International Immigration Specialist

Penn State University • University Park, IL

6d • $56,200 - $81,500 • Hybrid

About The Position

Penn State Global has an opening for an International Immigration Specialist (International Faculty Adviser). This position works on a team of up to five other advisers and one administrative assistant and is organized within International Student & Scholar Advising (ISSA). The ISSA unit is responsible for overseeing the immigration compliance advisement and support for roughly 10,000 international students, scholars, and faculty across the University. Reporting to the Assistant Director of International Faculty Advising, this position assists and advises university international staff, faculty, and scholars on United States immigration compliance and regulation regarding their employment at The Pennsylvania State University. The focus of the International Faculty Adviser (IFA) is to provide direct guidance and service to international faculty and staff by providing advisement and support on appropriate employment visa status processes. Additionally, the IFA engages in administrative compliance activities in support of U.S. Government and federal labor laws. This position models excellence in client support by providing high levels of customer services to international employees and scholars. The role provides assistance and guidance to university administrators, hiring authorities, and international faculty/researchers and their dependents regarding U.S. immigration related issues, regulations, and form completion as it pertains to their employment at the University.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Exemplary interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate successfully with staff, faculty, university leadership and international faculty and scholars within Penn State Global and across the University.
• Ability to successfully work as a member of a collaborative team is crucial.
• Strong organizational skills, critical thinking/problem solving, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt swiftly to changes in systems and procedures.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• A degree in fields such as higher education administration, international students, international education, or public policy is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process petitions to U.S. government entities for the employment sponsorship and work authorization of international faculty members in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, government regulations and University policies
• Interpret regulations and provide guidance to department and college HR representatives on immigration and visa regulations, including advising options on appropriate visa recommendation, petition filing strategies, and estimated timelines
• Liaise with University human resources and departmental staff and international faculty to gather information and advise on other immigration related matters
• Participate in the development, implementation, and maintenance of international case management software policies, forms, and process changes within the International Faculty Advising area
• Serve as point-of-contact for employment-based immigration questions for assigned colleges
• Ensure University sponsored employment visa, policies and practices are compliant with federal and state laws, regulation, and policies
• Practice compliance consistently and equally while advising international faculty and filing each case
• Develop and/or provide training for departmental staff, faculty, and foreign national faculty in assigned colleges
• Stay abreast of current developments and trends in the international faculty advising field and employment-based immigration
• Communicate government, regulatory, and other relevant updates to assigned colleges regularly
• Maintain internal record-keeping system to track history of individual cases
• Maintain records of cases for audit purposes

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
• Generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior