Immigration Support Specialist

**Immigration Support Specialist**:
**Primary Purpose**: The immigration support specialist provides day-to-day immigration support to, and coordinates immigration advice for, senior administrators, faculty, and staff in regard to international hires and visitors in compliance with applicable legislation and university policies and procedures. This position provides specialized expertise and support to university leaders in the development and implementation of strategies for the recruitment and retention of outstanding academic and administrative talent.

**Nature of Work**: Reporting to Human Resources, the immigration support specialist works closely and collaboratively with the Vice-Provost Faculty Relations Office, talent acquisition, human resources strategic business advisors, senior leaders, colleges and administrative units, USask legal counsel, ConnectionPoint and contracted service providers in the provision of immigration services to the University of Saskatchewan (USask). This role supports leaders, hiring managers, and HR Strategic Business Advisors through the creation of recruitment resources, programs and will keep current with talent acquisition best practices and international and domestic environmental challenges.

**Typical Duties or Accountabilities**:

- In consultation with and on the advice of USask legal counsel, provides front-line assistance on immigration matters related to the appointment of international senior administrators, faculty, post-doctoral fellows, visiting professors, professional researchers, non-academic employees, business visitors and other international workers with a view to compliance and risk mitigation.
- Ensures audit and record keeping legal requirements are met and records are maintained and retained appropriately with a keen attention to detail.
- Guides and coordinates advice to assist assists senior leaders, colleges and units with respect to the interpretation of Canadian immigration law, regulations and policies.
- Provides education, training and coordinated advice to deans, department heads, faculty search committees and other USask staff on recruitment best practices, immigration and global mobility procedures and guidelines.
- Manages complex and non-routine immigration files relating to various matters from inception to the conclusion of the file.
- Proactively identifies immigration issues and risks and provides strategic recommendations to a diverse range of internal clients.
- Supports the management of work permit and social insurance number expiry dates; takes proactive measures to ensure compliance with legalities at all times; coordinates and partners with central administrative supports on the periodic communication to employees regarding their immigration status.
- Ensures compliance with university policies, provincial and federal regulations, Canadian immigration law and collective agreement provisions with respect to immigration and global mobility.
- Acts as a liaison between various stakeholders including but not limited to: Service Canada; Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP); Human Resources; the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations; USask legal; the college or unit, and the employee to resolve immigration related issues for current and potential international faculty, staff, and authorized visitors.
- Canvasses current and prospective international hires regarding their immigration status and requirements to lawfully enter and remain in Canada, to support hiring and retention.
- Develops and maintains communication materials, including tools and templates, and updates on developments in immigration, for the purpose of ensuring compliance and raising awareness. Keeps any such public communications up to date.
- Prepares and submits reporting requirements on international recruitment efforts to the federal and provincial governments, as required, with the appropriate briefing to senior administrators.
- Provides technical assistance and background information to support efforts related to polices, collective agreement negotiations, grievance/arbitration processes, responding to external audits and surveys to ensure compliance with legislation.
- Remains current with immigration law and policies through continuous professional development and advises senior administrators accordingly on potential risks and impacts.
- Works collaboratively with HR colleagues on recruitment strategy and targeted recruitment efforts.
- Supports the Talent Acquisition Consultant by contributing to the continuous improvement of recruitment resources, ensuring the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization.
- Participates in talent acquisition projects and recruitment related initiatives.
- Utilizes various tools to provide talent market insights and data to influence decision-making.

**Education**: Bachelor’s degree in a re