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University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Center for Global Engagement – International Student and Scholar Services
Assistant Director
Regular Full Time - Exempt
UT Market Range MR12 expected salary $60,000 - $70,000
The Center for Global Engagement, (CGE), is hiring an Assistant Director to join a team of professional advisors in our International Student and Scholar Services unit. Working together, the team provides a broad range of services to international students, scholars and their dependents including immigration advising, adjusting to life at University of Tennessee, Knoxville and supporting students in academic and post-graduation activities.
CGE is comprised of seven units (English Language Institute, the International House, International Student and Scholar Services, Programs Abroad, Communications, Global Security, Risk and Resilience, & Global Research, Innovation and Partnerships) who are responsible for working throughout campus, across Tennessee and around the world to provide enriching and diverse international experiences for faculty, students and scholars.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is Tennessee’s flagship university and premier public research institution. We are an R-1 land-grant university with approximately 30,000 students, 9500 faculty and staff, 11 colleges, and over 300 degree programs. There are more than 1600 international students and scholars on the UTK campus. The University is located on a 580-acre campus in the city of Knoxville in eastern Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains. The University of Tennessee Knoxville campus is seeking candidates who can contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the University.
The City of Knoxville is a hidden gem surrounded by eight gorgeous lakes, with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene including internationally recognized festivals, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of diverse cultural and outdoor activities. UTK is located within easy driving distance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Louisville, and Cincinnati. It is only a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a population of more than 850,000 people.
Position Summary: This position (under the supervision of the Director of ISSS) manages the day-to-day operation of ISSS. This includes supervising ISSS coordinators, conducting training, completing performance reviews, organizing professional development, and providing advisements on operational matters connected to student and scholar immigration sponsorship. This position supports compliance efforts, serving as a subject matter expert on employment and student-based immigration sponsorship ensuring that the University of Tennessee remains compliant with Federal regulations and best practices. In conjunction with the Director of ISSS, this position serves as the liaison for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Labor.
Position Responsibilities:
Scholar Immigration Compliance
This includes review and management of processes, practices, assessment, and reporting connected to immigration sponsorship of international faculty, staff, and scholars. As part of this oversight, this position serves as a subject matter expert on H-1B, Permanent Residency, O-1, TN, and J regulatory concerns and provides training and guidance to ISSS personnel engaged in advising and processing.
Student Immigration Compliance
This includes review and management of processes, practices, assessment, and reporting connected to immigration sponsorship of F-1 and J-1 students. As part of this oversight, this position serves as a subject matter expert of F-1 and J-1 regulatory concerns and provides training and guidance to ISSS personnel engaged in advising and processing.
Staff Supervision
This includes management of day-to-day staff requests, scheduling, and performance reviews. In addition, this includes the management of training and professional development plans for all staff with the requisite budget forecasting, preparation, and assessment.
Departmental Training and Advising
This includes consulting with departments on the best methodology for recruiting and retaining international researchers, staff, faculty, students, and scholars, conducting training with departments, and serving as an advisement resource.
Participation in Workgroups, Meetings, and Professional Development
This includes time spent participating in required workgroups, internal and external meetings, and participation in professional organizations. This also includes necessary regulatory review, knowledge updates, and trainings.
Education and Experience Required: Masters’s degree in Law, Educational Administration, Counseling, HR, Communication or International Relations and three to four years of experience serving in an international office at an R1 university. Experience with best practices surrounding employment-based visa sponsorship.
Other Conditions of Employment\: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.
Education and Experience Preferred: One to two years of experience serving in a leadership role at an international office at an R1 university.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: Knowledge of Code of Federal regulations pertaining to F, J, H1B, O, TN, and Permanent Residency processing. Knowledge of best practices pertaining to the operation of an international services department. Basic knowledge of employment options available to academic units when hiring international staff, faculty, and scholars. Ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural environment. Skill using Banner and Sunapsis. Knowledge of data integration between systems.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: Expert knowledge of Code of Federal regulations pertaining to F, J, H1B, O, TN, and Permanent Residency processing. Understanding of effective business process creation. Knowledge of effective assessment, reporting, and strategic planning practices.
Work schedule: This is an on-campus position with some flexibility for working a hybrid/remote schedule. The successful candidate must be willing to work occasionally on weekends, evenings, and/or overnights while traveling.
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.
Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the appropriate affirmative action office. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the campus ADA Coordinator.