Immigration Compliance Officer

Job Purpose

The post holder will be responsible for the development, implementation and management of the University’s immigration processes for staff under the direction of the Immigration Compliance Manager. This will require the post holder to take responsibility for the provision of advice to the University community in managing compliance with sponsor duties, supporting the development of systems and processes to enhance compliance and ensuring that appropriate documentation is obtained and effectively retained.

This will involve the following elements of accountability:

1. Process control and enhancement
2. Advising on immigration matters
3. Risk assessment and management
4. Enhancing institutional awareness and understanding of its sponsor obligations

Person Specification

The Advisor will have the following experience and personal qualities:

Qualifications

• An OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) or equivalent qualification

Skills and Experience

• Demonstrable experience of managing compliance with immigration duties, (with the ability to quickly develop a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures regarding immigration processes)
• Significant and demonstrable job-related experience of exercising initiative and judgement to identify and resolve daily problems within established processes and policies
• Demonstrable experience of using excellent oral communication and presentation skills to provide specialist advice, and direct and influence the actions of colleagues
• Significant and demonstrable experience of independently planning own work activities to determine priorities and ensure effective service delivery
• Be able to exercise discretion regarding the handling and management of sensitive information
• Good IT skills with a demonstrable experience focusing on developing systems and process to enable compliance monitoring and tracking of detailed individual information
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• A good team worker with the ability to work effectively with staff at different levels of the organisation.

1. Personal Characteristics

• A high degree of initiative, personal judgement, resourcefulness, flexibility and a self-motivating approach
• Demonstrable tenacity in ensuring compliance is achieved
• The ability to complete tasks based on only broad direction and with minimum supervision
• Enthusiasm and willingness to meet challenging demands, working to different people and deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy
• The post holder must inspire confidence and command authority with a range of colleagues including academic colleagues, University managers, and external contacts
• A strong interest in and understanding of key policy issues regarding immigration

2. Capabilities

Strategic Thinking and Perspective

• Demonstrates understanding of immigration legislation affecting HE and the impact on the University and how this applies to own work.
• Analyses complex information identifies problems, gaps and conflicts impacting on the University.

Organisational Understanding

• Demonstrates understanding of how the University operates and a sensitivity to its political and organisational priorities, and applies this to own work.

Communication

• Uses a range of communication skills and strategies to gain commitment to action or change.
• Expresses complex ideas coherently through a variety of media (especially in written form) and to a range of audiences
• Displays awareness of own impact and tact and diplomacy.

Working Collaboratively

• Demonstrates collaborative working, builds open, trusting and effective partnerships.
• Promotes knowledge sharing, assistance to others and constructive challenge as appropriate.

Performance and Resource Management

• Actively manages programmes of work and budgets to achieve quality standards and targets.
• A flexible approach with the ability to manage multiple tasks and changing priorities
• Ensures priorities are balanced, taking appropriate action to keep things on track.
• The ability to work with initiative, to take decisions and think creatively and laterally

Organisational Skills

• Ability to organise own time and prioritise activities.
• Manage and review calendar commitments and negotiate necessary rescheduling to maximise effective use of own time
• Ensure work is undertaken within the university governance