The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) coordinates services and support for Yale’s over 8,000 international students, faculty, staff, and their dependents. OISS staff assist with issues related to employment, immigration, and personal and cultural adjustment, as well as serve as a source of general information about living at Yale and in New Haven. As Yale’s representative for immigration concerns, OISS helps students, faculty, and staff obtain and maintain legal nonimmigrant status in the United States.

The OISS Adviser works as part of a team to provide international student and scholar services in one or more functional areas of responsibility: student immigration advising, scholar immigration advising, institutional compliance requirements for DHS/SEVIS and the Department of State, as well as other support for the Yale international community. Serves as liaison to multiple Yale units and to various agencies of the federal government as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternative Responsible Officer (ARO.) Ensures that all activities and decisions are conducted in accordance with federal regulations and University policy. Applicants must have U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status to serve in the roles of DSO and ARO, per Department of Homeland Security and Department of State regulations.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Provides advice and guidance primarily to the F-1 and J-1 international student and scholar community with respect to the maintenance of legal immigration status and employability at the university and beyond (graduating students). Monitor, report, and establish work authorizations. Advise individuals as well as provide group presentations on student regulations and responsibilities.
2. Serves as a resource to a school-based international student and/or scholar population, customizing services and regulatory compliance to meet needs specific to that unit.
3. Serves as a DHS authorized Designated School Official and Alternate Responsible Officer.
4. Develops and maintains in-depth and current knowledge of U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of State regulations as relevant to the specific academic setting. Use this knowledge, to make recommendations for updates to current policies and guidelines.
5. Works closely with student affairs and school-based staff, and/or administrative units, and scholar service offices throughout the university to ensure the needs of particular school populations are well-served by OISS services and programs.
6. Creates and maintains relationships with students and faculty through good customer service, remaining approachable and knowledgeable. This can include providing general support for non-immigration-related issues, to support acclimation to a new community.
7. Develops short- and long-term strategies for exemplary international student and scholar advising, including innovative use of technology, assessment and enhancement of current models and deliverance of outstanding service.
8. Cultivates a professional presence on campus and in the field through local and national partnerships and associations. Participates in regional and national international education conferences and meetings.
9. Contributes to major projects and programs. Has primary responsibility for at least two major programs each semester which enrich the community or innovate an OISS business process.
10. Innovate OISS business processes and maximizing the potential of case management and software.
11. May perform other duties as assigned .

Required Education and Experience

Bachelors Degree in a related field and three years of experience in advising international students and scholars in an academic setting or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Skills and Abilities:

1. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a high-performing team in a fast paced and changing environment. Demonstrated intercultural skills and first-hand experience in a multicultural setting. Excellent interpersonal and written and oral communication skills. Strong organizational skills with ability to meet deadlines, handle a high degree of detail, manage time and prioritize multiple projects. Proven ability to handle numerous projects and transactions accurately, consistently and dependably. Strong computer literacy with proficiency in excel, data entry, data queries and database maintenance. Proven experience working with qualitative and quantitative data, engaging in evidence-based analysis and producing reports using OISS data. Master’s in a relevant discipline. Exp w/ F-1 & J-1 regulations, as well as H-1B & other employment-based immigration categories. Exp w/ international students & scholar software programs (i.e. TDS, Sunapsis or ISSM) as well as w/ institutional databases, i.e. Banner. Exp living abroad; knowledge of a second language; &/or intercultural communication skills.