International Background Check Specialist

About the role

This is a 100% remote work arrangement, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The International Background Check Specialist (HR Specialist/Journey) serves as a subject matter expert responsible for conducting background checks, with a primary focus on international checks. This role ensures all background checks subject to international criminal search requirements are completed accurately, timely, and in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, University policies, Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requirements, and country-specific privacy and data protection regulations.

Responsibilities

• Own the coordination, administration, review, and completion of international background checks under the direction of the Background Check Supervisor.
• Approve international background check requests, conduct degree verifications, monitor progress, and track outstanding requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive background check data in ConnectCarolina.
• Verify completion of all required components and review results for completeness and accuracy.
• Escalate adverse results when necessary and disseminate background check results to appropriate campus personnel.
• Stay current with evolving background check requirements and best practices.
• Provide guidance and ongoing consultation to candidates, appointees, appointing departments, and campus background check initiators to promote consistent compliance across the University.
• Collaborate with the University's third-party background check vendor to resolve technical issues, address processing delays, obtain country-specific disclosure and authorization requirements, and assist with the interpretation of international criminal history records.
• Track and analyze background check activity, compile reports and metrics, identify trends, monitor service levels, and recommend process improvements to enhance operational efficiency, compliance, consistency, and customer service.
• Keep the Background Check Supervisor informed of compliance concerns and proactively communicate potential delays that may impact established service levels.