, Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm
- Occasional evenings and weekends
- Contract: CCNL 12-month contract with the possibility of extension
- To apply, please submit CV and Cover Letter in English. Application Question(s): - Do you live in Florence?
- Please provide a cover letter detailing your past experience and interest in this role.
- Are you available to work occasional evenings and weekends? **Education**: - Bachelor's (required) **Language**: