Senior Immigration Specialist, Scholar, Immigration Services & Support Center

Wake Forest University; United States; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Wake Forest University is seeking a Senior Immigration Specialist to oversee J-1 visa operations at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and to support outreach for international scholars. The role involves advising on immigration issues, maintaining SEVP records, and developing visiting scholar programs.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree with immigration advising experience, SEVIS knowledge, and strong data reporting and public-speaking skills to engage campus communities and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus three years related experience in immigration advising, serving as an ARO.
• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (required to be authorized on government systems).
• Knowledge of statutory and regulatory issues related to J and H visas.
• Knowledge of SEVIS and ability to stay current on immigration laws, regulations, and policy matters.
• Ability to set priorities and work independently.
• Experience with university or non-profit settings involving international students and scholars.

Responsibilities

• Serves as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) and manages operations for the J-1 visa program for Exchange Visitors at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; advises J-1 visa holders on immigration issues.
• Develops the visiting scholar program and advises departments on potential uses of the J-1 category.
• Maintains presence with professional networks and stays updated on applicable regulations and best practices.
• Advises international scholars in J-1 status on immigration, cultural, personal and financial concerns.
• Manages J-1 records for international students, exchange visitors and dependents for SEVP reporting.
• Supports Terra Dotta document storage and profile creation; assists with program management.
• Engages with university communities to promote ISS Center and needs of international students and scholars.
• Prepares reports with statistical data on international scholars for audits and planning.

Skills

Immigration advising

ARO responsibilities

SEVIS knowledge

Data reporting

Public speaking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Terra Dotta

Microsoft Office

WordPress

Google Apps

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Senior Immigration Specialist, Scholar position performs duties in two primary functional areas of institutional immigration compliance and educational outreach. The Center for Immigration Services & Support (ISS) Senior Immigration Specialist’s main immigration roles include managing the J-1 Exchange Visitor immigration compliance, processing, systems and data management and sharing at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC) in support and collaboration with the Director and Associate Director of ISS. The second ISS Center functional area supported by the Senior Immigration Specialist includes responsibility for initiating professional and cultural programs that aid in the academic and professional growth of Wake Forest’s international J-1 community at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC). *Priority consideration will be given to applications received by September 18, 2026.

Job Description

This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

Essential Functions:

• Serves as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) and manages operations for the J-1 visa program for Exchange Visitors at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC); advises J-1 visa holders on all matters related to immigration issues.


• Develops the visiting scholar program and advises departments on potential uses of the J-1 category.


• Maintain a presence with various professional networks and keep up to date on relevant state and federal agency regulations and best practices in the field.


• Advises international scholars in J-1 status at WFBMC, in areas of immigration, cultural, personal and financial concerns.


• Manages J-1 records regarding international students, exchange visitors and dependent populations for accurate reporting to Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).


• Assist Associate Director with managing and maintaining J-1 Exchange Visitor Program manages Terra Dotta J Scholar document storage and profile creation.


• Engages with the University community and offices to promote the role of ISS Center and the needs of international students and scholars.


• Prepares reports including statistical data on international scholars for audits, on-site reviews, and analyzes data to enable strategic planning for immigration services based on population changes.


• Creates, implements, manages, and assesses educational programs such as check-in, orientation, employment-based seminars, professional development courses and workshops, and other professional-based activities for international scholars.


• Responsible for event programming and acculturation activities for international scholars.


• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with various WFBMC partners.


• Provides general office support and fields inquiries from students, faculty, and community.


• Responsible for own correspondence, filing, copying, document preparation, and reports, as needed.


• Assists with special projects for the office as assigned by the Director.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree plus three years related experience in immigration advising, serving as an ARO.


• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (required to be authorized on government systems).


• Knowledge of statutory and regulatory issues related to J, and H visas.


• Knowledge of Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Ability to keep current on all immigration laws, regulations, and policy matters.


• Ability to set priorities and work independently.


• Experience working with foreign national students, scholars, or employees in a university or non-profit setting.


• Experience needed in program development and management.


• Public speaking skills and experience presenting informational workshops to various campus audiences.


• Ability to represent and advocate for international populations on campus.


• Exceptional organizational and customer service skills.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.


• Ability to foster teamwork and collegiality in a small office environment and with internal and external constituents.


• Proficiency with standard computer software (i.e. Microsoft Office suite, WordPress, and Google Apps).


• Ability to quickly develop competency in ISS software programs and workflow management procedures.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of additional employment based nonimmigrant visas (i.e. H-1B, PR, TN, O, and E).


• Experience working in healthcare environment with immigration and human resource needs.


• Experience with Terra Dotta and Banner software systems or other web-based international student and scholar data management systems.


• Proficiency in a foreign language.


• Experience studying, living, or working abroad.

Accountabilities:

Responsible for own work. May supervise student workers. Train new ISS Center employees.

Physical Requirements:

Sedentary work primarily involves sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned.

Environmental Conditions:

No environmental conditions

Additional Job Description

Time Type Requirement Full time Note to Applicant: This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor. In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

Accommodations for Applicants If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] or [phone].

About WFU:

Wake Forest University, formed in 1834, has experienced decades of growth and innovation. WFU is a distinctive university that combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs. The University embraces the teacher-scholar ideal, which prizes the personal interaction between students and faculty. It is a place where exceptional teaching, fundamental research and discovery, and the engagement of faculty and students in the classroom and the laboratory are paramount. Wake Forest University is a community that seeks the enlightenment and freedom which come through diligent study and learning. Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University motto \"Pro Humanitate\", as members translate a passion for knowledge into compassionate service. The community shares a tradition that embraces freedom and integrity and acknowledges the worth of the individual. The heritage, established by the school's founders and nurtured by succeeding generations, promotes a democratic spirit arising from open-mindedness and discourse. Wake Forest fosters compassion and caring for others. Its collective strength and character are derived from the values and distinctive experiences of each individual; therefore, it affirms the richness of human intellect and culture and its contribution to knowledge, faith, reason, and dialogue. Furthermore, it strives toward a society in which good will, respect, and equality prevail. To that end, Wake Forest University rejects hatred and bigotry in any form and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust. The University is comprised of: the undergraduate college, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Divinity, School of Law, and School of Medicine (located on the Bowman Gray campus with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) and today enrolls about 4,846 undergraduates and 2,823 students in graduate programs at its principal location, the Reynolda campus. Students at Wake Forest University enjoy a great deal of access to and interaction with world-class faculty both in and out of the classroom setting with a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Wake Forest employs approximately 2,772 full and part-time faculty and staff. Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the fifteen-team Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the university has adopted the motto “pro humanitate,” which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world. Wake Forest has a strong commitment to holistic, eight-dimensional well-being for students, faculty and staff as evidenced in the Thrive initiative. Winston-Salem, North Carolina Wake Forest is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a beautiful, mid-sized city centrally located in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina. Winston-Salem residents enjoy close proximity to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (1.5 hours) and Atlantic beaches (4 hours), a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, a very reasonable cost of living, and an eclectic variety of restaurants, wine bars, and breweries for dining with friends and family. Winston-Salem offers many of the amenities of a large city but with the sense of community and quality of life of a smaller town.