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The Executive Director is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), approximately 3,000 international students and scholars. The Executive Director oversees institutional compliance with Federal Regulations that govern the institution’s acceptance and enrollment of international students and hosting of international scholars (faculty and researchers). The Executive Director leads and manages the complete visa issuance document function, including I-20 processing, that supports enrollment via undergraduate and graduate admission, the scholar program, and oversees the international scholar admission process. Integral to this position is leading the effort to enhance the acclimation, involvement, and retention of international students through support services, programmatic activities, and advocacy. The position reports to the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs.
- Provides vision, leadership and development of a strategic plan to guide the department.
- Develops, implements, and evaluates long-and short-term strategic goals and operational plans that align with broad goals of the University and the Division of Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement.
- Develops, implements, and administers streamlined and timely processes to enhance application processing and operations for international students and scholars.
- Directs all immigration-related aspects of enrollment tied to the admission process for international students, including processing and issuing initial I-20 documents, coordinating data collection with admissions teams, advising academic departments and incoming students, and evaluating academic programs for international student enrollment eligibility.
- Oversees the international scholar admission process for all schools and colleges and Immigration related aspects, which includes processing immigration documents and advising academic departments and incoming scholars.
- Collaborates with Institutional Research and Student Affairs (IRSA) on comprehensive data reporting and analysis for the international student and scholar population of approximately 3,000 individuals, ensuring accurate tracking and compliance reporting.
- Develops appropriate policies regarding the department and its provision of services.
- Designs and implements procedures and practices in order to streamline immigration-related document and application processing.
- Spearheads the operation of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to identify potential technical efficiencies in international student and scholar processing, including I-20 issuance workflows, through implementation of new technologies and enhanced systems that support the comprehensive needs of a 3,000-student population
- Leads, mentors, and supports the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) team.
- Develops and manages the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) budget.
- Serves as the Principal Designated School Official/PDSO (U.S. Department of Homeland Security) and Responsible Officer/RO (U.S. Department of State) for the University of Miami.
- Responsible for full implementation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), compliance with SEVIS record-keeping and reporting requirements, and maintenance of the University of Miami’s approval and eligibility to enroll international students and host international scholars.
- Oversees immigration advising and document processing for the international student and scholar population including work authorization approval related to internships and post-completion employment.
- Liaises with and serves as University representative to external stakeholders including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of State, and governmental agencies (Fulbright, Institute of International Education, Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, LASPAU: Academic and Professional Programs for the Americas, etc.).
- Builds strategic partnerships and develop, enhance, and administer a broad range of programs and services designed to provide a welcoming environment for international students and scholars and empower and equip them for success.
- Provides orientation, transition, and retention services for international students and scholars.
- Oversees the advisement of the Council of International Students and Organizations (COISO), the umbrella organization for all international organizations.
- Oversees counseling and advising services for international students and scholars on such matters as cultural adjustment, taxes, health, social, financial, and other personal matters as well as assistance in handling crises.
- Develops and maintains active partnerships with academic units across all schools and colleges to ensure timely processing and issuance of I-20 documents for undergraduate and graduate students, while collaborating with University stakeholders to support comprehensive needs of international students and scholars including academic departments, Academic Resource Center, Counseling Center, Career Services, Faculty Affairs, Human Resources, and Student Affairs.
- Advocates on behalf of international students and scholars with internal and external stakeholders.
- Prepares statistical data and information on international students and scholars for multiple uses throughout the University and externally, including analysis and research.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Knowledge of enrollment processes and procedures, operations management, I-20 processing workflows, operations management and customer service best practices are required.
- Ability to analyze, plan, organize, challenge and lead staff, volunteers, academics and other campus units to maximize opportunities and benefits of the university international resources.
- Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, and report on complex data sets in collaboration with institutional research offices, with experience in managing comprehensive records for large-scale international populations (3,000+).
- General knowledge of Department of Homeland Security, State Department, Department of Labor regulations affecting international faculty, students and researchers.
- Current working knowledge of immigration federal laws and regulations, as well as knowledge of SEVIS reporting requirements.
- Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policies and procedures.
- Strong project management, problem solving, delegation, and decision-making skills with experience in process improvement and workflow optimization for high-volume operations.
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint applications including database management systems, SEVIS platform, reporting tools, and web-based applications, with ability to integrate multiple data sources for comprehensive reporting.
- Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Master’s degree in International Affairs, Higher Education, Counseling or related field required.
- Seven (7) years of work-related experience with international students and immigration policy, including experience in immigration document processing, cross-departmental collaboration, and data management for substantial international student populations.
The University of Miami is recognized as one of the nation’s premier research institutions and academic health systems and is among the largest employers in South Florida.
With more than 20,000 faculty and staff, the University is committed to excellence and guided by a mission to positively impact the lives of students, patients, and communities locally and globally.
We are dedicated to fostering a culture where every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully. United by shared values, the University community works together to build an environment defined by purpose, collaboration, and service.
The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here for additional information.
Job Status:
Full time
Employee Type:
Staff
