Visa Manager - Cultural Vistas

Job Description

Who We Are

The Global Talent Development team provides visa sponsorship to Interns, Trainees, Teachers, and Research Scholars coming to the United States as part of the Department of State’s BridgeUSA program. Through rigorous application evaluations, we extend J-1 Visa sponsorship, help develop robust training opportunities, monitor in-country programs, maintain participant SEVIS records, support program participants hailing from 100 countries, and manage relationships with over 900 partners and U.S. companies hosting these participants. We aim to deliver impactful, safe, and compliant programs. We work toward welcoming new partnerships and expanding existing relationships to help further Cultural Vistas’ goals and the impact of international exchange.

Who You Are

• To be successful in this job, you must be a highly organized, detail-oriented, critical-thinker. You must have strong written and verbal cross-cultural communication skills and must feel comfortable engaging with corporate clients and partners.
• You must be a supportive supervisor who is a self-starter who creatively problem-solves and likes to take initiative. You must be comfortable and thoughtful when mentoring others and when managing sporadic periods of a high volume of competing priorities.
• While this job can be performed fully remotely, proximity to Washington, DC or the DMV region is a plus.

What You’ll Do

• Your job will be overseeing and growing critical company clients and partners who utilize Cultural Vistas for J-1 Visa sponsorship of their exchange visitors in the Intern, Trainee, and Research Scholar categories. You will ensure major client needs are met and addressed in a timely manner. You will also provide regular touch points with major clients to ensure open communication and to explore new opportunities for collaboration. 
• You will play a key role in ensuring successful implementation of the necessary operations for Cultural Vistas high profile partner, the University of Waterloo. This includes preparing or updating communications, ensuring we’re moving applications for sponsorship through the pipeline, and maintaining regular communication with the university contact. 
• As an Alternate Responsible Officer, you will lend visa expertise to Visa Specialists and will help ensure compliance by providing education and direction to your direct reports. You will serve as a decision maker for escalated visa issues. 
• You will oversee Visa Specialists and Program Assistants and will report to the Director of Operations.
• Click Here for a link to the full job description.

Applications will be reviewed beginning January 6, 2025. Any application after that date will be reviewed as needed. 

Company Description

Cultural Vistas equips global leaders with the skills needed to solve complex challenges through professional and intercultural experiences. Founded in 1963, our international exchange non-profit organization has nurtured over 150,000 alumni working to build international connections in more than 130 countries around the world. At Cultural Vistas, we envision a world where experiential learning opportunities foster a shared understanding and appreciation of diversity, equity, and cultural exchange.      

Rising global conflicts require a renewed focus on creating developmental opportunities—equipping individuals with skills to bridge deep divides and advance civil society around the world. Cultural Vistas addresses these challenges by implementing a unique portfolio of compelling intercultural exchange programs designed to deliver a lasting and measurable impact on participants.   

Our global community includes world leaders, community activists, and professionals across many industries. Cultural Vistas believes that exposure to different cultures, languages, and people promotes mutual understanding and shared solutions. These experiences transform participants into problem solvers who value diversity, are agile decision-makers and are more adept at building global, cross-sector networks.  

Cultural Vistas maintains a dynamic team across the globe with physical offices in Washington, DC and Berlin, Germany. Learn more at culturalvistas.org. 

Benefits

Time

• 20 PTO Days/year 
  • Given up front (not accrued)
  • Pro-rated first year, balance increases after 3 years of employment
• 6 Sick Days/year
  • Given up front (not accrued)
  • Pro-rated first year
• 12 paid holidays/year 1 Floating Holiday
• 35-Hour Workweek 
  • Flexible Work Arrangement (7.75 hours x 5 days OR 8.5 hours x 4 days and 4 hours x 1 day)

Development 

• Certification Reimbursement ($1,000/year after 1 year of employment)
• Tuition Reimbursement ($2,000/year after 1 year of employment)
• Kudos Employee Recognition System (with Amazon Gift Card Rewards)
• Quarterly Spot Awards (3 employees/quarter, $750/employee)
• Professional Development Opportunities
  • Access to Nonprofit Ready (Online professional learning platform)

Wellness

• Medical Insurance – 3 plan options: Cultural Vistas covers employee costs 85%-95%
• Dental Insurance: Cultural Vistas covers employee cost 90%
• Vision Insurance: Cultural Vistas covers employee cost 60%
• Life Insurance – Cultural Vistas covers employee costs 100%
• Short-Term Disability Insurance – Cultural Vistas covers employee costs 100%
• Long-Term Disability Insurance – Cultural Vistas covers employee costs 100%
• AD&D Insurance – Cultural Vistas covers employee costs 100%
• Accident Protection Plan
• Hospital Indemnity Protection Plan
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent FSA
• Physical Health and Wellness Reimbursement - $100/year
• Free gym access in the DC office

Financial 

• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan (100% of the first 2% of compensation after one year of employment)
• Pretax Commuter Benefits
• $250 one-time allowance for home office expenses
• $45/month to off-set communications expenses (phone/internet bills – reimbursed quarterly)
• Annual year-end salary increases based on market and merit (COLA and performance) if hired before Sept 15 of the prior year (all salaries are benchmarked to the Washington, DC nonprofit market)