International Student

Northeastern University; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 49,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University’s Office of Global Services seeks an International Student & Scholar Advisor (ISSA) to provide comprehensive nonimmigrant advising to F-1 and J-1 students and scholars, including dependents, across Northeastern’s U.S. campuses.

The ISSA will serve as a DSO/ARO, manage SEVIS records, advise on regulatory requirements, and collaborate with campus departments to support international student success.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency is required for all DSO/ARO-designated roles, per federal regulations.
• Bachelor's degree.
• 1–3 years of formal experience as a DSO/ARO working directly with SEVIS to process documentation, maintain records, and comply with regulatory reporting requirements.
• Professional experience working with international student and/or scholar populations across the international student experience (pre-arrival, enrollment, post-completion employment).
• Ability and willingness to multitask and develop systems of organization for managing a high-volume caseload.
• High level of interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written), with demonstrated intercultural competence.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment as a contributing member of a high-functioning team.
• Knowledge of privacy laws and the ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality when advising students and scholars.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and other web-based applications.

Responsibilities

• Advise, counsel, and assist F-1 students, J-1 students, and J-1 scholars to ensure maintenance of nonimmigrant status, employment authorization, and successful acculturation, academic, social, and personal adjustment.
• Create, update, and maintain student and scholar records in SEVIS, including reportable events, as required by federal regulations.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal regulations, SEVIS procedures, Northeastern academic policies, and OGS policies and procedures to provide timely and comprehensive advising.
• Provide guidance to Northeastern academic departments and key contacts on regulatory requirements, institutional policies, and OGS policies and procedures.
• Advise students on logistical matters, including obtaining a Social Security number and applying for a U.S. driver's license or state ID.
• Liaise with relevant government agencies, including DHS, SEVP, DOS, CBP, and USCIS, regarding student requests, data corrections, and travel.
• Design and/or deliver regulatory training for students, scholars, and colleagues.
• Communicate with academic and co-op/career advisors to support comprehensive international student advising.
• Collaborate with the OGS student support and programming team on orientation and other programming, including the initial review of F and J regulations with new students.
• Contribute to developing, designing, and implementing programs and systems that support and enrich the international student and scholar experience at Northeastern.
• Provide on-ground advising support and represent OGS at a U.S. Global Network campus, including attending campus-wide meetings and assisting with on-campus events.
• Support initiatives tied to the overall health of the campus landscape, spearheaded by campus leadership or in partnership with campus staff.
• Provide awareness and context to campus stakeholders regarding the international student lifecycle.
• Serve within the DSO on-call rotation, providing after-hours support for time-sensitive compliance matters on a scheduled basis.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required, including for on-call coverage, orientations, and campus events.

Skills

DSO/ARO experience

Intercultural competence

Multitasking & organization

Communication skills

Privacy/compliance awareness

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

International Student & Scholar Advisor

About the Opportunity

Job Summary

Northeastern University provides immigration advising and supportto over 24,000 F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrant international students,scholars, and alumni from 149 countries, making it one of the mostglobally diverse institutions in the United States. The Office ofGlobal Services (OGS) plays a critical role in supporting thispopulation through immigration advising, compliance, andstudent-centered services across the university's campuses. Reporting to an Associate Director, Director, or Senior Directorwithin OGS, the International Student & Scholar Advisor (ISSA)serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) and an AlternateResponsible Officer (ARO), providing comprehensive nonimmigrantadvising to F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars, andtheir dependents, at Northeastern University. This role deliversaccurate and timely information to a diverse range of students andscholars and facilitates support through internal and externaldepartments and staff. The ISSA uses the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System(SEVIS) to perform functions required by federal regulations,including but not limited to creating Forms I-20/DS-2019,authorizing employment, reporting on student and scholarmaintenance of status, and processing changes to student andscholar information. As a member of the OGS team, this ISSA provides support both totheir assigned campus location and to other U.S. campuses. Inpartnership with OGS leadership, the ISSA supports the developmentof international student and scholar services at the assignedcampus location, including advising, orientations, informationsessions, and support services grounded in NAFSA best practices, inservice of the goal to retain and engage international students inthe university community and to create an environment thatcontributes to student success. The ISSA communicates and coordinates with departments and campuspartners at other Northeastern campus locations on cross-campuscoordination and general inquiries.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise, counsel, and assist F-1 students, J-1 students, and J-1scholars to ensure maintenance of nonimmigrant status, employmentauthorization, and successful acculturation, academic, social, andpersonal adjustment.
• Create, update, and maintain student and scholar records inSEVIS, including reportable events, as required by federalregulations.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal regulations, SEVISprocedures, Northeastern academic policies, and OGS policies andprocedures to provide timely and comprehensive advising.
• Provide guidance to Northeastern academic departments and keycontacts on regulatory requirements, institutional policies, andOGS policies and procedures.
• Advise students on logistical matters, including obtaining aSocial Security number and applying for a U.S. driver's license orstate ID.
• Liaise with relevant government agencies, including theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS), the Student and ExchangeVisitor Program (SEVP), the Department of State (DOS), U.S. Customsand Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and ImmigrationServices (USCIS), regarding student requests, data corrections, andtravel.
• Design and/or deliver regulatory training for students,scholars, and colleagues.
• Communicate with academic and co-op/career advisors to supportcomprehensive international student advising.
• Collaborate with the OGS student support and programming teamon orientation and other programming, including the initial reviewof F and J regulations with new students.
• Contribute to developing, designing, and implementing programsand systems that support and enrich the international student andscholar experience at Northeastern.
• Provide on-ground advising support and represent OGS at a U.S.Global Network campus, including attending campus-wide meetings andassisting with on-campus events.
• Support initiatives tied to the overall health of the campuslandscape, spearheaded by campus leadership or in partnership withcampus staff.
• Provide awareness and context to campus stakeholders regardingthe international student lifecycle.
• Serve within the DSO on-call rotation, providing after-hourssupport for time-sensitive compliance matters on a scheduledbasis.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Occasional evening and weekend work may be required, including foron-call coverage, orientations, and campus events.

Minimum Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency is required for allDSO/ARO-designated roles, per federal regulations.
• Bachelor's degree.
• One to three years of formal experience as a DSO/ARO workingdirectly with SEVIS to process documentation, maintain records, andcomply with regulatory reporting requirements.
• Professional experience working with international studentand/or scholar populations across the international studentexperience (pre-arrival, enrollment, post-completionemployment).
• Ability and willingness to multitask and develop systems oforganization for managing a high-volume caseload.
• High level of interpersonal and communication skills (verbaland written), with demonstrated intercultural competence.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment as acontributing member of a high-functioning team.
• Knowledge of privacy laws and the ability to exercisediscretion and confidentiality when advising students andscholars.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) andother web-based applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with international student/scholar case managementsystems (e.g., Sunapsis).
• Prior study, work, or living experience outside of theU.S.
• Knowledge of a second or third language.
• Prior experience with academic advising.

Position Type

Student Services

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate workexperience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefiteligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paidtime off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- aswell as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion,color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disabilitystatus, or any other characteristic protected by applicablelaw.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type

106S

Expected Hiring Range

$48,610.00 - $66,838.75

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will dependon several factors, which may include your education, experience,location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a paycomparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role.Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject tochange.