Senior International Student and Scholar Advisor

About the role

The Senior International Student and Scholar Advisor supports Tufts’ 3,000+ international students, scholars, and employees by providing immigration advising and visa document services to ensure compliance with U.S. visa regulations. The role involves individual advising, cross-cultural programming, and advocacy to strengthen Tufts’ commitment to international engagement and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for immigration administration and advising for F-1 and J-1 visa holders, including visa-related benefits, travel, and status maintenance.
• Issue immigration documents (I-20 & DS-2019) and ensure compliance with government sponsorship and visa regulations in collaboration with the International Center team.
• Advise and counsel undergraduate and graduate students in F-1 and J-1 status on advanced immigration matters, including travel, work authorization, visa renewal, and post-graduation benefits (OPT, STEM OPT, J-1 Academic Training).
• Track and update data in systems such as the DHS Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to ensure regulatory compliance and compile reports for senior management.
• Provide expertise and consultation to department staff, faculty, deans, admission offices, and academic advisors on issues related to the academic success and legal status of international students and scholars.
• Design and facilitate programs, workshops, and events, including orientation, intercultural skills, and U.S. work options, to support student and scholar engagement and inclusion.
• Serve as a liaison to schools and assigned populations for intercultural programming and collaborate with the International Center team on initiatives.
• Support entry-level International Student & Scholar Advisors by leading meetings, troubleshooting complex cases, and ensuring policy consistency.
• Assist in systems maintenance, data clean-up, and reporting, including overseeing bi-annual immigration registration processes and monitoring compliance alerts.
• Create and disseminate immigration newsletters and facilitate website updates in collaboration with the International Center team.
• Facilitate workshops on work authorization and J-1 scholar topics.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a related field or Bachelor’s degree with 2-4 years of experience in international student and scholar advising or immigration law.
• Prior experience as a Designated School Official (DSO) and/or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in higher education or a similar organization.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in F-1 and J-1 regulations and a generalized understanding of immigration law.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Zoom, and immigration system applications such as SEVIS, Terra Dotta, Sunapsis, ISSM, Scholar Module, or other batching software.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working effectively with culturally diverse populations.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and demonstrated analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic regulatory environment.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residence (required to serve as DSO and ARO).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior international living or work experience.
• Fluency or working proficiency in a non-English language.

Pay

Minimum $67,200.00, Midpoint $83,900.00, Maximum $100,700.00. Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; new hires can generally expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.