Senior Staff Immigration Adviser

University of Bath; Bath; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Employer contributory pension

Cycle to work scheme

Electric vehicle salary sacrifice

Job summary

The University of Bath is seeking a Senior Staff Immigration Adviser to lead the Staff Immigration Team within Human Resources. You will provide expert immigration guidance, oversee sponsorship activity and ensure UKVI compliance while supporting the university in attracting international talent.

You will supervise, develop compliance frameworks and training, and handle complex cases as part of a broader strategy to enhance the international staff experience. Prior HE experience is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience) and immigration training.
• Experience giving immigration advice with knowledge of UK immigration law.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with stakeholder management.
• Excellent organisation and ability to prioritise effectively.
• Higher education experience and international mobility knowledge is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the staff immigration service and provide expert advice.
• Oversee visa sponsorship activity and UKVI compliance.
• Develop compliance frameworks and training programmes.
• Manage complex casework and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to attract international talent.

Skills

Immigration advisory

UK immigration law

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Degree-level qualification / experience

Job description

Department Human Resources

Salary Starting from £39,560, rising to £46,970

The University of Bath is home to a vibrant international community of staff, researchers and visitors from across the world.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Staff Immigration Adviser to join our Human Resources team and help deliver a high-quality immigration service that enables talented people from around the globe to come to the UK, work at the University and continue their careers here.

Working closely with the Head of HR Operations and Staff Immigration, you will lead the delivery of the University's staff immigration service, providing expert advice on immigration and right to work matters, overseeing visa sponsorship activity, maintaining compliance with UKVI requirements and supporting the University's ability to attract and retain international talent.

You will also lead day to day operational activity within the Staff Immigration Team, supervise a Staff Immigration Adviser, develop compliance frameworks and training programmes, manage complex casework and contribute to strategic initiatives that enhance the international staff experience. As the University continues to expand its global reach through transnational education initiatives and international partnerships, an awareness of the potential immigration, mobility and compliance implications arising from these developments would be advantageous.

We recognise that immigration experience can be gained in many different settings. If you have experience in employment immigration, student immigration, another area of immigration practice, or a comparable regulatory or compliance environment, and enjoy helping people navigate complex requirements, we would love to hear from you.

About you

We are looking for someone who can combine specialist knowledge with excellent customer service and relationship-building skills. You will have:

• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent relevant experience) and relevant immigration training.
• Experience providing immigration advice and support, together with a sound understanding of UK immigration legislation, UKVI requirements and associated employment law.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interpret and explain complex information, exercise sound judgement, and resolve sensitive issues while building effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• A customer-focused approach, with a commitment to delivering a high-quality service and continuous improvement.

Experience of working within higher education, supporting international mobility and delivering training would be advantageous.

Join us and help ensure the University remains a welcoming destination for international talent while maintaining the highest standards of immigration compliance.

Further information

This role is offered on a full-time (36.5 hours per week) permanent basis. We operate a hybrid model with a minimum of one day a week on our Claverton Down campus.

Interviews will take place on 23/24 November.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Amy Vallender, Head of HR Operations & Staff Immigration ( [e-mail] ).

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equity and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:

• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff benefits include discounted postgraduate tuition and language courses, alongside a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities such as apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning, and more
• Local discounts, including free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Employee assistance services through Health Assured, including access to the Wisdom app

We're committed to creating a health-supporting working environment where everyone can thrive and be at their best. We offer a range of resources to enable you to do that from your first day here, including:

• Staff support groups and networks
• A network of Staff Wellbeing Champions
• A suite of tools, resources and frameworks that enable you to be at your best and thrive

Right to Work in the UK:We do not assess immigration or right to work status until offer stage. Being invited to interview does not guarantee you are eligible for visa sponsorship and all offers are conditional on meeting right to work requirements. Further information is available on our application support webpage.

Anonymous shortlisting:We are constantly seeking to reduce the unconscious bias that enters any assessment process, with the goal of creating an inclusive and equal assessment process. To support this, personal details such as your name, may be removed from application forms at the initial shortlisting stage.