Global Mobility Specialist - Chicago, IL

The Opportunity The Immigration Specialist, U.S. Immigration & Global Mobility, owns, administers and advises on U.S. employment-based immigration, work authorization, and related mobility activities across the employee lifecycle. The role applies specialized knowledge of U.S. immigration regulations (including PERM and non-immigrant visas), exercises independent judgment on immigration strategy, case triage and escalation, and provides immigration recommendations to HR Business Partners, Compensation, Legal, and Recruiters to support hiring and onboarding outcomes. Location Chicago, US. Key Responsibilities Oversee U.S. right-to-work and Form I-9 compliance across U.S. locations, including review of escalated matters, assessment of compliance risks, and recommendation of corrective actions. Serve as an internal subject‑matter resource on U.S. immigration matters by advising stakeholders on eligibility, filing pathways, timing implications, documentation requirements, and immigration policy application. Manage and coordinate non‑immigrant visa matters (H‑1B, H‑1A), including filings, renewals, amendments, and transfers, in collaboration with employees, recruiters, HRBPs, hiring managers, and external counsel. Own PERM coordination and exercise judgment on recruitment steps: plan required recruitment activity with recruiters and counsel, assess recruitment outcomes, validate supporting documentation, and recommend whether to proceed to filing or to undertake further recruitment. Handle end‑to‑end green card case management (PERM → I‑140 → I‑485) in collaboration with external counsel and internal stakeholders; monitor progress, identify issues, and recommend remedial actions. Review job descriptions and position documentation to confirm alignment with immigration filing requirements (e.g., duties, minimum qualifications); flag potential wage/hour or classification concerns for Compensation and Legal review. Identify and elevate potential FLSA or classification issues observed during immigration reviews; collaborate with Compensation and Legal for formal analysis and decision‑making. Prioritize and triage caseloads based on business impact and legal risk; set escalation thresholds and reallocate resources to meet critical timelines. Maintain audit‑ready immigration records, trackers, and PERM/recruitment documentation. Monitor regulatory updates (USCIS, DOL, DOS) and communicate operational impact and recommended actions to HR partners and business stakeholders. Identify and lead process improvements that increase compliance, efficiency, and candidate/employee experience. Serve as primary immigration point of contact for employees, HRBPs, recruiters, hiring managers, and external counsel; provide clear recommendations and implement agreed actions. Provide training and guidance to HR partners, recruiters, and junior staff on immigration requirements and processes. Provide ad‑hoc immigration support for other countries/markets as needed, coordinating with local mobility teams and vendors for cross‑border moves. Desired Skills & Experience Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Minimum 5 years’ progressive experience in U.S. employment‑based immigration (in‑house or at an immigration law firm), with direct PERM experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment on immigration strategy, case triage, and escalation decisions. Deep knowledge of PERM process steps, green card filings (I‑140, I‑485), H‑1B/H‑1A processes, and I‑9 compliance. Experience coordinating with recruiters on PERM recruitment tracking and evidence collection and ability to evaluate sufficiency of recruitment documentation. Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to present immigration risk and recommendations to HR, business partners, and Legal. High attention to detail and ability to maintain audit‑ready documentation. Proactive problem solver who can manage competing priorities and make timely decisions. High level of discretion in handling confidential personal and immigration data. Experience with HRIS (e.g., Workday) or case‑tracking tools is a plus. Working Conditions Primarily office environment, depending on business needs. May require coordination across time zones and deadlines tied to regulatory or business. Location: Chicago, US. There are a variety of factors that go into determining a salary range, including but not limited to external market benchmark data, geographic location, and years of experience sought/required. In addition to a competitive base salary, roles are eligible to be considered for an annual bonus. The range for Chicago area is $80,000 – $100,000. We are an E‑Verify employer – meaning that your Form I‑9 information will be provided to the federal government to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. At Agoda, we pride ourselves on being a company represented by people of all different backgrounds and orientations. We prioritize attracting diverse talent and cultivating an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. Employment at Agoda is based solely on a person’s merit and qualifications. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, age, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, citizenship, veteran or military status, and other legally protected characteristics. #J-18808-Ljbffr ImmigrationJobs