Director of the International Student Support

Job Title

Director of the International Student Support

Job Description Summary

Haverford College invites applications for our full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt, benefits-eligible Director of International Student Support opportunity.

Job Description

Haverford Offers Great Benefits: The College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes possible work-from-home opportunities, automatic 10% retirement contribution to your retirement account upon eligibility (no match required), a 50% tuition benefit for dependent children upon eligibility, 14 paid holidays (including the week before New Year’s Day off), Health Savings Account contribution of $700 for individuals and$1400 for families (no match required), affordable medical plans, and a beautiful arboretum campus with walking trail and easy public transportation access. Please visit the Benefits page (https://www.haverford.edu/human-resources/benefits) for more information.

Work Location: This position will be eligible for a hybrid work schedule, pursuant to the College’s Work Location Policy, with a minimum of 4 days per week on campus.

About Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Access

The Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Division facilitates co-cultivation of a campus community(ies) where everyone is affirmed, uplifted, and are able to bring their whole selves in living, learning, teaching, and working together as a fundamental vision towards justice and liberation.

About the Position
The Director of the International Student Support (ISS) provides institutional leadership for all compliance, advising, and programming functions related to international students in F-1 status and alumni on optional practical training. The Director serves as the College’s primary Designated School Official (DSO) and ensures institutional compliance with Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and federal immigration regulations. This role integrates legal compliance with student advising, crisis response, and cross-divisional collaboration, advancing Haverford’s goals for global engagement and inclusion.

Primary Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance and Institutional Risk Management:

• Serve as the College’s primary Designated School Official (DSO) and lead all SEVP/SEVIS compliance operations, including institutional reporting, recertification, and record maintenance in SEVIS
• Monitor and interpret evolving DHS, DOS, USCIS guidance, federal policy memos, and executive actions, assessing their impact on institutional operations and student success
• Ensure institutional readiness for DHS site visits, audits, and compliance reviews, including documentation management and internal process assessments
  Develop and execute risk mitigation strategies in response to global events, executive orders, and regulatory changes impacting international students and alumni
• Consult with divisional and senior leadership on institutional policies and practices that intersect with immigration compliance, student mobility, and the international student experience

Advising and Case Management:

• Oversee all DSO advising functions and provide direct, comprehensive advising to F-1 students and alumni on maintaining legal status, employment authorization (CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT), travel and re-entry, and change-of-status processes
• Oversee all phases of the student lifecycle — from I-20 issuance and orientation through post-graduation employment compliance
• Maintain systems for proactive case tracking (OPT/STEM reporting, unemployment days, SEVIS registration, etc.) and ensure advising consistency and documentation integrity

Co-curricular Programming:

• Develop, implement, and assess co-curricular initiatives, programs, and workshops that support international students
• Develop and lead workshops and information sessions on employment authorization options—including Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the STEM OPT extension—with particular emphasis on access to internships and post-graduation success
• Create and manage institutional communications—including newsletters, website updates, and campus and alumni outreach—to ensure accurate and timely dissemination of immigration and compliance information
• Collaborate with students, staff, and faculty, as well as external stakeholders, in support of the ISS goals and programs

Supervision and Operations:

• Supervise and mentor the Assistant Director and student interns, ensuring clarity of roles, professional growth, and alignment with office priorities
• Manage the ISS budget, and develop annual assessment plans within the context of the divisional and College strategic plans
• Support student affinity groups in partnership with other IDEA offices
• Other duties as assigned

Line of Report: The Director of International Student Support reports to the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Culture. The Director co-supervises the Assistant Director of International Affairs (who dually reports to the Director of Study Abroad & International Exchanges).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Three years of experience with progressively increasing responsibilities in higher education, community organizing, or related field

Professional Competencies

• Demonstrated expertise and in-depth knowledge of F-1 visa regulations, immigration and international travel processes, and SEVIS compliance requirements, with the ability to interpret and apply evolving federal policies to institutional practice
• Experience managing accurate record-keeping, compliance reporting, and proactive communication with federal agencies
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex regulatory information for diverse audiences through workshops, training, and public communications
• Advising and case management skills, including the ability to guide students and alumni through complex immigration and work authorization with clarity and empathy
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and effectively handle sensitive and personal information with respect and discretion
• Demonstrated intercultural competence, sensitivity, and commitment to fostering retention and student success

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Experience with international education, immigration advising, or a related field

We are aware that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet qualifications as described in the job advertisement. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career trajectory, and have skills and abilities gained outside a classroom context, or an equivalent skill set. We encourage you to apply and share how you meet the position’s qualifications.

Special Requirements

• To be a Designated School Official for SEVIS, a person must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and attend appropriate training to operate Student and Exchange Visitor Programs (SEVP) as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security.

To Apply: Interested applicants are invited to submit an application, to include a cover letter and resume, through Haverford College's career website via Workday (no other form of application is accepted). The application deadline is January 15, 2026. Application review will begin after the deadline has passed. Please email recruiting@haverford.edu with questions about submitting your materials. Should the search committee be interested in pursuing your candidacy, you will hear from them directly. Finalists will be asked to provide three professional references.

Haverford College is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and providing equal opportunities and access to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status. Women, non-binary and transgender individuals, people of color, Indigenous people, and those with other or multiple historically marginalized and/or underrepresented identities are especially encouraged to apply.

We at Haverford College recognize that we live and work on Lenape land and pay respect and honor to the caretakers of this land, from the time of its first human inhabitants until now, and into the future. We seek to maintain and build upon our current and ever-evolving connections with members of Lenape tribes and communities, in recognition of our intertwined histories and with a goal of moving toward right relationship between the Haverford of today and Lenape peoples.