Position Title: Visa Compliance Officer

Reports to: Immigration Services Manager

Summary:

The Visa Compliance Officer will work in the Immigration Services Department to ensure compliance with the United Kingdom Visa & Immigration (UKVI) regulations. The officer will ensure that the students at Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design are in good standing under the Student Sponsor Licence held by Sotheby’s Institute of Art. The officer will also provide immigration support services for other schools under BrandEd. The position will entail maintaining records and coordinating sponsor support through compliance reporting and monitoring, from CAS allocation to monitoring of attendance. The Visa Compliance Officer will review, develop, and enhance established systems, processes, and practices to fulfil sponsorship duties and responsibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Undertake Authorising Officer, Key Contact and Level 1 User responsibilities on the Home Office Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
• Work closely with the Registrar and other relevant units from across the Institute to ensure thorough attendance/engagement monitoring processes.
• Ensure that sponsored students adhere to their student visa requirements.
• Stay up-to-date with UKVI policy and developments on UK immigration legislation.
• Monitor and revise compliance policies, processes, and procedures to ensure conformity with regularly changing immigration legislation and guidelines.
• Administer necessary processes for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issuance to support new applicants and visa extensions.
• Support pre-enrolment and document checking activities of international students in accordance with Home Office and Institute requirements.
• Ensure courses with work placements meet Home Office Sponsor Guidance definition, collect, and report placement details to the Home Office.
• Compile reports and interpret data on changes in student circumstances, reporting students to the UKVI promptly.
• Respond to UKVI queries and seek further guidance where applicable.
• Maintain Visa Compliance web pages, ensuring information is updated.
• Conduct Admissions credibility and Pre CAS interviews.
• Update and maintain relevant student information and documentation per the UKVI Student Sponsor Guidance, Appendix D.

The statements above describe the general nature and level of the position’s work and are not exhaustive lists of duties, responsibilities, and skills required.

Requirements:

• Experience with large relational databases, e.g., a student record system.
• An ability to produce, analyze, and interpret large quantities of complex information.
• Familiarity with UKVI legislation, policy, and regulations and an understanding of compliance as it relates to students and HEI.
• Excellent IT skills with a working knowledge of MS Office packages, especially Excel.
• Familiarity with the academic cycle and student journey.
• Familiarity with student recruitment and admissions procedure in higher education.
• Organizational skills, with the ability to plan workload for self and others.
• An ability to instigate new procedural developments and see them through to a satisfactory conclusion.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to work with a range of staff.
• Excellent customer services skills.
• Time management skills, with the ability to handle a large volume of work within deadlines.
• Attention to detail.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Significant experience in Visa Compliance or immigration services support role.

To Apply:

1. Email your CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification for this position to vacancies@sothebysinstitute.com (Apply using the ‘Apply’ button above).
2. Salary dependent on skills, qualifications, and experience, c £38,000 – £45,000 per annum.
3. Benefits include 25 days annual leave plus up to 4 additional discretionary days leave during the Christmas period, life insurance, and 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme.
4. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.
5. Closing date is 15 June 2023. Please note that applications will be shortlisted as they are submitted, and the post may close before the deadline.