Associate Director, JPL International Office

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Job Summary

The Associate Director of the JPL International Office is a leadership position at the intersection of world-class science, global talent, and immigration compliance. Reporting to the Director of the International Offices, the Associate Director leads the day-to-day operations of the JPL international office, guides a dedicated team of professionals, and serves as a trusted immigration advisor to the international scientists and engineers who power groundbreaking research and exploration.

The International Offices are a vital part of how Caltech and JPL attract, welcome, and retain exceptional talent from around the world. By providing expert, consistent immigration guidance and a warm, well-organized experience from pre-arrival through departure, the offices help ensure that brilliant minds can contribute fully to the mission of both institutions. International Office advisors work as a collaborative team, consulting with one another and providing consistent immigration advising for the Caltech and JPL community.

This is a supervisory role. The Associate Director partners with the Director to shape JPL policy and procedure on immigration matters while mentoring a team and supporting both incoming staff and students.

Essential Job Duties

Supervisory

Supervise JPL IO staff, includes assigning tasks monitoring the day-to-day activities; leading team meetings; providing individual staff feedback, guidance, and support; providing training and professional development opportunities; and leading annual performance reviews

Develop office policies and procedures; initiate and direct improvements

Manage maintenance of efficient and uniform practices

Oversee and analyze regular reports for operational audits and data integrity

Oversee and manage communications – including email templates, website, web forms, and flyers – with international scholars, as well as internal and external partners for consistency of message, voice, design, and content

Develop innovative, compliant, and enriching orientation for international scholars and students

Develop international education outreach for lab community and lab business partners

Collaborate and consult regularly with Associate Directors for International Student Programs (ISP) and International Scholar Services (ISS)

Establish and maintain relationships with JPL IO lab business partners to educate, collaborate and assist in the service of institutional compliance and the international student and scholar experience

Provide project management leadership and contributions to system implementations

Scholar and Student Advising

Provide direct immigration advising to international students and scholars from pre-arrival to departure; prepare E-3, H, TN, O, and green card petitions; prepare F and J documents, as needed; support F-1 OPT/STEM OPT, as appropriate

Serve as Alternate Responsible Office (ARO) for Caltech’s J Exchange Visitor Program and as a Designated School Official (DSO) for Caltech’s F Student program

Stay current on changing immigration laws, regulations, and policy; interpret and apply to internal business practices

Prepare and file petitions, applications, and correspondence with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and U.S. Department of State (DOS)

Strategize and coordinate with outside immigration counsel, when appropriate.

Provide timely updates and presentations to international students and scholars and JPL IO lab business partners regarding immigration changes and business practices

Work within ISSM/Trilby and SEVIS; comply with DHS, DOL, and DOS regulations and maintain record keeping

Other duties, as assigned

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree

6 years of relevant international scholar or U.S. immigration advising experience, covering both nonimmigrant and immigrant categories

2 years of direct supervision of administrative and professional staff in an international scholar or U.S. immigration environment

Demonstrated ability to initiate efficient and effective business practices and procedures

Excellent communication and presentation skills

Critical thinking and organizational skills including policy analysis, evaluation of compliance issues, formulation and implementation of internal business procedures, and completion of complex projects in a timely manner

In accordance with 22 CFR §62, the individual in this position must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree

Experience working with complex, system-wide databases

Experience with the culture, procedures and practices of higher education/research environment

Required Documents

Resume

Cover Letter