HR Specialist – International Hiring

About the Role

We are seeking an HR professional with hands-on experience supporting international students and foreign nationals in the U.S. workforce. This role plays a critical part in managing OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B related processes while partnering closely with internal teams and external immigration counsel.

This position is ideal for someone who understands both HR operations and U.S. employment-based immigration workflows.

Key Responsibilities

International Hiring & Immigration Support

• Manage and support employment authorization processes for F-1 students, including OPT and STEM OPT.
• Track and manage OPT/STEM OPT timelines, EAD expirations, and reporting deadlines.
• Support STEM OPT compliance, including I-983 training plan coordination and validation reporting.
• Assist with H-1B case preparation, cap-season tracking, and document collection in coordination with external immigration counsel.
• Serve as a point of contact for employees and candidates regarding work authorization status and timelines (non-legal guidance).

HR Operations & Compliance

Maintain accurate and compliant employee immigration and work authorization records.

• Ensure proper completion and re-verification of Form I-9 and employment eligibility documentation.
• Partner with hiring managers and recruiters to assess work authorization constraints during hiring.
• Support onboarding and offboarding processes for international employees.
• Assist with audits and internal compliance reviews related to immigration documentation.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Talent Acquisition, Hiring Managers, Payroll, and Legal/Immigration Counsel.
• Help develop internal guidelines and best practices for hiring and supporting international employees.

Required Qualifications

2+ years of experience in HR, People Operations, or Talent Operations, with direct exposure to international hiring.

Solid understanding of OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B workflows (timelines, documents, compliance basics).

• Familiarity with SEVIS, I-20, EAD, and related employment authorization concepts.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines accurately.
• Excellent communication skills and a high level of confidentiality and professionalism.