Hr & Employment Immigration Specialist

Under the general direction of the Assistant Director, Divisional HR, we are seeking a Human Resources & Employment Immigration Specialist to support the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences (KSAS) by serving as a subject matter expert and liaison with the JHU Office of International Services (OIS) in obtaining and maintaining lawful non-immigrant status on behalf of new and current international faculty, staff, and student employees of the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. The HR Immigration Specialist functions as an advisor and client services partner and is responsible for developing key partnerships with leaders in departments, the school, and the university to maintain consistency with the overall strategy, commitment, and goals of the university, school, and human resources.
The HR & Employment Immigration Specialist provides support in the areas of extensions, renewals, transfers, permanent resident sponsorship, and applied technical knowledge to identify and confer appropriately on issues relating to employment law, policies, and procedures as they relate to foreign nationals, and to manage and coordinate communications between departments, employees, JHU administration, and prospective candidates.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
85% International Services Liaison

• Provides guidance and consultative support to international faculty, staff, postdoctoral students, and sponsoring departments on compliance issues, and reaches out to appropriate JHU offices on matters including visa adjustments, maintaining status, authorized travel, employment questions, transfers, changes of status, travel, and re-entry into the country.
• Serves as a liaison between OIS, sponsoring departments, international faculty, staff, postdoctoral students, and external immigration attorneys on immigration-related matters.
• Provides guidance and consultative support to sponsoring departments in the preparation, processing, and maintenance of documents in support of immigration sponsorship requests for J-1, H-1B, and permanent residence applications. Reviews and ensures that immigration sponsorship applications are submitted to OIS in an accurate and timely manner.
• Partners with Department Administrators for required Form I-9 compliance actions.
• Ensures sponsoring departments maintain compliance with OIS interpretation of federal immigration regulations and institutional policies and provides notification on any emergent immigration compliance concerns.
• Keeps abreast of US immigration law, updates, and trends and consults with OIS on potential impacts to KSAS personnel.
• Attends OIS training sessions and stays current on eProcess requirements.
• Ensures proper administration and compliance with relevant rules and regulations about international faculty, staff, and postdoctoral students engaged in university-related academic and/or research activity.

15% Administration

• Assists in the preparation of reports, including statistical data on international faculty, staff, and scholars, audits, and on-site reviews as required.
• Supports assigned departments by delivering HR services that are aligned with the needs of the unit.
• Administers a high level of independent judgment in providing a wide range of independent HR support for assigned departments including, but not limited to workforce planning, classification and compensation administration, training and development, performance management, talent acquisition, HR analytics, leave management, and diversity.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Understanding Employment Immigration as it relates to J-1 and H-1B non-immigrant visas, permanent residency sponsorship, and the hiring of foreign nationals in the U.S.
• Basic knowledge of applicable university infrastructure, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate in a cross-cultural environment with sensitivity to the diversity and complexity of international scholar and employee issues and concerns.
• Detail-oriented with superior multitasking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Must have tact and diplomacy; be flexible and professional at all times with sound judgment, discretion, and humor.
• High comfort level with working autonomously.
• Overall, strong computer skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office software.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree is required.
• Three year's experience as a paralegal, Immigration Specialist, or other related position with a focus on facilitating immigration processes and procedures with in-house and outside immigration professionals; preferably in a university setting.
• Experience working with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations governing non-immigrant students and/or foreign workers,
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience working with international students, faculty, and/or staff is preferred.

Classified Title: HR International Services Specialist
Job Posting Title (Working Title): HR & Employment Immigration Specialist
Role/Level/Range: ATP/03/PC
Starting Salary Range: Min $53,00 - Mid $73,400 - Max $93,500 Annually (Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus
Department name: Dean Office of
Personnel area: School of Arts & Sciences
Total Rewards
The referenced salary range is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:
JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.
**Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.
Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.
Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.
The following additional provisions may apply, depending on campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
Note: Job Postings are updated daily and remain online until filled.
Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
EEO is the Law:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
Hybrid