Manager - Centralized Immigration

thyssenkrupp; Troy (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology is seeking a Manager - Centralized Immigration to lead U.S. immigration matters across North America. You will establish a centralized, compliant framework and serve as the single accountable owner for program governance.

You will partner with HR leaders, Legal, external counsel, Finance, and executive leadership to drive strategy, dashboards, and renewal monitoring while ensuring adherence to USCIS and related regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; HR, business, legal studies or related field.
• 5-8+ years in employment-based immigration management.
• Experience with multi-state corporate structures and external counsel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement centralized immigration management across North America.
• Establish standardized policies, workflows, and documentation protocols.
• Ensure alignment with governance and global mobility standards.
• Provide executive visibility into immigration population risk and sponsorship exposure.
• Coordinate with external counsel on all sponsorship processes (H-1B, L-1, TN, PERM, I-140, I-485, etc).
• Monitor USCIS, DOL, DHS regulations and oversee I-9 compliance and audits.
• Maintain data with strict confidentiality and govern vendor relationships.

Skills

Immigration compliance

Policy development

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

I-9 compliance

Data dashboards

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Legal Studies, or related field

Master's degree or HR certification preferred

Tools

Dashboard software (Power BI)

Tracking systems

Job description

thyssenkrupp is an international industrial and technology group with more than 93,000 employees. In the fiscal year 2024/2025, the company generated sales of around €33 billion in 48 countries. Its business activities are bundled in five segments: Automotive Technology, Decarbon Technologies, Materials Services, Steel Europe and Marine Systems. With extensive technological know-how, outstanding engineering competence and a high level of innovative strength, the group develops solutions for the challenges of the future, especially in the fields of climate protection and energy transition, digital transformation in industry and mobility of the future.

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology

Our portfolio includes chassis technologies like steering and damping systems, axle assembly, and powertrain components for both traditional and alternative engines. We also develop body-in-white assembly systems and produce lightweight car body parts.

We cover the full value chain, from development and manufacturing to mechanical processing and system integration. Mechatronic solutions with in-house electronics and software are becoming increasingly central.

With strong technical expertise and a global footprint, we're a trusted partner delivering real value to our customers.

Your responsibilities

The Manager - Centralized Immigration is responsible for leading and governing all U.S. employment-based immigration matters across North America through a centralized, enterprise-wide model. This role ensures compliance, risk mitigation, operational efficiency, and strategic workforce planning related to visa sponsorship and global mobility.

The position replaces a decentralized immigration coordination structure with a standardized, compliant, and scalable framework. The Manager will serve as the single point of accountability for immigration program administration and governance, partnering closely with Business Unit HR leaders, external immigration counsel, global HR teams, Legal, Finance, and executive leadership. This role provides program administration, coordination, and governance; it does not provide legal advice to employees or make legal eligibility determinations, which remain with qualified immigration counsel.

Immigration Governance & Strategy

• Develop and implement a centralized immigration management framework across all North America business units.
• Establish standardized policies, workflows, and documentation protocols.
• Ensure alignment with corporate governance and global mobility standards.
• Provide executive visibility into immigration population risk and sponsorship exposure.
• Coordinate with external counsel on all employment-based immigration processes (H-1B, L-1, TN, E-2, PERM, I-140, I-485, EAD/AP renewals).
• Support and monitor compliance with USCIS, Department of Labor, and Department of Homeland Security regulations, in coordination with counsel.
• Oversee I-9 compliance and audit readiness.
• Own enterprise-wide immigration compliance tracking and renewal monitoring.
• Develop dashboards with risk indicators for leadership review.
• Determine appropriate use of premium processing consistent with company policy and case-specific timing requirements, avoiding any deferral that risks a status lapse.
• Coordinate internal compliance reviews and audits with Legal/counsel.
• Maintain immigration data in accordance with company access-control, data-minimization, and retention standards, and preserve attorney-client privilege on legal communications.
• Serve as primary relationship owner for external immigration law firms.
• Negotiate consolidated billing rates and service standards.
• Monitor SLAs, response times, and filing accuracy.
• Manage legal spend optimization initiatives.

Workforce Planning & Business Partnership

• Advise HR leaders on workforce planning implications related to visa timelines.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to align recruiting strategy with immigration requirements.
• Support executive decision-making regarding sponsored workforce continuity.
• Ensure sponsorship and hiring recommendations are made without regard to citizenship status or national origin, consistent with 8 U.S.C. § 1324b and Title VII.

Cross-Border Coordination

• Coordinate with global HR teams on international assignments.
• Support inbound and outbound assignment planning.
• Ensure alignment with tax, payroll, and compliance considerations.

Reporting & Executive Communication

• Develop quarterly executive summaries outlining sponsored population metrics and risk exposure.
• Present updates to senior HR leadership and Legal partners.
• Maintain confidential employee case documentation.

Your profile

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position supervises Tax & Trade activities.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required (HR, Business, Legal Studies, or related field).
• Master's degree or HR certification preferred.
• 5-8+ years of progressive experience in employment-based immigration management.
• Experience within a multi-state, multi-entity corporate structure.
• Experience partnering with external immigration counsel.
• Manufacturing or automotive industry experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of U.S. immigration compliance regulations.
• Working knowledge of Form I-9 compliance requirements.
• Experience building tracking systems and dashboards.
• High level of confidentiality and professional judgment.
• Strategic thinker with operational discipline.
• High attention to detail and compliance orientation.
• Cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Exercises discretion and independent judgment on business and operational matters of significance (e.g., vendor selection, budget management, process design, and case prioritization) supporting the administrative exemption.

Travel Requirements

Limited travel (10-20%) within North America as needed.

• Office and/or Home Office

Physical Demands (if applicable)

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand, walk, sit and talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 50 pounds.

The [above] is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.