Immigration Counsel

Research Foundation of The City University of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York seeks an Immigration Counsel to provide legal, compliance, and strategic guidance within HR and Legal Affairs, focusing on employment-based immigration and related contracts. This position reports to the Chief Human Resources Officer and collaborates with the Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel.

You will independently manage a portfolio of ~100 active immigration cases annually, advise on policy and timelines, draft and negotiate

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and active U.S. bar license.
• 3+ years of employment-based immigration law with hands-on filing.
• Active license to practice law; NY in-house counsel registration within six months.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end preparation and filing of complex employment-based petitions (H-1B, O-1, EB-1, EB-2 NIW, PERM, TN, E-3) for ~100 active cases annually.
• Docketing, case records, and compliance with DOL Public Access Files (PAFs).
• Serve as primary contact for Principal Investigators, international researchers, RF-CUNY employees and staff.
• Advise on legal issues, review internal contracts, and advise on governance matters.
• Draft, review, revise and negotiate employment agreements; handle investigations and disputes with outside counsel.

Skills

Independent case management

Prioritization

Stakeholder diplomacy

Integrity & discretion

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Mitratech (TrackerCorp/INSZoom)

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Provide legal, compliance, and strategic guidance within both the Research Foundation Human Resources and Legal Affairs Departments. This position advises on a broad range of institutional matters, with a primary focus on employment-based immigration and a secondary focus on employment law and general RF business contracts. As the primary attorney responsible for employment-based immigration matters, the Immigration Counsel will independently manage a portfolio of approximately 100 active immigration cases annually, overseeing case preparation, documentation, filing, compliance, and case management. The position requires a hands-on legal professional capable of managing complex immigration matters from initial assessment through final resolution while providing strategic legal guidance to institutional stakeholders. This position reports directly to the Chief Human Resources Officer with a dotted-line supervisory relationship to the Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel. The position works closely with the Assistant Director of Human Resources for Personnel Services on immigration-related employment matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Full Immigration Employment Case Ownership: Manage and execute the end-to-end preparation, drafting, and filing of complex employment-based petitions (including Cap-Exempt H-1B, O-1, EB-1, EB-2 NIW, PERM, TN, and E-3) for approximately 100 active cases per year.
• Docketing & Compliance: Independently monitor case deadlines, maintain meticulous immigration case records, and ensure institutional compliance with Department of Labor (DOL) Public Access Files (PAFs).
• Advisory: Serve as the primary source of contact for Principal Investigators, international researchers, RFCUNY employees, administrators, and CUNY personnel regarding case status, document requests, and processing timelines.
• Business Contracts & Policies: Advise Research Foundation senior executives or other staff on legal issues to identify and respond strategically to legal risks, review internal agreements, and advise on corporate governance matters.
• Employment Law: Advising the Human Resources Office as needed on issues such as investigations, discipline and termination; draft, review, revise and negotiate employment agreements; oversee employment-related complaints proceedings and litigation; work with outside counsel as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES:

• Independent Case Management: Demonstrated ability to independently manage a substantial immigration caseload, balancing strategic legal analysis with comprehensive case preparation, documentation, regulatory compliance, and timely filing.
• Prioritization & Autonomy: Proven capacity to manage an independent caseload efficiently without administrative oversight.
• Stakeholder Diplomacy: Ability to communicate complex federal regulations clearly and respectfully to university leadership, faculty, and foreign nationals.
• Integrity & Discretion: Exceptional judgment when handling sensitive personal data and institutional liabilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Experience: 3+ years of practicing employment-based immigration law with a demonstrable track record of preparing and filing your own forms.
• Licensure: Active license to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction; must obtain in-house counsel registration in New York State within six (6) months

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior legal experience working directly with foreign nationals within a U.S. higher education or research institution environment.
• Proficiency with Mitratech immigration case management software (TrackerCorp / INSZoom) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Familiarity with higher education immigration nuances, including cap-exempt H-1B regulations and J-1 visa rules.
• Strong research and analytical skills applied to evolving USCIS, DOL, and NVC procedures.