Director of Immigration Services

Widener University is currently seeking a Director for Immigration Services for the Center of Civic and Global Engagement. This role reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Center team, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, and hiring managers, as it pertains to international student and scholars, and faculty hires and assists with processing visas to meet the immigration needs for all three university campuses (Chester, Wilmington, and Harrisburg). This position may be eligible for hybrid or remote work.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

Essential duties:

• Primary subject matter resource for ongoing immigration activities for students, faculty, and scholars.

• Serve as Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for students, faculty, and scholar visa holders' population for all three campuses.
• Oversee immigration compliance with regulations for the F-1 visa program and J -1 visa program.
• Advise F and J international students on immigration matters.
  
  
  
  • Monitor federal compliance of immigration laws and documents.
  • Tracking status of requests for immigration and completion of the immigration process.
  • Ensure the University meets all sponsorship duties to retain sponsorship status, and assisting with sponsorship activities such as license renewal, annual BCA, CAS/COS annual allocations and on-site audits.
  • Serve as campus liaison with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the Department of Labor, and other federal authorities and organizations.
  
  
  
  

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  • Collaborate with the team at the Center for Civic and Global Engagement to support international students, study abroad and study away initiatives.
  
  
  
  
• Partner with the executive director and other team members on international orientation programming for all campuses.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures for visa application processing. Seek opportunities to continue to improve internal workflows related to the issuance of H-1 visa processes.
• Ensure compliance in all operational and procedural immigration processes
  
  
  
  • Ensure data integrity and compliance for all international scholars/faculty and student records.
  • Partner with university stakeholders to improve services and update policies to enhance the experience for international scholars/faculty and students.
  • Maintain the University's procedural documents pertaining to visa checks, expiring visas, withdrawals from study, changes to study plans, and visa denials.
  • Ensure timely and accurate record keeping, data analysis, and reporting
  • Assist/coordinate international transcript evaluation and credential evaluation services.
  
  
  
  
• Act as a liaison to Human Resources (HR), Academic Affairs, and Student Affairs for immigration-related matters.
  
  
  
  • Collaborate with Human Resources on hiring process and standard operating procedures for international employees.
  • Communicate any restrictions/barriers that pertain to employment and onboarding.
  
  
  
  
• Assist and support development and training of immigration-related services.
  
  
  
  • Provide training to hiring managers related to Sponsor responsibilities, equitable hiring and consideration of international candidates and relevant University policies.
  • Partners with campus stakeholders to improve services and updated policies to enhance the experience for international students and faculty.
  
  
  
  
• Support and Facilitate Inclusion and Belonging for employees and international scholars/faculty and students.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Minimum three (3) years' experience in global education, international services, immigration/visa processing.
• Experience in global education or international services for scholars/faculty/students
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience using SEVIS, Terra Dotta, and/or related computer systems/software/platforms.
• Experience as a Designated School Official (DSO) an Alternate Responsible Officer/Responsible Officer (ARO/RO) for the Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program.
• Evidence of strong verbal and intercultural communication competencies.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in global education, international law, international education, law, multicultural education, higher education, or related field.
• Experience working with institutional regulatory compliance.
• Experience providing employment-based immigration services.
• Demonstrated exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to work under strict and competing deadlines.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS:

• In addition to a traditional 5-day work week, director for immigration services will be required to attend campus events on some nights and weekends, including but not limited to participate in Accepted Students Days, New Student Orientations, and International Education Week, amongst other campus events.
• May need to be available early morning, evening, and weekends, and may need to participate in international travel as needed, to meet the needs of the department.
• Lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Frequent walking, standing and climbing stairs.
• Good manual dexterity.
• Usual office environment: routine sitting at a desk occasionally standing, bending, stooping or kneeling.
• Ability to be mobile between workstation and other buildings on campus.

Qualified candidates must submit a resume and cover letter for consideration. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only those selected to interview will be contacted.

Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.

Widener University requires all prospective employees to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to employment or apply and be approved for a medical/religious exemption. Offers may be rescinded if new employee does not provide proof of being fully vaccinated in a timely manner.

Some positions may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement that may include a partially or fully remote work location, consistent with Widener's Flexible Work policy.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at

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