Immigration Compliance Officer

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 one of the most prosperous and beautiful areas of the country.

We are seeking a proactive and detail oriented Immigration Compliance Officer to join our Student Immigration Team. This role is integral to ensuring the University's compliance with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) sponsorship requirements and supporting our international student community.

You will have strong analytical and communication skills, experience of managing and auditing data against regulatory requirements and the ability to explain complex compliance obligations to a range of 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.

We are committed to attracting and engaging a diverse range of staff and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome, comfortable to express their ideas, and can reach their full potential. For more information, please visit Our Diverse Workforce pages.

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Student Immigration Team Lead

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No supervisory responsibility

PURPOSE OF POST: Ensuring the University's compliance with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) sponsorship requirements and supporting our international student community.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Home Office immigration legislation and UKVI policy developments, assessing their impact on institutional compliance and advising accordingly.

Review and update immigration compliance policies, procedures and guidance to ensure they remain aligned with regulatory requirements.

Provide clear and accurate advice to students and staff on Student visa compliance responsibilities, ensuring they understand what is conveyed to them.

Monitor changes in sponsored student circumstances and ensure that all reportable events are accurately recorded and submitted through the UKVI Sponsor Management System (SMS).

Coordinate and conduct Right to Study checks for international students at key enrolment periods, maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with sponsor obligations.

Assist in internal compliance audits to evaluate adherence to Student sponsor requirements and identify areas for improvement.

Work collaboratively with academic and professional services colleagues to raise awareness of immigration compliance requirements, providing training, guidance and support.

Collate, analyse and report on compliance data and key performance indicators, supporting the University's annual Home Office Basic Compliance Assessment and wider regulatory reporting requirements.

Undertake additional duties as required which are commensurate with the responsibilities and level of the role.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge and skills

• Ability to research, understand and interpret complicated regulations and procedures and explain these in a clear and effective manner.

• Knowledge of audit processes and compliance monitoring activities.

• Ability to keep accurate and up to date records and maintain confidentiality.

• Competent in the use and interpretation of database and spreadsheet information.

Experience

• Relevant experience in Compliance, Quality Assurance or Immigration related work in the UK.

• Experience of analysing complex information to inform advice and guidance.

• Experience of being involved in audits (internal or external).

• Experience of monitoring, maintaining and auditing data against established procedures, policies or regulatory requirements.

• Experience of identifying process improvements and contributing to changes in procedures or systems.

• Experience of managing conflicting deadlines and organising your own workload to meet deadlines in a busy environment.

• Experience of collating and presenting information to a group of students or staff.

 

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Experience

• Experience working in Higher Education

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