Director, International Student Services and Recruitment and Admissions

Director, International Student Services and Recruitment and Admissions

Reporting to the Dean of Global Engagement and International Programs, the Director of International Student and Scholar Services / International Recruitment and Admissions provides strategic leadership and daily oversight for both the International Recruitment and Admissions team and the International Student and Scholar Services team within OIP. As a member of the OIP leadership team, the Director also contributes to broader departmental management, including strategic planning, fiscal stewardship, and the advancement of institutional goals.

The Office of International Programs advances Montana State University's internationalization strategy by providing leadership for international recruitment and admissions, student and scholar services, education abroad, and global partnerships. The unit ensures compliance, supports student success, and expands opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to engage globally. Guided by MSU's vision of bringing Montana to the world and the world to Montana, OIP strengthens the university's global presence while fostering a welcoming, student-centered campus community.

The Director will :

• Increase international student enrollment and retention through strategic recruitment initiatives, admissions management, and international alumni engagement.
• Manage all processes related to international student visas, ensuring full compliance with federal regulations and timely SEVIS reporting.
• Oversee fiscal resources for International Recruitment and Admissions and International Student and Scholar Services, ensuring responsible stewardship of budgets.
• Provide leadership and management for the International Student Recruitment and Admissions / International Student Services teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Contribute as a member of the Dean's leadership team, participating in strategic planning, policy development, and university-wide initiatives.
• Direct and mentor staff in International Recruitment and Admissions to ensure professional, student-centered, and data-informed practices.
• Develop and implement multi-year strategic enrollment and marketing plans to increase international student applications, enrollment, and yield.
• Oversee marketing and communications across digital and print platforms (web, email, social media, video, and presentations).
• Monitor recruitment strategies through data analysis and adjust based on outcomes and market trends.
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective students, alumni, agents, and international partners to strengthen pipelines.
• Use limited fiscal marketing resources for the highest return on investment.
• Provide leadership for International Student and Scholar Services, with a focus on compliance and student success.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of immigration documents and compliance management for F-1 and J-1 visa holders.
• Serve as Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO) to maintain SEVIS compliance.
• Lead international student retention and success initiatives.
• Support cultural programming and integration services to promote student belonging and cross-cultural engagement.
• Collaborate with campus partners to support the academic success and well-being of international students and scholars.
• Oversee fiscal resources and establish systems for team management, workflow tracking, and accountability.
• Provide leadership for budget development, monitoring, and reporting in collaboration with the OIP Business Operations Manager, Fiscal Shared Services, University Budget Office and the Dean.
• Ensure fiscal resources are allocated effectively to support recruitment, compliance, student success, and strategic initiatives.
• Create and maintain shared systems to track projects, deadlines, and staff responsibilities.
• Ensure consistent documentation of decisions, processes, and outcomes for transparency and continuity.
• Hold staff accountable for timely follow-through while fostering a supportive, collaborative, and professional work culture.
• Provide regular updates to the Dean on unit priorities, progress, and challenges.

Required Qualifications Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills :

Master's degree in international education, higher education administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience in international and global engagement.

35 years of progressively responsible experience in international higher education, including international student recruitment and admissions and immigration compliance.

23 years of leadership experience with programmatic and fiscal oversight.

Demonstrated commitment to advancing international student participation in campus life.

Broad knowledge of higher education internationalization strategies and best practices.

Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, university administrators, alumni, and external partners.

Eligibility and willingness to serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) and / or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) as required by federal regulations.

Proficiency with office technologies, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, email, and internet applications (Microsoft Office preferred).

Strong customer service skills and experience supporting a diverse constituency.

Experience in budget development and financial management.

Preferred Qualifications Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills :

Terminal degree in a relevant field (Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., M.D., D.O., D.V.M., or equivalent).

Demonstrated success in international student recruitment, enrollment management, and retention.

Demonstrated success in international student advising and compliance as a DSO and RO.

Experience with budget planning and resource management in a complex, decentralized research university.

Record of effective program development, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Evidence of strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results with accuracy and attention to detail.

The Successful Candidate Will :

Ability to navigate and lead within a complex, land-grant research university environment.

Capacity to build consensus, foster collaboration, and address challenges with creativity and sound judgment.

Skill in making timely, informed decisions while balancing the needs of diverse stakeholders.

Strength in prioritizing, tracking, and managing detailed information to ensure accountability and follow-through.

Practice of cultural humility in all interactions with international students and scholars, demonstrating respect, empathy, and a commitment to their success.

Position Special Requirements / Additional Information :

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

A requirement of this position is to become a Designated School Official (DSO) / Alternative Responsible Officer (ARO). To do so the applicant must be either a United States Citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States. See https : / / studyinthestates.dhs.gov / designated-school-official for more information.

Physical Demands :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? : Yes

Number of Vacancies : 1

Desired Start Date : Upon completion of a successful search

Applications will be :

Screening of applications will begin on November 3, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

EEO Statement :

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Required Documents :

Resume

Cover Letter

To apply, visit https : / / apptrkr.com / 6624780