Compliance Officer - Immigration

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University is an innovative, impactful and inclusive University with an established track record of success in teaching and research, student satisfaction and graduate employability, set amidst a stunning riverside Campus. o

Are you interested in pursuing a career in higher education in a compliance role that involves close collaboration with Home Office regulations? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you as an Immigration Compliance Officer in our Student Immigration Team?

We are looking for a diligent and enthusiastic individual to join a friendly team, which supports all aspects of administration relating to International Students. Your role will be crucial in ensuring that the university complies with all UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) sponsorship duties.

This is a pivotal moment to join the Student Immigration Team as we are implementing a new attendance and engagement monitoring system, upgrading our student query tool and conducting a thorough review of our policies and procedures.

You will have strong customer service skills, be familiar with inputting, monitoring and auditing data against specific regulations, with the ability to explain these changes to key stakeholders.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week and also benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits. 

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. For more information visit: https://www.mygov.scot/basic-disclosure/

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO:  Student Immigration Team Manager

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No supervisory responsibility

PURPOSE OF THE POST:

Responsible for assisting with the coordination of and proactively ensuring the University's compliance with UKVI Student Visa sponsor duties. This role also supports and assists the International Student Advisers as appropriate.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

To maintain current knowledge of Home Office immigration legislation and associated UKVI policy and procedural changes and advise Student Immigration Team Manager of impact to immigration compliance.

To update policy documents to reflect changes in immigration legislation and associated UKVI policy and procedures.

To advise and provide guidance to students regarding Student visa immigration compliance requirements and responsibilities.

To regularly monitor and review changes in sponsored student circumstances and report via UKVI Sponsor Management System (SMS).

To organise and conduct right to study checks with all international students at enrolment in September and January.

To plan and conduct internal compliance audits to ensure Student visa sponsor duties are rigorously adhered to.

To liaise and provide awareness raising, guidance and training to academics, administrators and other internal departments regarding visa enquiries and attendance monitoring.

To collate, analyse and report on data related to Student visa core requirements and key performance indicators for annual Home Office Basic Compliance Assessment.

Any other relevant duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post and as required by the Student Immigration Team Manager.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

First Degree or equivalent experience.

Knowledge/Skills

Strong record keeping skills and attention to detail

Ability to interpret and understand sponsor duties.

Experience

Experience of working in a compliance or quality assurance environment.

Experience of analysing complex information to inform advice and guidance.

Experience of collating and presenting management information (written and verbal).

Experience of engaging with the wider context with an interest in law, politics and immigration.

 

 

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

OISC* trained Adviser fully /partially trained in Student Visa Licence compliance.

(* The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner)

Knowledge and Experience

Significant knowledge of student visas, in particular Student visa and associated legal and reporting requirements.

Significant knowledge of UKVI Student Visa Sponsor Guidance and Student Visa Policy Guidance and associated KPIs.

Experience of working in a relevant background such as: higher education / legal / immigration / UKVI / Borders Agency /enforcement.

Behaviours

Behaviour 1: Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner

Behaviour 2: Service Delivery - Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customers’ expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards

Behaviour 3: Decision Making - Experience of using own judgement to make decisions, making collaborative decisions with others to reach conclusions and providing advice or information that will influence the decisions of others

Behaviour 4: Initiative and Problem Solving - Experience of resolving new problems where there is information or diverse, partial and conflicting data with a range of potential suitable options