Compliance Specialist

Job Description
We are seeking a Compliance Specialist who will ensure our company is adhering to relevant laws and regulations. Responsible for conducting research, keeping up to date on changes in the law, especially with immigration and labor law, and providing advice and guidance to our management team. Manage the Employment Eligibility Verification, E-Verify, and immigration program. Oversee the unemployment process and other compliance areas across all business units. Manage company-wide compliance-related employee training, such as harassment training. Prepare and ensure timely submission of required reporting by various government agencies. Assist in reviewing and approving/denying accommodation requests made by employees across all business units. Administer various compliance-related systems. This job requires a detail-oriented person who takes pride in ensuring all tasks are completed accurately, as well as having strong communication and analytical skills.

Essential Functions

• Consult with our legal department and outside counsel to advise leadership and management on compliance matters.
• Assist in the implementation and modification of compliance-related policies and procedures when new laws or changes emerge.
• Administer the process for company-sponsored and permanent residency application visas while working closely with immigration outside counsel and company management.
• Appropriately file documentation related to the company-sponsored visas for employees and closely monitor the visa expiration dates for when action is needed.
• Manage the I-9 management system, which will require working closely with various representatives from our I-9 system provider as well as our Human Resources (HR) departments.
• Consistently oversee E-Verify issues, the re-verification of employment authorization for employees, and receipts due within the I-9 system.
• Provide training to all new HR representatives on rules and regulations related to Form I-9 and E-Verify as well as administration of the I-9 management system.
• Assist HR departments across all business units with technical, procedural, and documentation issues.
• Perform self-audits to ensure I-9s are accurately completed, properly being terminated for retention purposes, and exist for every active employee.
• Research and stay updated on I-9 regulations and immigration laws, especially about Temporary Protected Status (TPS) updates and automatic extensions of work visas.
• Communicate promptly with HR units about Form I-9 and immigration law updates as well as I-9 Management system process updates and enhancements.
• Build a working relationship with all HR, Legal, and the business unit management teams.
• Oversee and manage any I-9 audits conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as assist with any employee complaints filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division.
• Ensure the company is adhering to laws that prevent employee discrimination.
• Oversee the unemployment process across all business units and help HR teams with Unemployment Insurance (UI) Integrity, the unemployment claims process, fact-finding proceedings, state adjudicators, appeal decisions, and hearings.
• Administer the company’s Unemployment Management system, CaseBuilder (ADP).
• Manage the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program and compile data from various reports generated from Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Smart Compliance to provide to the Finance department on a quarterly and/or annually.
• Administer compliance-related employee training for the company, including managing the company’s Learning Management System (LMS), training HR personnel, and assisting in creating and assigning courses to employees.
• Assist in reviewing, approving, and denying Personal Leave of Absence (PLOA) and accommodation requests made by employees across all business units while ensuring the appropriate interactive process is followed.
• Support with internal reviews or audits to ensure compliance.
• Prepare and file appropriate compliance reports with various regulatory agencies.
• Identify compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation.
• Consult with corporate attorneys as necessary to address difficult legal compliance issues.
• Maintain documentation of compliance activities, such as complaints received or investigation outcomes.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of two years of compliance or HR experience.
• Experience with Form I-9 and E-Verify.
• Have general knowledge of labor laws and HR practices.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks to meet deadlines.
• Must demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be organized, analytical, and have a sense of urgency for time-sensitive delivery.
• Ability to handle complex and sensitive issues professionally, exercising good judgment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Must be able to work independently with periodic feedback.
• Experience with an I-9 Management system preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Knowledge of immigration law preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment
This job operates in a food manufacturing and professional office environment routinely using standard office equipment.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee is frequently required to sit for long periods and reach with hands and arms. 

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is an exempt, full-time position.  Flexibility on hours and weekends is required.

Travel
20%

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.