| Location | Huntsville, TX |
Posting Details
Come and join the Bearkat community!
Named after Texas' legendary hero, General Sam Houston, the university boasts a rich historical legacy that resonates with the spirit of Texas, which provides a balance between a peaceful, natural setting and proximity to urban amenities. With a student population of over 21,000, SHSU offers a vibrant and dynamic community. SHSU has a small town feel with large scale opportunities. Located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas and just an hour drive north of Houston, Huntsville provides area residents with a sense of community and belonging.
SHSU offers compelling options for individuals seeking a fulfilling and impactful career including a superior benefit package, competitive salaries and a flexible work environment fostering work/life balance. SHSU offers programs that support a healthy work-life balance, contributing to employee well-being and job satisfaction, as well as, professional development opportunities with our educational assistance and dependent assistance programs.
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 202600028ES 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
EEO Statement
EEO Statement
Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or protected veteran status. The University takes seriously the initiative to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce and to comply with Title VII as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Sam Houston State University is an "at will" employer. Employees with a contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security-sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance with Education Code §51.215.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Optional Documents
Screening Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
The Chronicle of Higher Education
TWC - Work in Texas
Inside Higher Ed
Higher Ed Jobs
HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
SHSU Website
SHSU Employee
Other
If your response to the question above was "SHSU Employee" please indicate employee's name and department.
(Open Ended Question)
(Open Ended Question)
(Open Ended Question)