International Student Advisor

Cardiff Metropolitan University; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days rising to 30 + 12

Local Government Pension Scheme

Family friendly policies

Library and digital services access

Sports and fitness facilities

Wellbeing support - Health Assured

Job summary

Cardiff Met is seeking an experienced professional to join the International Student Support Team within the Global Engagement Directorate. You will coordinate welfare and support services, deliver immigration advice and lead activities to help international students settle in from arrival through graduation.

You will lead a team, manage projects, and contribute to a welcoming and inclusive international community.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting students in a higher education setting and international student issues.
• Ability to interpret and apply UK visa regulations for students.
• Excellent communicator with strong organisational and administrative skills.
• Experience of line management or supervision.
• Willingness to work occasional weekends during peak periods when required.

Responsibilities

• Lead immigration advice appointments and group workshops, and issue CAS where applicable.
• Coordinate arrival and welcome for new international students and develop responsive systems.
• Oversee the Global Lounge service provision and supervise Assistant International Student Advisors.
• Provide sensitive, professional support for students facing complex personal or emergency situations.
• Plan and deliver the Global Week events and engage with community, students, and staff.

Skills

Immigration advice knowledge

Project management

Line management

Communication skills

IT systems & digital tools

Event planning

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree or equivalent professional experience

Tools

IT systems

Job description

Working as part of the International Student Support Team within the Global Engagement Directorate, you will play a key role in ensuring international students receive an exceptional experience from arrival through to graduation. You will be responsible for coordinating welfare and support services, delivering immigration advice and leading activities that help students successfully settle into life at Cardiff Met. You will work with students from around the world, providing guidance on complex personal, practical and immigration matters, while helping to create an inclusive and welcoming international community.

This is a varied and rewarding role that combines student support, project management, immigration advice and team leadership. You'll use your expertise, cultural awareness and problem-solving skills to make a meaningful difference to students' lives and contribute to Cardiff Met's global ambitions.

You’ll lead the way by:

• Demonstrating detailed knowledge and understanding of the UK government’s immigration regulations, ensuring accurate advice is provided to students about their immigration status via 1-1 visa extension appointments; group workshops and the issuing of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
• Project managing the arrival and welcome of new international students. Using initiative and forward thinking to develop systems to respond to the challenging and fast-changing environment and needs of international students.
• Overseeing and co-ordinating the service provision offered at the Global Lounge, with line management responsibility for Assistant International Student Advisors.
• Using high level problem solving skills and cultural awareness to support international students experiencing complex personal problems or emergency situations, advocating for students and supporting them with sensitivity and professionalism.
• Responsibility for project managing social events including the annual Global Week events, by devising and planning the programme of events, engaging with the local community, student body and staff to encourage participation and broadly promoting the benefits of cultural awareness, inclusivity and acceptance.
• Representing the interests of the Global Engagement Directorate and Cardiff Met international students in internal and external networks, events, meetings, working groups and steering groups.

What you’ll bring

With experience of supporting students in a higher education setting, you'll be passionate about delivering an outstanding student experience and helping students from diverse cultural backgrounds to thrive. Your knowledge of international student issues, combined with your ability to interpret and apply immigration regulations, will enable you to provide accurate, timely and compassionate advice on a wide range of personal, welfare and visa-related matters.

An excellent communicator with strong organisational skills, you'll be confident managing a varied workload, building effective relationships with stakeholders, and coordinating activities that enhance the international student experience. You'll use sound judgement, initiative and cultural awareness to resolve complex situations and contribute to a welcoming, inclusive and supportive community.

Additionally, you'll:

• Have experience of providing advice, guidance and support to students, including the ability to deal sensitively and effectively with complex or challenging cases.
• Possess knowledge of UK Student visa regulations and the wider issues affecting international students studying in higher education.
• Be able to communicate complex information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, to a diverse range of audiences.
• Demonstrate strong organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a busy environment.
• Have experience of planning and coordinating projects, events or activities, ensuring successful delivery and positive outcomes.
• Build productive working relationships with colleagues, external organisations and stakeholders to enhance the support available to students.
• Be confident using a range of IT systems and digital tools to deliver services, maintain records and produce reports.
• Have experience of line management or staff supervision, together with a willingness to work occasional weekends and unsociable hours during peak operational periods when required.
• Hold a degree or possess equivalent relevant professional experience.

We are a values-based University. We are proud of our culture, and we are there for our people. Our community spirit is the golden thread that underpins our values and behaviours. We support and embrace inclusion that enables everyone to feel respected and able to perform at their best. By joining our University, you'll find yourself in a unique environment where a wealth of knowledge and resources are readily available, supporting you with your career development.

We offer excellent benefits such as:

• Annual leave of 25 days, rising to 30 days after 1 years’ service, plus 12 bank holiday / concessionary days.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with generous monthly contributions.
• Excellent family friendly policies – take a look on our Policy Hub page.
• Opportunities to learn and develop your skills with access to library and digital services facilities.
• Excellent sports and fitness facilities with subsidised membership.
• Free family access to our independent specialist wellbeing support provider, Health Assured.

Cardiff Metropolitan University is proud to be a Disability Confident employer and a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant.

All applicants with disabilities, or those who are part of the Armed Forces community who during the shortlisting process meet the essential criteria for the role will be progressed to the next stage.

The University is committed to creating a highly inclusive culture. We offer family friendly and flexible working arrangements and a range of staff networks, forums and events to support and develop our people. We warmly welcome applications from those traditionally underrepresented in the higher education sector.

Why Work Here?

We invite you to join our collaborative community!

Dating back to 1865, we remain rooted in Wales with a global reach, offering you a world of opportunity. Our education, research and innovation deliver positive impact for equality, social inclusion and environmental sustainability, locally, nationally and internationally.

Are you ready to contribute to something remarkable?

Join us in helping us to progress and deliver real change.