HR & Sponsorship Officer

Summary of The Role   The HR & Sponsorship Officer will be responsible for ensuring compliance with UK immigration and employment legislation, including the organisation’s obligations as a Home Office sponsor licence holder. The role will oversee sponsorship compliance, Right to Work verification and the accuracy and completeness of employee records. Alongside sponsorship responsibilities, the postholder will provide general HR administration support throughout the employee lifecycle, including preparing contracts and HR letters, monitoring probation reviews, maintaining personnel records and supporting onboarding and offboarding processes. Working closely with the HR Director, the wider HR team, line managers and external advisers, the successful candidate will contribute to audit readiness, policy compliance and the continuous improvement of HR processes. The role requires excellent attention to detail, strong organisational skills, discretion and the ability to manage sensitive information confidentially.  Role Responsibilities 

• Manage sponsorship compliance, including audits, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), visa expiry tracking and required Home Office reporting through the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
• Conduct and monitor Right to Work checks for new and existing employees, ensuring records and follow-up checks are completed within the required timescales.
• Maintain accurate sponsorship and employee records, ensuring compliance with Home Office requirements, UK GDPR and data retention policies.
• Prepare documentation for visa applications and Home Office requests, and support compliance visits and audits.
• Monitor changes to immigration rules and sponsor guidance, advising the HR Director of relevant updates.
• Respond to sponsorship queries from employees and managers, liaising with external immigration advisers where necessary.
• Prepare employment contracts, contract variations and HR letters, and manage probation reminders and outcomes.
• Support onboarding and offboarding, maintain sickness and leave records, and liaise with payroll regarding employee changes.
• Assist with recruitment administration, formal HR meetings, HR audits and other HR projects as required.
• Identify and follow up on compliance gaps, record discrepancies and process improvements.

 

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience  

• At least two years of experience in HR administration or a generalist HR role.
• Knowledge of UK Right to Work requirements and sponsor licence compliance.
• Experience with sponsorship processes, including CoS applications and the Sponsor Management System.
• Experience maintaining employee records and conducting compliance audits.
• Strong attention to detail, organisational skills and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and HR systems.
• Ability to work independently, resolve issues proactively and collaborate effectively with others.
• Commitment to keeping up to date with UK immigration and employment legislation.

Desirable:

• CIPD Level 3 qualification or currently working towards it.
• Experience in a sponsor-licence organisation or regulated sector.
• Experience supporting Home Office compliance visits.

Personal Attributes  

• Organised and detail-oriented: Maintains accurate records and ensures compliance requirements are met.
• Trustworthy and professional: Handles sensitive information with discretion and integrity.
• Proactive and accountable: Takes ownership of tasks, identifies issues early and follows them through to resolution.
• Strong communicator: Works confidently with employees, managers and external advisers.
• Collaborative and adaptable: Works well within a team and responds effectively to changing requirements.
• Committed to continuous improvement: Looks for practical ways to improve HR processes and maintain compliance standards.

Work Environment 

• General Work Hours: 1.30PM – 10.30PM (WFH) Sri Lanka Time – 45hrs/week.
• Location: Remote WFH + Occasional Meets at our Colombo 5 office – Sri Lanka.
• Benefits: Paid leave, career upskilling opportunities, eLearning courses.