International Student Specialist

Applicants must include a cover letter with resume - resumes received without a cover letter will NOT be considered.

Candidates must be a current member in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).

Preference to candidates fluent in written and spoken French who are RCIC members with work experience in a post-secondary environment.

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA). 

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page .

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Department Summary

University of Alberta International is seeking a dynamic and motivated individual for the position of International Student Specialist. The International Student Specialist delivers services and programs that:

Provide immigration advice to students, faculties and administrators. Advice may be related to individual cases or to policy issues and university procedures.

Facilitate the arrival and settlement of international students such that they are able to accomplish their academic, personal and professional objectives.

Enhance University community members’ skills when working with international students.

Services and programs are provided to degree and non-degree students and delivered in a complex intercultural environment with over 8000 students from approximately 155 countries.

Duties

• Advises students on immigration issues by consulting, researching, and interpreting immigration legislation and regulations to guide students to the best course of action to facilitate their entry to Canada and mitigate risk to the University by ensuring that students are in compliance with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) requirements
• Advises employers about immigration legislation as it relates to temporary resident categories
• Advises faculty and staff on issues with respect to individual student cases (issues might include immigration, settlement, finances, communication, and health insurance)
• Advises students on issues including settlement concerns, academic preparedness, and other personal issues and assists students in resolving these issues, mediates on behalf of students or refers students to on campus and off campus services as appropriate
• Advocates on and represents students with IRCC as required to resolve problems a student might have with their immigration status that prevents them from studying at the University of Alberta or working in Canada during or after their studies. This includes actions covered by the federal Use of Representative form and Consent for an Access to Information and Personal Information Request.
• Assesses international students’ needs, establishes priorities, and designs programs to best meet these needs within defined fiscal resources.
• Coaches international students on topics ranging from cultural adaptation, academic expectations, oral English language fluency, and cross cultural-learning strategies.
• Conducts advising within an intercultural context, taking into consideration the values and the English language proficiency of the student
• Consults with off-campus agencies to clarify policies with respect international students and provides this information to UofA administration and/or the community
• Consults with regulatory agencies and other federal affiliates about compliance audits and maintaining membership in good standing
• Counsels on interpersonal and settlement issues such as isolation and integration that affect an individual’s career as a student and their life in Canada
• Designs programs to facilitate interaction and learning between Canadian and international students and provides all participants (students and volunteers) the opportunity of enhancing their intercultural competencies
• Develops advising materials, including immigration materials, to ensure they are accurate and current, and updates communications to students
• Develops and teaches intercultural communication education/training programs for students, staff, and faculty
• Establishes and maintains working relationships with service providers on and off-campus to effectively meet the needs of students
• Establishes procedures for compliance with government regulations as related to international students
• Identifies emerging issues in the international student community and leads the development of innovative programs to respond to these emerging issues
• Informs and advises students on financial concerns, and when necessary, disburses emergency funds
• Supervises temporary staff, normally full-time during May to August and part-time the remainder of the year
• Prepares budget estimates for annual programming expenses and be accountable for meeting programming objectives within the approved budget
• Provides language and cultural interpretations to faculty, staff, and students, including working with the Dean of Students’ offices on student of concern cases
• Recruit, train, and evaluate volunteers for programs and initiatives if that is a determined component of a program
• Research content relevant to the settlement of international students including immigration, tax, insurance, health and wellness, and University regulations and expectations
• Responds immediately to students in crisis.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have a university degree in a related discipline and professional designation as a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or certification as a Regulated International Student Immigration Adviser (RISIA)
• A minimum of three years of related experience
• Knowledge in the following areas: issues facing international students, intercultural communication theory and practices, international education systems and education cultures and student development theories
• Excellent advising, problem solving, interviewing and communication (particularly intercultural) skills
• Strong interpersonal skills such that service is delivered to a diverse client group with affirmation and respect
• Leadership and group facilitation skills
• Organization and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
• Computer proficiency in word-processing, presentation software, spreadsheets, databases, online interaction platforms, client management software, email, social media and research skills
• Informed about the latest developments in Canadian policy including current immigration regulations, guidelines and policies, especially as they relate to students
• Understanding of U of A policies and procedures, and IRCC regulations pertaining to international students
• Program planning, implementation and evaluation skills
• Strong understanding of the Canadian post-secondary environments and demonstrated ability to assist students in achieving their academic, personal and professional goals
• Demonstrated experiential knowledge about the needs and academic cultures of diverse populations
• Human relations skills such as managing, supervising and mentoring volunteers and staff
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Fluency in written and spoken French preferred

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.