Director of International Programs

Job Summary: Director of International Programs

Life University is looking for a dynamic and compassionate individual to serve as the Director of International Programs. The Director of International Programs is a thought leader in the field of international education and a manager of services for non-immigrants students at Life University’s campus and instructional sites. The Director of International programs will plan and oversee the daily operations of the Department of International Programs that includes international admissions for a wide category of international applicants. While ensuring the university’s compliance with the federal guidelines to admit, enroll and retain F-1 visa and another non-immigrant visa holder students by serving as a Principal Designated School Official (PDSO).

Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee the daily operations of the Department of International Programs that includes international admissions for a wide category of international applicants, including hiring and supervising the Department of International Program’s staff, part-time Student Assistant (s), unpaid interns and employ best practices in developing strategic initiatives and managing services.
• Serves as the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO-F1) for international students, maintaining the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and all related certification requirements for students.
• Provide continuous evaluation of processes and procedures at the end of each intake cycle with results being used to improve area operations, efficiency and service to both internal and external customers.
• Responsible for delivering a communication plan for prospective international students on admissions and enrollment at Life U, and communication regarding compliance and retention for current international students, as well as guidelines for international admissions and continuously revise and improve a list of required supplemental documents for prospective international students to minimize unnecessary steps in the international admissions process and increase the effectiveness of daily operations in international admissions.
• Establish connections with international recruitment agencies, credential evaluation companies, and academic testing companies and improve the quality of services provided to the prospective students and develop and constantly improve the content of international student-related policies and contribute to the academic catalog of all programs of the university.
• Develop and implement immigration compliance forms, policies and procedures to improve international recruitment, admissions, enrollment and retention to ensure student and university compliance meet the federal requirements to maintain and store F-1 visa documents.
• Responsible for the content of international enrollment and F-visa webpages, and catalog information regarding international students on campus and collaborate with Marketing to develop materials to support the Department of International Programs.

Compliance:

• Develop and provide status compliance services for a current F-1 visa and prospective F-1 visa students by providing individualized advisement sessions, in-person and virtual group workshops on on-campus employment, CPT, OPT, tax compliance, health insurance, economic hardship employment application and employment regulations, status adjustment, status reinstatement, as well as compliance services for a variety category of foreign applicants wishing to enroll into Life U under different than F-1 visa category including status adjustments from different visa category to F-1 visa student category by providing individualized advisement sessions when needed and referral to outside immigration counsel when appropriate.

Strategic Planning:

• Develop a strategic plan for the Department of International Programs and promote the department among internal and external constituents by establishing a long-term vision for the Department of International Programs that encompasses existing strengths and potential to expand and/or more effectively focus office functions.
• Support campus internationalization and fostering collaboration among different departments, both faculty and administrators across campus and Department of International Programs in admission, enrollment, advising, engagement, on-campus and employment, internship, and retention of variety categories of international students.
• Develop and implement the social engagement programs for international students and monitor international students' college satisfaction by utilizing surveys and sharing their findings with relevant departments on campus and support international student success and actively advance global initiatives with a diversity, equity and inclusion lens.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, International Affairs, Political Science, or any field relevant to the requirements of the position
• At least seven years of post-graduate progressive experience in international education, including at least five years serving international students and scholars.
• Extensive knowledge of federal regulations governing non-immigrant students and faculty in the United States, including at least five years serving as an F-1 Designated School Official and/or J-1 Responsible/Alternate Responsible Officer
• At least five years of experience in developing and accessing orientation and student engagement programs in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, budget management and professional staff supervision.
• Demonstrated experience in data-based planning and decision-making, including the ability to develop and implement assessment plans.