Director, Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars

Abilene Christian University•Abilene, TX

About The Position

The Director leads and administers Abilene Christian University’s Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars (OISVS), including institutional compliance for the F-1 and J-1 programs, immigration services for international students and scholars, office systems and processes, and related university partnerships. This is a hands-on director role that combines leadership with direct responsibility for core operational and administrative work. The Director serves as the university’s Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO), maintaining effective institutional controls, advising university stakeholders, overseeing immigration-related matters, and ensuring responsive service to international students and scholars. The Director provides strategic and operational leadership for OISVS; interprets and applies federal requirements; manages immigration records and authorized benefits; coordinates regulatory reviews and institutional responses; and develops working relationships across university departments. The role also oversees advising and outreach, international onboarding, the international student health insurance program, access to nonresident tax support resources, and systems and records supporting international student and scholar services. The Director supervises and develops staff and designated university officials, maintains relevant 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 employee must be a professing Christian and be willing to support the Christian mission and purpose of the university. The position requires the ability to perform office-based professional duties, including extended computer use and effective communication in person, by telephone, and electronically. Occasional extended or nontraditional hours may be needed for regulatory deadlines, student or scholar needs, or university priorities. ACU conducts background checks on candidates for employment in security-sensitive positions.

Requirements

Must be a professing Christian and willing to support ACU’s Christian mission and purpose.
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).
Demonstrated ability to interpret complex federal regulations, exercise sound judgment, and translate regulatory requirements into practical institutional processes.
Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Strong intercultural, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to advise senior leaders and explain complex requirements to varied audiences.
Strong organizational and analytical skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities, sensitive information, complex cases, and regulatory deadlines.
Must meet federal eligibility requirements applicable to individuals serving as Designated School Officials and Responsible Officers.
Ability to perform essential office-based professional duties, including extended use of computers and communication systems and effective communication in person, by telephone, and electronically.
Ability to work occasional extended or nontraditional hours when necessary and to work effectively under pressure while managing multiple priorities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), Primary Designated School Official (PDSO), Responsible Officer (RO), or in a comparable leadership role.
Experience with SEVIS and technology or case-management platforms supporting international student and scholar services.
Advanced working knowledge of federal laws, regulations, agency guidance, and professional practices governing F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors.
Current knowledge of emerging issues in international education, immigration compliance, international student services, export controls, and research security.
Professional development through NAFSA or other appropriate governmental or professional organizations.
Proficiency in VIA-trm ISS, Slate, Banner, Workday, Google Workspace, and other university systems.

Responsibilities

Lead and administer the university’s F-1 and J-1 immigration compliance function and serve as PDSO and RO.
Interpret federal regulations and agency guidance, maintain compliant procedures and internal controls, and oversee immigration records and authorized benefits, including I-20s, DS-2019s, extensions, reduced course loads, employment authorization recommendations, practical training, and transfers.
Serve as the university’s principal resource for complex immigration matters, liaise with government agencies, and coordinate with university counsel and compliance functions as appropriate.
Monitor regulatory developments, assess operational impacts, and communicate changes and recommended responses to university stakeholders.
Coordinate applicable export control and research security screening processes 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 relevant metrics and reporting; and provide updates to university leadership as appropriate.
Coordinate preparation for government reviews, recertifications, redesignations, audits, data requests, and other regulatory or institutional reviews.
Identify and elevate operational or compliance risks, develop corrective actions, and represent OISVS on committees, working groups, and cross-functional initiatives.
Advise international students and scholars on immigration status, employment, practical training, travel, program changes, and other matters within the university’s authorized role; advise faculty and staff on related institutional responsibilities.
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 for students, scholars, faculty, and staff.
Partner with Admissions, Graduate Programs, academic units, and other university offices to manage compliant immigration onboarding and establish clear 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 system and process improvements involving SEVIS, Slate, Banner, Workday, VIA-trm ISS, and related platforms.
Supervise, train, develop, and evaluate assigned staff and student employees; establish performance and service expectations; and designate, train, and guide ACU DSOs and AROs.
Maintain current professional expertise and system proficiency through relevant training and professional development; promote a collaborative, service-oriented culture aligned with ACU’s Christian mission.
Perform other duties as assigned.