Immigration Solicitor in Manchester

Salary: £40,000 to £55,000 per annum

Location: Manchester, M2

Hybrid working: 3 days per week in the Manchester office and 2 days working from home, with some flexibility around hours where needed.

Hours: Full time, with some flexibility considered

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Hybrid, 3 days in the Manchester office and 2 days working from home

Reporting to: Internal Legal Counsel

Benefits: 23 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, statutory pension and private healthcare after probation

Are you a qualified Immigration Solicitor looking for the opportunity to take genuine ownership of business immigration and sponsor licence compliance? Transforming Support is looking for an Immigration Solicitor to become its trusted specialist for business immigration, sponsor licence compliance, UKVI requirements and right to work. This is an opportunity to move into an influential in house position where you can focus your expertise on one organisation rather than managing an external client caseload. You will work closely with HR, Internal Legal Counsel and senior leadership, helping shape robust immigration processes across the business.

The Role

You will take ownership of the organisation's sponsor licence, business immigration matters and right to work processes, providing clear and practical advice across the organisation. Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the organisation's Sponsor Licence and sponsor compliance responsibilities
• Using and overseeing the Sponsorship Management System, SMS
• Managing Certificates of Sponsorship, CoS, reporting duties, record keeping and document retention
• Advising on Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa applications, extensions and changes of circumstances
• Monitoring changes to the UK Immigration Rules and assessing their impact on the workforce
• Managing compliant right to work checks and follow up processes
• Reviewing immigration policies, systems and employee records to identify potential compliance risks
• Preparing for and responding to UKVI compliance visits, Home Office audits and enforcement contact
• Developing clear policies, templates and guidance for managers and HR teams
• Providing practical immigration advice to employees, prospective workers, HR colleagues and senior leaders

You will have support from the HR team with immigration administration and will have the opportunity to review existing processes, identify improvements and see those changes implemented across the organisation.

About You

You will be a qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with a strong interest in business immigration and sponsor compliance. This role could suit someone who is newly qualified or has around 1 to 2 years' post qualification experience and is ready to take on greater ownership in an in house environment. Equally, it could appeal to a more experienced Immigration Solicitor looking for greater flexibility, autonomy and a role with less emphasis on an external client caseload.

You will ideally bring:

• Qualification as a Solicitor in England and Wales
• Strong current knowledge of business immigration law
• Knowledge of Sponsor Licence compliance and sponsor duties
• Experience using, or good working knowledge of, the Sponsorship Management System
• Experience of, or exposure to, Certificates of Sponsorship
• Knowledge of Skilled Worker visas and Health and Care Worker visas
• A good understanding of UKVI compliance requirements
• A thorough understanding of right to work legislation and checks
• The ability to interpret changing Immigration Rules and turn them into clear, practical guidance
• Strong organisation, accuracy and attention to detail
• Confidence communicating with HR teams, managers and senior leaders
• Sound professional judgement and the ability to manage sensitive information appropriately

Experience within health, social care or another highly regulated, multi site organisation would be particularly valuable.

Why Join Transforming Support?

This is a strong opportunity for an Immigration Solicitor who wants more ownership, visibility and influence. You will have the opportunity to:

• Move into a permanent in house Immigration Solicitor position
• Become the organisation's trusted immigration specialist
• Work directly with HR, Internal Legal Counsel and senior leadership
• Take ownership of an important and highly visible area of compliance
• Influence organisation wide immigration policies and decisions
• Build lasting systems and processes rather than repeatedly advising from the outside
• Use your legal expertise within an organisation providing essential services across the UK

Salary and Benefits

In return, you will receive:

• £40,000 to £55,000 per annum
• Permanent, full time employment
• Hybrid working, with 3 days in the Manchester office and 2 days working from home
• Some flexibility around hours may be considered to support individual circumstances
• 23 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Statutory pension
• Private healthcare following successful completion of probation
• Professional autonomy and the opportunity to shape how the role develops
• Minimal travel, with occasional travel to the London office where required

If you are a qualified Immigration Solicitor with strong knowledge of business immigration, sponsor licences, Skilled Worker visas, Health and Care Worker visas, UKVI compliance and right to work legislation, we would like to hear from you. This vacancy is being recruited urgently and applications will be reviewed as they are received. Initial interviews will take place with the HR team, followed by a further interview with senior leadership. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Transforming Support is committed to safeguarding and creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references and all relevant pre employment checks. No recruitment agencies, please.