Assistant Dean Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Assistant Dean roles sit at the intersection of academic leadership and administrative authority, making them strong candidates for H-1B visa specialty occupation sponsorship. Universities routinely file LCAs for these positions, and the role's degree requirements align well with USCIS standards for professional classifications.
Find Assistant Dean JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 70+ Assistant Dean jobs










See all 70+ Assistant Dean Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Assistant Dean roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
INTRODUCTION
James Madison University’s Libraries is seeking a Senior Assistant to the Dean to provide excellent, proactive support for the Office of the Dean and JMU Libraries administration.
The Libraries welcomes applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to building equitable and welcoming environments. We are committed to encouraging dialogue, cultivating a sense of belonging, and celebrating a broad range of life experiences and perspectives.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will support the Office of the Dean and JMU Libraries administration, ensuring the smooth operation of Libraries administrative functions. They will manage organizational calendars and events, represent the organization to internal and external constituents, and prepare documents and reports for Libraries administrators. The successful candidate will manage and respond to campus inquiries on behalf of Libraries administration, as well as serve as an initial point of contact for employees and visitors to the Libraries administrative suite. They will work closely with Libraries administration on a wide variety of organizational and planning functions.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Evidence of strong interpersonal and customer-oriented communication skills, especially written communication
- Demonstrated commitment to building environments that are accessible and welcoming
- Demonstrated ability to act with a high degree of professionalism, including an ability to maintain confidentiality
- Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office products and calendaring
- Demonstrated ability to track multiple projects with tight deadlines with a high-level of attention to detail and accuracy
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Additional Considerations:
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment both independently and in collaboration with others
- Articulated enthusiasm for working in an active and engaging environment in support of faculty, students, and staff
COMPENSATION
- Pay Rate: Pay Range
- Specify Range or Amount: $45,739 - $48,500
WORKING CONDITIONS
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
EEO STATEMENT
James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.
We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.
Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.
See all 70+ Assistant Dean Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Assistant Dean roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Assistant Dean Jobs
Document your administrative scope precisely
Assistant Dean roles must clear the USCIS specialty occupation bar. Gather evidence that your position requires a specific bachelor's degree field, not just any degree, since broad administrative titles draw RFEs more often than narrowly defined academic leadership roles.
Target universities with cap-exempt H-1B status
Nonprofit universities and affiliated research institutions qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers, letting you skip the annual lottery entirely. Prioritize these institutions in your search so a sponsorship offer can move to filing at any point in the year.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring institutions
Filter your Assistant Dean job search on Migrate Mate to surface institutions with verified LCA filing history for academic administrator roles, so you spend your effort on employers already proven to sponsor rather than guessing from job postings.
Align your LCA prevailing wage before negotiating
Before accepting an offer, check the OFLC Wage Search for the prevailing wage tied to your job location and duties. The LCA must certify your offered salary meets that floor, and knowing the number ahead of negotiations prevents delays after the offer is extended.
Clarify PERM implications for EB-2 sponsorship early
Some universities sponsor Assistant Deans for permanent residence through EB-2, which requires PERM labor certification. Ask during the offer stage whether the institution has a formal green card sponsorship policy, since not all higher-ed employers extend PERM support beyond H-1B.
Prepare a faculty-versus-administrator role distinction memo
If your Assistant Dean duties blend academic oversight with instructional responsibilities, document the split clearly. USCIS treats faculty and administrative roles differently, and an ambiguous job description can slow adjudication or trigger a request for evidence mid-petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Assistant Dean positions qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates whether the role normally requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Assistant Dean positions typically require degrees in education administration, higher education, or a related discipline, satisfying the specialty occupation standard. Institutions with broad, generalist job descriptions occasionally receive RFEs, so a tightly written job duties statement strengthens the petition significantly.
Which universities are most likely to sponsor an Assistant Dean on a work visa?
Browse Assistant Dean listings on Migrate Mate to find institutions with verified sponsorship histories for academic administrator roles. Research universities, large private colleges, and community college systems with dedicated HR and international employment offices sponsor most consistently, since they have established legal counsel and existing LCA filing infrastructure in place.
Does a university need to go through the H-1B lottery to hire an Assistant Dean?
No, if the university qualifies as a cap-exempt employer. Nonprofit universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research institutions are exempt from the annual H-1B cap and lottery. This means your sponsoring employer can file an H-1B petition for you at any time during the year, without waiting for the April registration window or a lottery selection.
What degree do you need to qualify for an Assistant Dean visa sponsorship?
USCIS looks for a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in a field directly related to the job duties. For Assistant Dean roles, that typically means higher education administration, student affairs, educational leadership, public administration, or a subject area matching the specific college or division you'd oversee. A general business or unrelated degree may not satisfy the specialty occupation requirement without additional documentation.
Can an Assistant Dean position support a green card application?
Yes, though it depends on the institution's internal policy. Universities that sponsor H-1B holders for Assistant Dean roles may also support EB-2 or EB-3 green card petitions through PERM labor certification, which requires DOL to certify that no qualified U.S. workers are available for the role. Some institutions also evaluate EB-1A or EB-2 NIW eligibility for senior academic administrators with significant research or policy contributions.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Assistant Dean jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.