Associate Director for International Students

Department: University Life

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary range starting low $80k, commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) strives to encourage global awareness by promoting the integration of international students, researchers, and faculty into the campus community. The office provides guidance to students and scholars studying and working at George Mason University in immigration and employment, assists with adjustment issues, and fosters cross-cultural understanding through programs highlighting global themes.

About the Position:

The Associate Director for International Students provides leadership and oversight of the F-1 advising and regulatory team, including direct supervision of current International Advisors and Immigration Specialists, ensuring regulatory compliance and supporting the holistic success of non-immigrant students. The role provides strategic guidance to advising staff and stakeholders, establishes workflows and performance expectations, and partners closely with leadership to implement policies and maintain operational continuity. The position delivers expert immigration advising, manages complex cases, and ensures accurate reporting and compliance with federal regulations, including support for SEVP certification processes. The role acts as a key liaison across campus and external professional organizations, contributing to training, outreach, and program development that promote student success, regulatory adherence, and institutional effectiveness.

Responsibilities:

Supervision and Leadership:

• Provides leadership and oversight of the F-1 advising and regulatory team, including direct supervision of current International Advisors and Immigration Specialists, management of cyclical performance goals, and clear communication of expectations;
• Serves as a key partner to the Executive Director on supervisory and regulatory matters, including review and implementation of policies and procedures, and provides operational leadership and support of the team in the absence of the Executive Director;
• Provides in-person support to the team and unit as needed, including providing direction, leading and participating in meetings, and ensuring coverage of office functions when staffing is limited;
• Acts as a primary communication bridge between leadership and staff, and collaborates with Associate and Assistant Directors, the SEVIS Coordination Team, and Office Manager on workflow and problem resolution;
• Provides training to new and current staff on regulatory matters and unit procedures, and contributes to development and documentation of SOPs for the unit;
• Fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment that promotes employee well-being, engagement, and retention;
• Supervises staff by setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and addressing performance issues to support employee engagement, accountability, and retention;
• Encourages and supports ongoing professional development opportunities for allstaff,ensuring they have the tools and training needed to succeed in their roles;
• Organizes workflow and ensures that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks;
• Sets clear performance expectations, goals, and deadlines aligned with unit, divisional, and university strategic plans;
• Communicates expectations effectively, monitors employee productivity and development, and provides continuous feedback and coaching to support staff growth and accountability;
• Prepares and conductstimelyperformance evaluations, andmaintainsaccuraterecords of employee performance, feedback, and disciplinary actions,ensuring adherence to legal and university policies and procedures;
• Collaborates with University Life divisional partners/stakeholders to address performance concerns; and
• Effectively hires, onboards, and trainsnew employeesto build capability and ensure operational continuity.

Student Advising:

• Provides comprehensive advising to nonimmigrant students on matters related to immigration status, including interpretation of federal regulations, maintenance of status, and benefits such as employment authori