Sam Houston State University

Director of Global Engagement Center

Sam Houston State University$80K — $100K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in a related field required; Master's Degree preferred.
  • 5+ years of experience in international student recruitment and enrollment.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing strategies for international student recruitment.
  • Knowledge of F-1 student regulations and SEVIS processes is required.
  • Experience as Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) or Responsible Officer (RO) preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement an international student recruitment and enrollment plan.
  • Identify key international markets and create data-informed recruitment strategies.
  • Build and manage partnerships with international recruitment agencies and other organizations.
  • Collaborate with campus partners for targeted recruitment campaigns.
  • Oversee international student documentation and ensure compliance with immigration regulations.
  • Lead Study Abroad programs and advance global partnerships for student opportunities.
  • Manage budget, scholarship administration, and global engagement initiatives.

Benefits

  • Flexible remote work opportunities up to 40% during off-peak periods.
  • Engagement in strategic leadership initiatives at a university level.
  • Opportunity to shape global engagement strategies in higher education.
Full Job Description
Posting Details

Posting Information
This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.

Requisition


Title
Director of Global Engagement Center

FLSA status
Exempt

Hiring Salary

Commensurate with education and experience.

Department
Office of the Provost

Division
Division of Academic Affairs

Open Date
08/18/2026

Open Until Filled
Yes

Educational and Experience Requirement

Bachelor's Degree in a related field. Master's Degree preferred. Five years of progressively responsible experience in international education, international student recruitment and enrollment, international admissions, and immigration services. Demonstrated experience developing or managing strategies to recruit and enroll international students is required. Experience working with international recruitment agencies, educational representatives, sponsoring organizations, institutional partners, or other international recruitment channels is strongly preferred. Knowledge of F-1 student regulations, SEVIS processes, and Form I-20 processing is required. Experience as a Principal Designated School Official (PDSO, F-1) and Responsible Officer (RO, J-1) is highly preferred. Works collaboratively with Human Resources, hiring departments, university counsel, and external immigration counsel, as applicable, to facilitate timely and compliant processing of H-1B petitions and other university-sponsored employment-based immigration matters. Knowledge of federal immigration regulations and procedures related to F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and employment-based immigration is highly desired. Experience coordinating or processing H-1B petitions and other employment-based immigration matters in a higher education environment is preferred. Additional education may be considered in lieu of experience.

Nature & Purpose of Position

The Director of the Global Engagement Center provides strategic leadership for Sam Houston State University's international student recruitment, enrollment, immigration services, and global engagement initiatives. The Director's primary responsibility is to develop and execute strategies that significantly increase international student enrollment, including building and managing international recruitment pipelines, developing relationships with recruitment agencies and international representatives, identifying and cultivating institutional partnerships, coordinating international recruitment activities, and improving the conversion of international prospects and applicants to enrolled students.

The Director oversees the international student enrollment process from recruitment through matriculation and ensures timely and effective processing of immigration documentation, including Forms I-20 and other required documentation for international students. As the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) for the university, the Director leads institutional compliance and provides expertise and leadership to staff responsible for international student services.

The Director leads the continued development of onboarding, support, and engagement structures that promote international student retention, success, and integration into the university community. The Director also oversees Study Abroad programs, including support for faculty-led program development and recruitment, and advances global partnerships and international educational opportunities consistent with university priorities.

Primary Responsibilities

Responsible for the development, implementation, and continuous assessment of a comprehensive international student recruitment and enrollment plan designed to increase international applications, admissions, and enrollment. Identifies and prioritizes key international markets and develops data-informed recruitment strategies based on enrollment potential, academic program demand, institutional capacity, and evolving global market conditions. Leads efforts to expand international student pipelines, strengthen global partnerships, and align recruitment initiatives with institutional enrollment goals.

Develops, manages, and maintains partnerships with international recruitment agencies, educational representatives, sponsoring organizations, secondary schools, universities, governmental entities, and other partners that can create sustainable international student pipelines to SHSU. Establishes expectations, performance measures, and accountability mechanisms for recruitment agencies and representatives and evaluates effectiveness based on applications, enrollment, student quality, and compliance. Represents SHSU in international recruitment activities, including recruitment fairs, agency events, virtual recruitment, institutional visits, and other enrollment initiatives.

Collaborates with campus partners to develop targeted international recruitment campaigns and promote SHSU academic programs to international audiences. Manages and evaluates the international enrollment funnel from prospect through matriculation, including inquiries, applications, admissions, immigration-document processing, visa progression, and enrollment. Works collaboratively with academic and student-support units to build scalable support structures for international students. Uses enrollment data and market intelligence to identify barriers, forecast enrollment, evaluate recruitment effectiveness, and improve applicant conversion and yield.

Oversees the processing of international student documentation required for issuance of Forms I-20 and other immigration-related documents. Ensures efficient processes for moving admitted international students from admission through documentation, visa preparation, arrival, and enrollment. Maintains university compliance with federal and state regulations governing institutions approved to host international students, including the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).Provides leadership and accountability as the institution's Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO), directing SEVIS operations, immigration compliance, institutional certification and recertification, and the management of required student and exchange visitor records.

Oversees university Study Abroad activities and supports faculty-led international program development and recruitment. Develops and maintains international institutional partnerships, articulation arrangements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and other agreements that support student recruitment, mobility, academic collaboration, and global engagement. Works with faculty and administrators to identify international partnerships that create meaningful enrollment, academic, and experiential opportunities.

Provides strategic leadership for international student services, including budget development and management, scholarship administration, compliance, international travel approvals, personnel actions, and global engagement initiatives. Establishes and monitors key performance indicators for enrollment growth, operational effectiveness, fiscal stewardship, regulatory compliance, and student success in support of the university's internationalization goals.

Other Specifications

Involves contacts with various government agencies, international recruitment agencies and representatives, sponsoring organizations, educational institutions, professional organizations, on-campus committees, administrators, faculty, students, and staff. Establishes and maintains contacts with university departments and personnel, external agencies, and international partners and individuals as required. Requires the ability to develop and manage external relationships, analyze enrollment and recruitment performance, exercise sound judgment regarding immigration and regulatory matters, and represent the university effectively in domestic and international settings. University policies govern area of responsibility.

This position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA).

Up to 40% of this position, over the fiscal year during off-peak periods, may be performed remotely as determined by the supervisor.

Full Time Part Time
Full Time

Position Number

Quicklink
https://shsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/48297

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

About Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is a public university in Huntsville, Texas. It was founded in 1879 and is the third-oldest public college or university in Texas. The university is named after Sam Houston, who made his home in the city and is buried there. SHSU is a member of the Texas State University System and has an enrollment of more than 21,000 students.
Learn more about Sam Houston State University
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