Director of Visa and Immigration

About the role

As the Visa & Immigration Director, you will provide strategic and operational direction in the development and implementation of immigration policies, procedures, and workforce strategy for the Firm. You will identify and set priorities, manage compliance, and develop reporting for senior leadership. You will oversee and manage a team of immigration professionals that support each service line. This role serves as a member of the senior leadership team and works closely with senior leadership to develop immigration strategy and supporting programs for the foreign national population. You will plan and direct all aspects of the firm’s immigration policies, objectives, and initiatives, with responsibility for supervision of the immigration team, setting strategy and accountability for the Visa & Immigration team’s results, and educating the broader network. You will provide direction to foreign national service providers and the legal team.

Responsibilities

• Direct the design and development of immigration policy for the US firm.
• Manage all third-party service providers, requests for proposals (RFP), and contract negotiations in accordance with firm policy.
• Formulate and provide financial and statistical information for quarterly projections of immigration; monitor and revise projections to reflect current business and economic conditions.
• Provide immigration counseling for the most complex cases and senior employees.
• Review and counsel service line leaders on immigration policy components and associated costs.
• Recommend cost-effective alternatives that support global policies while meeting business needs of supported service lines.
• Act as an advisor and collaborate with key business leaders on immigration issues, providing vision, strategic direction, and sponsorship for immigration initiatives across all service lines.
• Sponsor key initiatives and serve as a strategic partner for recruiting, resourcing, talent teams, and service lines.
• Interact with and counsel senior management within service lines on immigration policies, laws, and their impact on employees (visas, green card processing, travel restrictions) while remaining flexible to business needs.
• Resolve outstanding issues with appropriate parties (talent, general counsel, service line leadership, member mobility teams, etc.).
• Participate in professional organizations to stay current with immigration, tax, regulatory, and policy changes; analyze impacts on firm practices.
• Manage all outsourced relationships, both internal and external (Partnership, Finance, Shared Services Center, International Tax, Global Shared Services, Strategic Sourcing, immigration vendors, etc.).
• Select and manage performance of staff.

Skills

• Ability to influence decisions when articulating immigration matters to stakeholders.
• Ability to partner and counsel business units and firm leaders on immigration policies aligned with government administration and industry trends.
• Ability to effectively understand and make recommendations on immigration issues based on business needs, immigration policy, and regulations.
• Ability to negotiate, monitor, and solicit third-party vendor relationships.
• Demonstrable strategic thinking with strong organizational skills.
• In-depth understanding of immigration regulations, trends, and their effect on EY’s talent strategy.

Qualifications

• J.D., immigration certification, or equivalent professional credential (e.g., AILA, CIPD).
• 12–15 years of related experience working with US immigration, including knowledge of US immigration regulations, processes, compliance requirements, and regulations.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Flexibility to work outside of normal hours.
• Experience handling highly confidential information (preferred).

What we look for

Individuals with strong business acumen and personal leadership. Innovative, creative thinkers who are strategic, collaborative, and consultative, and who can bring a fresh perspective.

Benefits

Comprehensive compensation and benefits package rewarded based on performance and value brought to the business. Includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options. Flexible vacation policy allows you to decide how much vacation time you need based on personal circumstances. Also granted: designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence to support physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

Pay

• New York City, Boston, Washington DC Metro Areas, Washington State, and Southern California offices: $222,900 – $401,100
• Bay Area California offices: $232,100 – $417,900
• All other US office locations (including Sacramento): $185,700 – $367,700

Individual salaries within these ranges are determined by factors including education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography.

Schedule

Flexibility to work outside of normal hours. Flexible vacation policy; designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence as needed.