Director, Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars

Abilene Christian University•Abilene, TX

About The Position

The Director provides leadership and day-to-day administration of ACU’s Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars (OISVS). The role oversees institutional compliance for the university’s F-1 and J-1 programs, immigration services for international students and scholars, office systems and processes, and related university partnerships. It is a hands-on leadership position that combines direction of the function with direct responsibility for many core operational and administrative duties. The Director serves as ACU’s Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO), maintaining institutional controls, advising university stakeholders, overseeing immigration matters, and supporting international students and scholars. The Director interprets and applies federal requirements, oversees immigration records and benefits, monitors regulatory developments, coordinates agency communications and institutional reviews, and incorporates applicable export-control and research-security screening into onboarding. The position also leads OISVS priorities, procedures, service standards, records management, reporting, risk response, and continuous improvement. The Director provides expert immigration advising and outreach; oversees the international student health insurance program and access to nonresident tax-support resources; and coordinates onboarding with admissions, academic units, and campus partners. The role provides functional leadership for systems including VIA-trm ISS and supports accurate, secure, and appropriately retained records. The Director supervises staff and student employees, trains designated university officials, maintains professional expertise, and promotes a collaborative, service-oriented culture grounded in ACU’s Christian mission. ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. The successful candidate must be a professing Christian and be willing to support the Christian mission and purpose of the university. This office-based professional role may require occasional extended or nontraditional hours to address regulatory deadlines, student or scholar needs, or university priorities. ACU conducts background checks on candidates for employment in security-sensitive positions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Progressively responsible experience in international student and scholar services, immigration compliance, international education, or a closely related higher education function.
Prior experience serving as a Designated School Official (DSO).
Ability to interpret complex federal regulations, exercise sound judgment, and translate regulatory requirements into practical institutional processes.
Leadership, supervisory, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Strong intercultural, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including ability to advise senior leaders and explain complex requirements to varied audiences.
Strong organizational and analytical skills, including ability to manage competing priorities, sensitive information, complex cases, and regulatory deadlines.
Must meet federal eligibility requirements applicable to individuals serving as DSOs and ROs.
Ability to perform office-based professional duties, including extended use of computers and communication systems.
Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic platforms.
Ability to work occasional extended or nontraditional hours when needed for regulatory deadlines, student or scholar needs, or university priorities.
Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
Must be a professing Christian willing to support the Christian mission and purpose of ACU.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Experience as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), Primary Designated School Official (PDSO), Responsible Officer (RO), or in a comparable leadership role preferred.
Experience with SEVIS and technology or case-management platforms supporting international student and scholar services preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as ACU’s PDSO for the F-1 program and RO for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, maintaining institutional compliance with applicable federal requirements.
Interpret federal regulations and agency guidance; establish and maintain compliant office procedures and internal controls.
Exercise institutional authority over immigration benefits and records, including I-20s, DS-2019s, extensions, reduced course loads, employment authorization recommendations, practical training, and transfers.
Advise university stakeholders on complex F-1 and J-1 matters; liaise with government agencies and coordinate with university counsel or compliance functions as appropriate.
Monitor regulatory developments and communicate their operational impact and recommended institutional responses.
Coordinate applicable export-control and research-security screening for international graduate students, scholars, researchers, and visitors.
Set OISVS priorities and translate university objectives and regulatory requirements into operating practices, service standards, and workflows.
Improve office policies, procedures, documentation, records management, and business processes.
Maintain metrics, records, and reporting on workload, compliance obligations, service delivery, and emerging risks; provide leadership updates as appropriate.
Coordinate preparation for government reviews, recertifications, redesignations, audits, data requests, and other reviews affecting F-1 and J-1 programs.
Identify and elevate operational or compliance risks and develop practical corrective actions.
Represent OISVS on university committees and working groups and serve as its primary institutional point of contact within its scope.
Provide expert immigration guidance to international students and scholars on status, employment, practical training, travel, program changes, and related matters.
Advise faculty and staff on institutional responsibilities and help resolve complex or unusual cases.
Oversee the international student health insurance program, including vendor relationships, enrollment administration, billing coordination, and issue resolution.
Manage institutional access to nonresident tax-support resources and related student communications without providing individual tax or legal advice.
Develop and oversee educational outreach, orientation, workshops, web resources, and regulatory communications.
Coordinate compliant international onboarding with Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Programs, academic units, and other university offices; establish cross-department workflows, roles, timelines, and communications.
Collaborate with the Director of International Student Engagement and campus partners to support international students’ academic, cultural, and community integration.
Provide functional leadership and primary administrative oversight for VIA-trm ISS and other systems supporting international student and scholar services.
Ensure the accuracy, integrity, security, and appropriate retention of immigration and related institutional records.
Lead process and system improvements involving SEVIS, Slate, Banner, Workday, VIA-trm ISS, and related platforms in coordination with technology and data partners.
Develop sustainable workflows and documentation that support continuity and reduce dependence on individual knowledge.
Supervise, train, develop, and evaluate assigned staff and student employees; establish performance and service expectations.
Designate, train, and guide ACU DSOs and AROs, ensuring appropriate knowledge, access, and accountability.
Maintain professional expertise through relevant immigration and systems training and professional development.
Promote a collaborative, service-oriented culture grounded in sound judgment, professionalism, stewardship, and ACU’s Christian mission.
Perform other duties as assigned.