University of Minnesota · 11 hours ago
Program Director for International Sponsored Student Programs
Minneapolis, MN
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
4+ years expThe University of Minnesota is a prominent public research university, seeking a Program Director for International Sponsored Student Programs. This role provides strategic leadership and support services for over 40 international sponsors and 300 sponsored students, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and enhancing the student experience.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Develop, implement, and evaluate multi-year strategic plans in consultation with the ISSS Director and Associate Director to enhance the international sponsored student portfolio and to align it with ISSS and University goals
Analyze global trends to forecast enrollment, assess the needs of sponsors, and identify opportunities for adapting program offerings and support structures
Design and update policies that strengthen the sponsored student program while ensuring the University’s strict adherence to federal regulations and individual sponsorship mandates
Audit and adapt administrative processes annually to increase efficiency and effectiveness
Represent the University as the primary point of contact for sponsoring organizations such as foreign governments, U.S. federal agencies, NGOs, and corporate partners
Research and cultivate new partnerships, including traveling to meet with sponsoring organizations to align their missions with University programs
Develop and execute communication strategies to inform internal University stakeholders of the benefits, trends, and requirements of the sponsored student population
Collaborate with internal stakeholders on the development of hosting proposals, negotiate complex contracts, and implement recruitment plans that highlight the University’s robust support infrastructure to prospective sponsoring agencies
Participate in sponsoring agency recruitment events, including fairs and conferences
Supervise 1 FTE with joint responsibility in the Sponsored Student Programs and the Exchange Student Program
Lead the overall sponsored student workflow; establish clear roles, embed consistent procedures based on policies, coordinate process improvements, and provide specialized guidance as needed to a cross-functional team of ISSS staff
Manage the ISSS Sponsored Financial Support funds, including forecasting, disbursement, and ongoing fund monitoring
Collaborate with sponsorship placement offices, University offices, and academic departments to recommend allocation of annual financial support funds. Generate final decisions in collaboration with the ISSS Director to ensure compliance and financial stability
Lead the Sponsored Student Financial Working Group to streamline billing with the University’s Third Party Billing office, Boynton Health insurance coverage, and student account processes
Oversee the data management plan (utilizing Sunapsis and other tools) to track academic compliance with sponsoring agencies across undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree levels
Serve on committees to represent the Sponsored Student perspective as needed
Coordinate sponsored student events, presentations, orientations, and services with the Assistant Director of Exchange and Sponsored Students and the New Student Transition Team
Interpret and convey intricate scholarship rules and University policies to students, academic departments, external agencies, and internal ISSS staff
Partner with Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions to facilitate the application process and monitor the academic progress of students each semester to ensure sponsorship requirements are met
Serve as a subject matter expert for colleges, departments, and ISSS staff regarding the specific nuances of sponsored student support and sponsor compliance, including application, admission, registration, academic advising, and student life requirements, including health insurance and work regulations
Monitor the academic progress of sponsored students and coordinate information sharing with the sponsoring organization while maintaining privacy and confidentiality laws
Liaise with the ISSS Crisis Team and sponsoring organizations to manage sensitive student emergencies or student conduct issues
Supervise the Assistant Director for Exchange and Sponsored Programs
Provide ongoing feedback and conduct annual performance reviews for staff
Serve as a resource and a first line of consultation on complex cases
Guide supervisees' workload, clarify responsibilities, and schedules. Meet regularly to review how the work and special projects are going and what changes/updates need to be made
Review and approve professional development requests; pre-approve and approve final professional development reimbursements
Qualification
Required
BA/BS degree in higher education, counseling, international education, or related field plus at least six years of relevant experience, or master's degree in higher education, counseling, international education, or related field plus at least four years of relevant experience
Experience collaborating with departments, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and students to ensure successful placement and retention of sponsored students
Significant experience with managing complex funding distribution and tracking financial agreements
Demonstrated experience with strategic thinking and advanced problem-solving in managing complex institutional relationships with sponsoring agencies
Familiarity with student record systems (e.g., Sunapsis, PeopleSoft) and federal reporting requirements
Ability to work effectively with individuals from varied administrative, academic, cultural, religious, national, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds
Strong interpersonal communication skills, both oral and written
Ability to assume responsibility and to work with minimum guidance
Preferred
High level of knowledge of higher education, policies, and procedures
Ability to manage complex financial forecasting and develop multi-year strategic plans
Proven skills in supporting sponsored students with concerns and navigating institutional resources
Experience with collaborating with staff and departments to properly advise sponsored students
A proven track record of providing sponsored student services that prioritize well-being, academic retention, and sponsoring agency compliance
ARO and DSO immigration advising experience
Company
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota is an educational institution that offers master's and doctoral degrees in medicine, law, and engineering fields.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Minnesota has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (298)
2024 (240)
2023 (289)
2022 (215)
2021 (201)
2020 (185)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$97.08MKey Investors
American Academy of Orthopaedic SurgeonsNational Science FoundationU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2023-12-01Grant· $0.03M
2023-05-04Grant· $20M
2023-04-13Grant· $10M
Leadership Team
Shane Stennes
Chief Sustainability Officer
Recent News
Company data provided by crunchbase