POSITION DETAILS

Academic Services
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £28,397 to £30,210, with potential progression once in post to £33,938
Grade: 5
Part Time (21.6 hours per week)
Permanent
Closing date: 3rd March 2025

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Educated to A Level or hold an equivalent professional qualification and have significant experience in a similar role or be able to demonstrate substantial relevant experience such that the tasks outlined in the job description can be carried out effectively;
• Demonstrable and up-to-date working knowledge of UK Visas and Immigration rules, particularly in relation to students;
• Demonstrable experience of meeting operational requirements, with excellent planning and organisational skills;
• Experience in coordinating office-based activity would be an advantage;
• Experience in the supervision and training of staff is highly desirable;
• Excellent communication skills, able to present information clearly and explain complex issues to a range of audiences with varying levels of understanding;
• Excellent attention to detail;
• Experience of working in a customer focused environment and delivering exceptional customer service;
• Sound analytical, creative and pragmatic problem solving skills with a high level of professional judgement, diplomacy, cultural awareness, sensitivity;
• Demonstrate a high level of computer literacy, with knowledge and familiarity with MS Office packages including MS Excel;
• A constructive team player demonstrating an ability to prioritise, work collaboratively as part of a team or on own initiative and deal with conflicting pressures to tight deadlines and have attention to detail;
• Flexibility and willingness to work extended hours and at weekends to meet the needs of, but not restricted to, events such as International Welcome/Registration;
• Evidence of ability to work through to a solution with resilience and persistence;
• An understanding of what equality and diversity is and why it is important, including an ability to learn about relevant policies and procedures relating to equality and diversity;
• An ability to identify equality and diversity issues and either address these or bring them to the attention of a manager.

ROLE SUMMARY

Working as part of the wider IST team you will support in the delivery of a range of immigration and compliance advisory matters together with general non-specialist advice and guidance to staff and students. You will be involved in the delivery of staff and student information workshops and training events and will have responsibility for individual projects. The post holder will carry out the relevant activities for that function. All International Co-ordinators are expected to carry out general administrative duties and casework. The post holder will play a key role in the delivery of activities during the academic year including right to study events, International Welcome and IST workshops/training events.
The post holder will proactively participate in enhancing and developing a positive ‘Birmingham Experience’. The following constitutes the major activities of this role but is not a comprehensive list of the duties required.

MAIN DUTIES

• As part of the team, take responsibility for proactively maintaining a high level of knowledge about Immigration Rules and Compliance duties and take responsibility for complex administrative processes, ensuring that all casework and compliance activities are in accordance with student route duties and immigration rules;
• Use a high degree of diagnostic skill to carry out triage duties and identify important or urgent issues and ensure that they are dealt with or escalated in an appropriate and timely manner;
• Take a proactive role in the provision of advice, training and support to staff in the University by assisting in interpreting immigration rules and Student Route Guidance to ensure compliance with UKVI statutory requirements;
• Work in accordance with IST and Institutional standards and in accordance with the law;
• Proactively provide communications to staff and students relating to Sponsor duties and applicable Immigration Rules e.g. drafting and editing literature, web/intranet and other relevant information;
• Maintain and monitor operational spreadsheets and produce reports;
• Take an active role in building and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external contacts;
• Support in the delivery of core IST activities including International Welcome, visa checking, right to study checks, visa assessment/application processes;
• Be an active participant as part of the Student Route standing audit team;
• Proactively contribute to the continuous improvement of all processes and procedures to support the efficiency and effectiveness of the IST;
• Represent the University at internal and external events as agreed by your Line Manager;
• Work with colleagues to achieve aims and objectives; be self-motivated with the ability to work flexibly under pressure including, but not restricted to, peak periods, Welcome and Right to Study;
• May be required to supervise the work of others;
• Undertake such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by Head of Service and Deputy Director of Student Services;
• Undertake continuous personal and professional development;
• Conduct financial and Health & Safety duties in line with statutory and University’s policies and procedures.
• Work in accordance with the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy;
• Support equality and value diversity, including: (a) challenging bias prejudice and intolerance if appropriate or bring it to the attention of a manager; (b) moderate own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.