An exciting leadership opportunity with the MIT Sloan School of Management, a world-renowned institution in management education, business leadership, and innovation. We are seeking a Director to strengthen strategic partnerships and expand MIT Sloan’s presence and impact across ASEAN. All applications will be pre-screened by Koonlarat (Air), Robert Walters Thailand.

Position Title: Director, MIT Sloan ASEAN Office (MSAO)

Reports to: Assistant Dean, Global Programs

% Effort or Weekly Hours: 100%, Full Time

Position Overview:

The Director will manage the MIT Sloan ASEAN Office (MSAO) Program located within the MIT Sloan Global Programs Office. The Director will work closely with the 3 Faculty Directors (Research, Action Learning and the Office Operations), Assistant Dean and the MSAO Advisory Council to foster innovation and experimentation by applying original thinking, expertise, and professional experience for new programs and approaches for the MSAO, and to manage ambiguity. The goal of the MSAO is to bring MIT knowledge to southeast ASEAN region through extending its presence by seeking out opportunities and facilitating new, dynamic relationships among MIT and MIT Sloan and business, political and thought leaders throughout the ASEAN countries. The Director will also steward existing relationships and provide enhanced outreach to alumni. The Director will be expected to work from the Bangkok, Thailand Office and travel to other ASEAN regions. The Director will travel between the MIT Cambridge campus and the MSAO on several occasions for programming needs.

The Director is a self-directed, proactive leader who thrives in an entrepreneurial, start-up environment. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of MIT Sloan’s culture and values and serve as an effective ambassador for MIT throughout the ASEAN region. The MSAO will support the needs of the 3 Faculty Directors, visiting faculty, researchers, staff and students, taking advantage of their presence to enhance the Institute’s visibility and positive impact throughout the region.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Collaborative Development of Regional Programming (30%):

• Coordinate the development of a plan for the MSAO, involving the 3 Faculty Directors, Assistant Dean, and the MSLAO Advisory Council.
• Coordinate a mutually agreed upon agenda for research, speaking, teaching and networking opportunities for the Institute’s faculty for the region. Provide operations support, structure and launch the different initiatives of the plan and control its execution.
• Coordinate the MSAO’s annual regional conferences. The coordination will involve bringing together business, government and thought leaders, with faculty research from the Institute. The goal will be to discuss topics of political, economic, and social relevance to the region. Seek sponsors to fund the conferences, with the 3 Faculty Directors and Assistant Dean’s guidance.
• Develop metrics and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and initiatives.

Convene Mutually Beneficial Collaborations among Faculty, MSAO, and Regional Leaders (30%):

• Work with faculty to seek and maintain new engagements with schools, governments, U.S. Embassies, and corporations with the goal of addressing global business and innovation challenges, enhancing the Institute’s visibility, and advancing its educational mission. Identification of new, emerging markets for potential collaboration.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with MIT and MIT Sloan faculty and work collaboratively with staff at all levels of the organization.
• The Director will be responsible for overseeing the MSAO Advisory Council, which is made up of MIT alumni and donors to the MSAO. Establish a close bond with the Advisory Council and work with members to leverage their network and discuss new program suggestions and relationships for the Institute and the 3 Faculty Directors. Lead and coordinate quarterly council meetings, ensuring Council members are informed and consulted about MSAO activities.

Implementation of a region wide strategy to expand the offerings of the MSAO and ensure financial sustainability (10%):

• Working with the Faculty Directors, the Director will position the MSAO by identifying new partnerships, programs, and opportunities for MIT in the regio In addition to the MSAO’s endowment, the Director will be responsible for supplementing the operating budget. The Director will explore new methods for funding MIT Faculty for research, visits, and publications in the region. The Director will further integrate other departments, centers, labs and global initiatives within MIT (Institute) to enhance MIT’s brand, talent exposure, admissions and recruitment pools, within the ASEAN region.

Office of External Relations (OER) collaboration (10%):

• Support MIT’s regional fundraising efforts in the region, both to complete the endowment and to fund specific initiatives.
• Engagement and identification of alumni (cohort/board) and “friends of MIT Sloan”, from the region, who can assist with the circulation of the school’s needs in this area and guide interested companies into the process. Develop hosted, sustainable, supported programs providing alumni with concrete methods for supporting and enhancing MIT’s presence in the region, as well as, providing OER with potential donors to the MSAO endowment fund.

Budget and Fiscal Disciplines (10%):

• The Director of MSAO will be responsible for working closely with Global Programs’ Director of Finance and Operations on the established budget that will be dependent on the returns of the endowment, and adherence to it. The Director will be expected to continually evaluate the budget and make recommendations when substantial opportunities and fiscal variables arise, ensuring that the budget and the plan of economics are aligned, identifying new sources of financing.
• The Director will be expected to seek out cost-saving opportunities with collaborators to increase the operating budget of the MSAO. Also responsible for financial oversight of the MSAO. This includes monitoring of financial activities and allocation of resources, ensuring that accounts are managed in accordance with established procedures and kept in compliance; processing purchase orders, invoice and managing accounts payable; and providing relevant, timely, and accurate financial reports as required.

Admissions Assistance and Promotion (10%):

• Expand regional awareness of our flagship programs; the MBA, Sloan Fellows, non-degree Executive Education programs, as well as our Master of Finance (MFIN), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), and the Master of Business Analytics (MBAn). Assist and support existing admissions activities in the region and leverage those activities to increase alumni engagement in the recruiting and promotion process. Collaboration with the Admissions Office with the Sloan on the Road series to reach additional potential candidates. Steward existing relationships and initiate leads with corporations, in the region, to our customized Executive Education offerings.

Other duties as assigned and required

Qualifications & Skills:

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years administration or operations and/or project/program management experience
• Significant cross-cultural experience from living or working in Southeast Asia
• Fluency in Thai is advantageous
• Strong stakeholder management skills resulting in collaborative relationships with MIT and MIT Sloan faculty
• Manage a diverse set of external relationships including global high-level engagements, corporate executives, and alumni in a professional and trustworthy manner
• Demonstrate initiative and innovation which aligns to the strategic priorities of the organization
• Proven thought leadership with the ability to articulate and negotiate complex proposals
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven examples of leadership and impact in previous work

Preferred:

• Familiarity with MIT and MIT Sloan education, departments, initiatives and programs highly desirable
• Prior experience in academic administration of degree and/or executive programs in higher education

• MBA or PhD degree or equivalent experience
• Balance a collaborative and independent spirit in judgment and decision making

Supervision Received:

• Assistant Dean of Global Programs

Supervision Exercised:

• The Director manages coordinator/representative appointments within MSAO responsibilities (temporary staff).
• The Director works closely with the Director of Financial Administration and Operations in Global Programs and the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications in Global Programs.

Important Notice on Direct Employment

Please be advised that the selected candidate may be employed through a local employing entity serving as the Employer of Record (EOR). While the selected candidate may be administratively employed by a local EOR rather than directly by MIT, day-to-day tasks, supervision, and team collaboration will be driven entirely by MIT. Payroll and a localized benefits package may be legally administered by the local EOR.

Work Authorization

The offer is contingent on completion of preemployment processes including a background check and a signed employment contract. Candidates must be authorized to work in Thailand or be eligible for work authorization/visa sponsorship in Thailand.

All applications for this role will be initially reviewed and pre-screened by Koonlarat (Air) Jarernsup, Senior Manager at Robert Walters Thailand, specializing in senior-level recruitment across the Education and Consumer sectors, with extensive experience partnering with leading international organizations.

Interested candidates are welcome to apply directly or share their CV confidentially with Koonlarat.Jarern@robertwalters.co.th.

Due to the high volume of applications, our team will only be in touch if your application is shortlisted.

Robert Walters Recruitment (Thailand) Limited
Recruitment License No.: น. 1188 / 2551