Director, International Student and Visitor Services

University of Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Alberta is seeking a Director, International Students and Visitor Services to lead a high-impact team at North Campus, Edmonton. The role drives immigration advising, settlement programming, and collaboration across faculties to support over 8,000 international students and expand enrolment by 2033.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) and at least 10 years of progressive leadership in international student services, with strong stakeholder engagement and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in international student services, post-secondary administration, or global programming.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team delivering high-quality services to international students and campus colleagues.
• Define strategic and operational plans and allocate resources to achieve objectives.
• Educate the university on immigration policy trends, compliance requirements, and program delivery.
• Design and implement proactive strategies or initiatives and negotiate with external partners as needed.
• Drive continuous process improvement and gather feedback across the university to improve operations.
• Develop staff talent to meet diverse needs of international students and build organizational capacity.

Skills

Immigration Advising

Intercultural Expertise

Global Geopolitics

Strategic Planning

Change Management

Business Development

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Location - This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.
Do you have a deep commitment to the value of international education and the transformative opportunities it provides for students?

Are you an entrepreneurial, collaborative and service focused professional who thrives in dynamic environments?

International Education and Enrolment (IEE) is hiring a Director, International Students and Visitor Services (ISVS) to lead a team with passion and vision in the pursuit of service excellence. Within an integrated student experience network, the unit plays a critical role in supporting the current community of over 8000 international students and advancing the university’s goal of growing international enrolment to over 15,000 by 2033.

Reporting to the Executive Director IEE, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to create exceptional student experience, strengthen the university’s advising ecosystem and deliver high impact programs that advance the university’s reputation and expand unit resources.

Understanding rapidly changing policy and geopolitical environments you anticipate impact, support advocacy, seek solutions and embrace the adaptations required to achieve goals.

The Director leads a team of professionals responsible for delivering consistent, high-quality and professional services to students and campus colleagues and ensures the team has the skills and competencies to work with students across diverse national, cultural, linguistic and social diversity.

Core services and programs include

• immigration and student advising services
• settlement and transition programming for students and visitors
• services to faculties and units to support student outcomes
• visiting cohort and inbound research internship program
• training programs for global clients
  

• In collaboration with the IEE Senior leadership team, builds strategic direction and defines operational plans in alignment with university and IEE strategic priorities. Implements action plans based on these objectives by assigning the right resources to achieve concrete results and respond to organizational priorities.
• Champions the development of proactive strategies or initiatives. Educates the university on emerging trends in areas of expertise, in particular immigration policy; anticipates impacts of these trends on compliance requirements and future service delivery. Works with campus units to update processes or policies.
• Designs, implements and manages efficient and effective services and impactful programs. Service and program outcomes are defined and measured.
• Proactively identifies the need for change within areas of responsibility. Searches beyond the university for new methods, trends and innovative approaches. Challenges the status quo. Develops, tests, and delivers new methods or approaches. Negotiates and oversees contracts with external vendors.
• Engages in continuous process improvement to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the administration of the unit and design and implement solutions to operational challenges. Seek feedback on operations, services and processes from across the University.
• Develops the talents of staff; builds capacity and capability, ensuring staff understand the diverse needs of international students. Identifies future competencies and expertise required by the area and develops/ acquires talent accordingly.
• Fosters collaboration within the area and across the university to ensure exceptional student experience.
• Skillfully handles complex, on-the-spot questions and concerns. Assigns resources to assist quickly and addresses any conflict with well considered responses.
• Demonstrates persuasive, engaging, clear and credible communication to gain support and commitment in varied situations from a wide variety of audiences.
• Identifies and assesses revenue generating opportunities, develops plans, and builds strong client relations.

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Leadership Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in international student services, post-secondary administration, or global programming.

Technical & Regulatory Competencies

• Immigration & Advising: Deep knowledge of Canadian immigration regulations, student development, sojourner adjustment, and student advising theory/best practices.
• Intercultural Expertise: Proven mastery of intercultural theory and practice, with demonstrated application to program planning, delivery, and advising for diverse populations.
• Global & Geopolitical Literacy: In-depth understanding of international education systems, academic cultures, and global geopolitical dynamics.

Strategic Leadership & Operations

• Strategic & Operational Planning: Strong administrative, organizational, and strategic planning skills with a track record of budgeting, resource allocation, and operations management.
• Change Management & Innovation: Proven analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex institutional challenges, drive continuous process improvement, and lead institutional change.
• Business Development: Demonstrated ability to identify revenue-generating opportunities, conduct client needs assessments, and design/evaluate impactful programs.

Communication & Relationship Management

• Interpersonal & Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels, establishing trust across diverse cultural, gender, and religious backgrounds.
• Conflict Resolution & Mediation: Proven ability in mediation, conflict resolution, and handling highly charged situations or rapid, complex inquiries with sound judgment.
• Facilitation & Training: Strong facilitation skills for community development and global client training programs.

This position is excluded from the bargaining unit.
In accordance with the Handbook of Terms and Conditions of Employment for Non-Union Employees, this position has a comprehensive benefits package and an annual salary which will be commensurate with qualifications.