International Student & Scholar Services Manager Principal Designated School Official (PDSO)

Concordia University is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and in the world.

Position Summary

The International Student & Scholar Services Manager provides strategic leadership immigration advising compliance oversight and holistic student support for international students and scholars at Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor. This position serves as the lead professional for international student services and is responsible for ensuring a welcoming compliant and student-centered experience from arrival through graduation and post-completion transitions.

Serving as a Designated School Official (DSO) and preferably as Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO) the International Student Services Manager oversees F-1 and J-1 immigration advising SEVIS reporting institutional compliance orientation employment authorization processes and campus-wide education related to international student regulations and support.

This role requires a thoughtful balance of regulatory expertise student advocacy operational excellence and cross-cultural sensitivity. The successful candidate will be a collaborative problem-solver who can interpret complex immigration regulations build scalable processes support students from diverse cultural backgrounds and partner across the university to promote international student success retention and compliance. This position reports to the AVP for International Affairs.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Immigration Advising and Student Support

• Serve as a primary advisor and advocate for international students and scholars regarding immigration requirements cultural adjustment academic transition campus resources and life in the United States.
• Advise F-1 and J-1 students and scholars on maintaining lawful status including enrollment requirements travel and re-entry program extensions transfers reduced course loads leaves of absence reinstatement change of status and employment-related matters.
• Provide advising through scheduled appointments walk-in hours Zoom meetings email communication workshops and proactive student outreach.
• Support students experiencing academic behavioral health welfare financial or cultural adjustment concerns by coordinating with appropriate campus partners.
• Support airport transportation and arrival logistics for new international students as needed.
• Collaborate with the international team and campus partners to support International Education Week and other global engagement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen belonging retention and student success among international students.
• Develop workshops and programs on topics such as maintaining status employment authorization OPT/CPT taxes cultural adjustment career preparation health insurance and life after graduation.

SEVIS Compliance and Immigration Documentation

• Serve as a Designated School Official and as applicable Primary Designated School Official for CUWAA.
• Maintain accurate and timely SEVIS records for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors.
• Issue update and authorize immigration documents including Forms I-20 and DS-2019 in accordance with federal regulations and institutional policy.
• Monitor student enrollment academic status address updates program changes employment authorizations practical training travel signatures transfers and program extensions to ensure timely federal reporting.
• Complete SEVIS registration each term and report required changes within federally mandated timelines.
• Manage and process student requests through Terra Dotta and related university systems.
• Support transfer-out processes for students moving between U.S. institutions.
• Maintain strong documentation practices and accurate student records in alignment with institutional SEVP DHS and DOS requirements.

PDSO/RO Leadership and Institutional Compliance

• Lead institutional compliance efforts related to F-1 and J-1 students and scholars.
• Serve as the institutions lead immigration compliance expert providing guidance on nuanced or complex F-1 and J-1 cases.
• Supervise train and support DSOs student workers and other staff involved in international student services and immigration processes.
• Monitor federal regulations SEVP broadcast messages policy guidance and best practices; update university processes and communications accordingly.
• Coordinate required SEVIS-related institutional updates recertification materials annual reports redesignation materials and other federal documentation.
• Represent CUWAA during site visits audits recertification reviews and other compliance-related engagements.
• Conduct periodic internal compliance reviews to identify and address potential risks before they become violations.
• Establish and maintain institutional policies procedures and resources for F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars.
• Maintain updated regulatory content on department portals websites Terra Dotta configurations and internal training materials.

Campus Partnerships and Training

• Serve as a key resource for faculty staff departments and university leadership regarding international student compliance support needs and institutional responsibilities.
• Educate campus partners on federal regulations institutional policies international student processes and culturally responsive student support.
• Provide training to new staff DSOs student workers and departments involved in international student processes.
• Collaborate with offices such as Admissions Registrar Academic Advising Residence Life Career Services Student Health Counseling Athletics Finance and Academic Programs to support international students effectively.

Operations Systems and Process Management

• Develop document and improve processes that support efficient accurate and student-centered international student services.
• Assist with Terra Dotta configuration workflow development data integrity and student communication campaigns.
• Manage high-volume student requests while maintaining accuracy timeliness and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with international student health insurance enrollment and communications with insurance providers.
• Recruit train and supervise student workers.
• Maintain organized records reports communications and compliance documentation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Strong working knowledge of F-1 and J-1 immigration regulations and the ability to apply regulations accurately to complex student and scholar situations.
• Ability to interpret explain and train others on federal regulations and institutional policies in clear accessible language.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving students from diverse cultural linguistic religious and educational backgrounds.
• Strong student-centered advising skills including the ability to balance compassion compliance and institutional risk management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational planning time management and project management skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to maintain a high level of accuracy in records reporting and immigration documentation.
• Strong analytical problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with colleagues across departments.
• Ability to manage competing priorities deadlines and high-volume student requests.
• Comfort using technology databases student information systems and communication platforms to improve service delivery.
• Ability to develop scalable processes workflows training materials and student-facing resources.
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current on regulatory changes compliance expectations and best practices in international education.
• Supportive of the mission and values of Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)

Education & Experience

• Bachelors degree in any field.
• Minimum of three years of professional experience advising international university students preferably at a four-year institution.
• Knowledge of federal regulations governing F-1 and J-1 students and scholars.
• Experience with SEVIS and international student records management.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident as required for DSO/PDSO/RO eligibility.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word Excel Outlook and PowerPoint.

Preferred

• Masters degree in higher education international education student affairs intercultural communication counseling educational leadership public administration or a related field.
• Three or more years of experience serving as a DSO; prior PDSO experience strongly preferred.
• Experience serving as a Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer for a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
• Experience using Terra Dotta or similar international student management software.
• Familiarity with SEVP certification institutional updates recertification audits and J-1 redesignation processes.
• Experience working in a faith-based mission-driven or private higher education environment.

Physical Demands/Equipment (Click to View)

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time salary (exempt) staff position. Pay may be determined by education and/or experience. Concordia University benefit options include but are not limited to the following:

• Health Dental and Vision Insurance
• Personal Spending Account Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account
• Disability and Survivor Plan
• Retirement Pension Plan
• Retirement 403(b) Savings Plan
• Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Tuition waiver benefits (available for employees and their qualified dependents)

Compensation and Benefit Details

Application Instructions

To receive full consideration all applicants are must complete and submit an online employment application through the Concordia University Employment page: on the job you are interested in applying to enter your contact information in the Apply Now section and then click the Apply For This Position button to begin the application process.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of CU to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable federal state and local laws.

The University will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race color sex pregnancy national origin (including ancestry) citizenship status physical or mental disability age marital status gender veteran or military status predisposing genetic characteristics domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws.

However CU is an institution of the LCMS and to the extent allowed by law CU reserves the right to give preference in employment based on addition preference in holding certain employment positions is given to ordained or rostered ministers of the LCMS. Based on a religious tenet CU recognizes only male LCMS ordained Ministers of the Gospel but recognizes both male and female LCMS Rostered Ministers of the Gospel.

The Human Resources Department has been appointed to manage the equal employment opportunity program including all equal employment opportunity activities as required by federal state and local agencies. If any employee or applicant for employment believes this policy has been violated he/she must contact the Director of Human Resources.

Concordia University is a HLC accredited co-educational liberal arts school offering more than 72 undergraduate majors over 35 masters degree programs and 5 doctoral programs. There are also a variety of accelerated evening and e-learning programs.

Required Experience:

Manager