International Partnerships Officer

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Posting Information:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 11:59PM

Term: 2 years
This position is being offered as a Secondment or contract opportunity.

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

University of Waterloo is a leading global innovation hub that drives economic and social prosperity for Canada and the world. With more than 41,000 students, we are home to the world's largest co-op education talent pipeline, game-changing research and technology, and to an unmatched entrepreneurial culture. Together, these create partnerships and solutions to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

The Global Engagement Office is Waterloo's central connector and strategic enabler for international engagement. It develops and stewards’ priority global partnerships, coordinates institutional international activity, enables academic mobility and international programs, supports senior-level global engagement, and provides the intelligence, infrastructure and governance required to advance Waterloo's international strategy.

The International Partnerships Officer (IPO) is a strategic, institutional relationship management role that directly advances the University’s global engagement priorities.

Providing specialized advice and strategic intelligence concerning international higher education, academic partnership models, transnational education, mobility and funding frameworks, regional developments, and emerging global opportunities, the IPO is accountable for the identification, assessment, development, negotiation, implementation, and stewardship of strategic international partnerships.

Key Accountabilities

International Strategy and Program Development

• Develops, maintains, and fosters cross-institutional relationships with Faculties and Academic Support Units to identify strategic areas for international programming and partnership growth as aligned with internationalization goals.

• Provides subject matter expertise regarding international academic program development, transnational education models, emerging global partnership frameworks, and international higher education trends to inform institutional decision-making.

• Leads the identification, assessment, cultivation, development, implementation, and stewardship of strategic international programming, strategies, and partnerships that supports Faculty internationalization goals and is aligned with institutional priorities

• Serves as a conduit of information between the Faculties, the Global Engagement Office, and other campus partners as appropriate - this includes creating internationalization plans and/or providing consultations on internationalization plans and initiatives.

Partnership Development, Implementation and Management

• Proactively develops and maintains a portfolio of institutional relationships and partnerships involving international universities, government agencies, diplomatic missions, funding bodies, associations, and other strategic organizations, that facilitate the execution of University internationalization priorities.

• Supports and develops academic partnership opportunities including pathway agreements, articulation agreements, joint academic programming, dual-degree initiatives, and other innovation international education models.

• Lead, coordinate and execute complex international engagement activities involving senior institutional stakeholders, government representatives, strategic partners, and visiting dignitaries.

• Represents the University in high-level discussions with international institutions, government agencies, funding bodies, diplomatic missions, and strategic partners.

• Provides analysis and assists with the timely execution of new and renewed institutional agreements in coordination with the International Agreements Officer, related to partnerships and linkages, including MOUs, student mobility (exchanges), and academic programs (joint academic) and others.

• Regular domestic and international travel may be required to build and sustain strategic partnerships, support institutional objectives, and represent the University in international forums, delegation visits, and partnership negotiations.

Strategy, Reports, and Information Management

• Responsible for actively gathering and mapping UW international relationships and engagement, ensuring the collation and timely maintenance of regional, country, institutional, and strategic briefing notes and reports.

• Conducts research and analysis of international higher education and internationalization trends, funding opportunities and mobility schemes.

• Prepares reports, briefing documents on regional, country, institutional, and strategic engagement including the political, social, economic, research and educational contexts

• Monitors and assesses the performance of international partnerships and provides recommendations on their maintenance, continuity, and development.

• Provides oversight and recommendations regarding expenditures associated with international partnership development activities.

• Works in collaboration with the Office of Research and the Global Engagement Office communications teams to develop strategic and promotional communications.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in international relations, globalization, International Business, Political Science preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Master’s degree an asset.

Experience

• 5 - 7 years of progressive responsibility in an international higher-education environment, partnership development, government or international relations role, or comparable experience.
• Mandarin language is required.

• Experience advising senior leaders and influencing institutional decision-making through analysis, recommendations, and strategic relationship development.

• Experience in managing high-level delegations and protocols in a cross-cultural context and for a wide variety of high-level delegations

• Experience in collating and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and information and drafting reports, briefing materials and presentations to range of audiences including senor administrators

• Experience supporting the creation and implementation of a strategic plan including a proven record of accomplishment of leveraging Faculty-specific strategic plans and the University strategic plan to inform the direction

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated relationship building competencies, with exceptional skills in cross-cultural understanding and communication

• Knowledge of internationalization of higher education, partnership development and stakeholder engagement, including up to date knowledge on best practice at other institutions, current internationalization trends and identifying opportunities in international relations

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively, build consensus, maintain confidentiality, exhibit sensitivity to the needs and interests of a variety of stakeholders, and support the functioning of a diverse team both within an individual department and across the institution

• Must possess excellent research, analytical, oral and written communication skills including preparing briefing materials, reports and project management

• Excellent analytical skills - ability to analyze both qualitative and quantitative data and to draw valid and appropriate conclusions

• Strong communication skills with the ability to convey complex information and issues concisely and clearly, and draft high-quality position papers and briefing notes

• Proven influencing and teamwork skills, including a demonstrated ability to mobilize people who do not report to them

• Excellent strategy development and ability to lead throughout execution in an environment of change and ever-increasing demand for staff resources.

• Knowledge of one or more languages (in addition to English) is an asset

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.