Associate Director, JPL International Office

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of the International Offices, the Associate Director will be responsible for supervising the day-to-day operation of the JPL International Office (JPL IO); and for doing direct advising and preparation of immigrant and nonimmigrant documents and petitions. This position strategizes with the Director in the development of JPL policy and procedure on immigration issues for scholars and students.

The staff members of the International Offices at Caltech and JPL work as a team. Advisors consult with one another in order to maintain consistent immigration advising for Caltech and JPL, and support each other when necessary.

Essential Job Duties

Supervisory

• Supervise JPL IO staff, includes assigning tasks monitoring the day-to-day activities; leading team meetings; providing individual staff feedback, guidance, and support; providing training and professional development opportunities; and leading annual performance reviews
• Develop office policies and procedures; initiate and direct improvements
• Manage maintenance of efficient and uniform practices
• Oversee and analyze regular reports for operational audits and data integrity
• Oversee and manage communications - including email templates, website, web forms, and flyers - with international scholars, as well as internal and external partners for consistency of message, voice, design, and content
• Develop innovative, compliant, and enriching orientation for international scholars and students
• Develop international education outreach for lab community and lab business partners
• Collaborate and consult regularly with Associate Directors for International Student Programs (ISP) and International Scholar Services (ISS)
• Establish and maintain relationships with JPL IO lab business partners to educate, collaborate and assist in the service of institutional compliance and the international student and scholar experience
• Provide project management leadership and contributions to system implementations

Scholar and Student Advising

• Provide direct immigration advising to international students and scholars from pre-arrival to departure; prepare E-3, H, TN, O, and green card petitions; prepare F and J documents, as needed; support F-1 OPT/STEM OPT, as appropriate
• Serve as Alternate Responsible Office (ARO) for Caltech's J Exchange Visitor Program and as a Designated School Official (DSO) for Caltech's F Student program
• Stay current on changing immigration laws, regulations, and policy; interpret and apply to internal business practices
• Prepare and file petitions, applications, and correspondence with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and U.S. Department of State (DOS)
• Strategize and coordinate with outside immigration counsel, when appropriate.
• Provide timely updates and presentations to international students and scholars and JPL IO lab business partners regarding immigration changes and business practices
• Work within ISSM/Trilby and SEVIS; comply with DHS, DOL, and DOS regulations and maintain record keeping
• Other duties, as assigned

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 6 years of relevant international scholar or U.S. immigration advising experience, covering both nonimmigrant and immigrant categories
• 2 years of direct management of administrative and professional staff in an international scholar or U.S. immigration environment
• Demonstrated ability to initiate efficient and effective business practices and procedures
• Communication and presentation skills
• Critical thinking and organizational skills including policy analysis, evaluation of compliance issues, formulation and implementation of internal business procedures, and completion of complex projects in a timely manner
• In accordance with 22 CFR §62, the individual in this position must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Experience working with complex, system-wide databases
• Experience with the culture, procedures and practices of higher education/research environment

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter