Immigration Advisor

Job location is at 10240 Science Center Dr, San Diego, CA 92121

Reporting to the Sr. HR Director within the Office of People and Culture, the Immigration Services Advisor provides guidance to departments, faculty, and scholars on a wide range of immigration, visa, and employment matters. Acting as the primary resource for foreign nationals on visas, the advisor helps them navigate their stay in the U.S. while at the Institute. This role involves consulting with outside legal counsel on complex immigration cases and serving as the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for Salk's J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (EVP).

Responsibilities include assisting legal counsel in preparing and filing H-1B petitions, supporting scholars and their dependents in obtaining and maintaining appropriate non-immigrant status and work authorizations for J-1, H-1B, and TN visas, and verifying the accuracy and compliance of documents while facilitating the completion of new hire and I-9 paperwork. The advisor also works closely with the Director and key government entities-including the DOS, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Department of Labor (DOL)-to resolve immigration-related issues. Additionally, this position oversees the daily operations of the International Office and may take on general Human Resources duties as needed.

This role requires strong organizational and time management skills, excellent oral and interpersonal communication, and the ability to evaluate shifting priorities and manage workload effectively to meet all deadlines.

Who We Are

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values all members of our scientific community. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces perspectives across discipline, professional acumen, and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community has many talented individuals from varied backgrounds, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Administers the J-1 visa program for all foreign nationals. As Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) enters information into SEVIS database.
• Assists outside legal counsel with preparation of H-1b/TN visa applications for submission to USCIS.
• Assists as needed with O-1 and Permanent Residency applications and petitions.
• Advises students, scholars and faculty regarding DHS, DOS and DOL regulations as well as I-9, payroll and personnel issues.
• Determines visa category, verifies status; collects preliminary documentation and prepares official documents required by U.S. or foreign governments and agencies.
• Tracks status of forms sent out and responds to inquiries.
• Creates, maintains, files, and purges personnel and immigration documents in accordance with federal and Institute guidelines (i.e. LCA, PAFs). Files documents electronically in accordance with department's policies.
• Processes I-9 forms for all foreign nationals.
• Facilitates orientation and special programs for arriving foreign students. Assists foreign nationals with new hire and termination process.
• Creates and maintains immigration e-files. Assists in developing new form letters and informational materials.
• Escalates immigration issues to the Sr. HR Director and employment issues to the appropriate person in Human Resources.
• Attends local and regional immigration or agency meetings as well as webinars and teleconferences to ensure ongoing immigration education and professional development; may attend national meetings and conferences, budget permitting.
• Leads the International Community Conversations Group. Organizes quarterly meetings and coordinates the topics and presenters' participation.
• Project team member to assist with special projects as necessary.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

What we Require

• Bachelor's degree in International Studies, International Relations, International Business, political science, or other closely related discipline that requires persuasive writing, strong reading comprehension, and analytic thinking, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional, semi-autonomous experience supporting internal clientele, to include immigration and/or HR duties.
• Experience in an HR or International Office in a for-profit or non-profit setting.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience using the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and serving as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) with the U.S. Department of State advising J-1 scholars.
• Experience in a scientific research environment and/or higher education environment.
• Prior study abroad or international work experience.

What We Can Offer

The expected pay range for this position is $90,000 to $115,000 annually. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.

Salk Values

The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk's pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.

The acronym "I CARE" provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race (race is inclusive of traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include, but not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

Discrimination is prohibited with any intersectionality of the above-mentioned characteristics, including:

1. Any combination of characteristics.
2. A perception that the person has any of the characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.
3. A perception that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.