What are the responsibilities and job description for the International Student & Scholar Support Specialist position at UMass Amherst?
Title: International Student & Scholar Support Specialist
Executive Area: Academic Affairs
College/School/MBU: Admin Support Units
Department: Office of Global Affairs
Work Location: Amherst
Schedule:Full Time
Work Arrangement:Onsite
Job Summary
The International Student and Scholar (ISS) Support Specialist provides data management, reporting, and administrative support to the ISS team in the Office of Global Affairs (OGA), assists newly admitted students with visa document issuance, provides pre-arrival immigration advising, and triages communication as a first point of contact for ISS.
Essential Functions
Develops, evaluates, and helps manage campus-wide immigration reports and data analysis; interprets and interconnects data fields within SPIRE and Sunapsis; maintains responsibility for batch reporting management; tracks H-1B visa processing by college; reviews and resolves data discrepancies in Sunapsis, SEVIS, and SPIRE.
Provides expert pre-advising and pre-arrival guidance to international students and scholars on immigration issues within the guidelines of SEVIS F-1 and J-1 regulations.
Serves as back-up to the student and scholar advisors in case of staff absences.
Manages information flow and liaises with other departments on campus to provide general immigration information as needed.
Takes lead on administrative scheduling for the ISS team, including but not limited to event coordination; campus visitors; workshops and immigration sessions; weekly new student workshops, and additional support with fall and spring semester orientation logistics.
Responsible for training OGA staff on basic immigration knowledge sources, front line support and aiding.
Other Functions
Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet department, Executive Area/Division and university goals.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree and more than one (1) year of experience providing customer support, preferably in an office setting.
U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (U.S. federal regulations pertaining to SEVIS require that individuals working within SEVIS must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident).
Advanced ability to learn and work efficiently with computer and data systems.
Ability to balance competing projects and adjust priorities quickly as circumstances dictate.
Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to assess workflows and procedures and to identify more effective methods.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers and the public.
Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to express information clearly to a diverse population of constituents.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in higher education.
Knowledge of foreign languages.
Working knowledge of SEVIS, F-1, and J-1 regulations.
Experience working with Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
Knowledge and familiarity of internal UMass systems and programs, institutional policies, and procedures.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.
Work Schedule and Work Arrangement
Monday-Friday, 37.5 hours per week.
May be required to work occasional nights and weekends.
Salary Information
Pay Grade:PSSAP Grade 25
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Additional Details
This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.
Special Instructions for Applicants
Along with the online application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide the names and contact information for three (3) professional references.
This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.