Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Global Mobility Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Global Mobility Specialist is the cornerstone of our international HR strategy, responsible for the end-to-end management of employee relocations and international assignments. This role serves as the primary point of contact for relocating employees, providing expert guidance on immigration, tax, and relocation logistics. You'll be a strategic partner to the business, ensuring that our mobility programs are compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with our global talent objectives. Success in this position means creating a world-class, empathetic experience that enables our employees to thrive in their new locations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

HR Coordinator
Immigration Paralegal
HR Generalist with international exposure

Advancement To:

Senior Global Mobility Specialist
Global Mobility Manager
Director of Global Mobility

Lateral Moves:

HR Business Partner
Compensation & Benefits Analyst (International)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Manage the entire lifecycle of international assignments, from initial cost estimation and candidate briefing to on-assignment support and eventual repatriation or localization.
Serve as the dedicated and empathetic primary point of contact for employees and their families throughout the entire relocation process, addressing inquiries and resolving issues promptly.
Conduct comprehensive pre-assignment consultations and policy briefings with employees and business managers to set clear expectations and explain program benefits.
Initiate and meticulously track services with external vendors, including immigration law firms, tax providers, and relocation management companies, to ensure seamless execution.
Prepare detailed assignment cost projections, letters of assignment, and balance sheets to ensure financial transparency and adherence to company policy.
Partner closely with our immigration counsel to coordinate and monitor the progress of visa and work permit applications for employees and their dependents globally.
Collaborate with tax services providers to facilitate tax briefings for assignees and manage the administration of tax equalization and protection programs.
Oversee the logistical aspects of physical relocations, including household goods shipment, temporary housing arrangements, and destination services, through our relocation partners.
Maintain and update employee data with impeccable accuracy within our HRIS (e.g., Workday) and global mobility platforms to reflect assignment status, compensation changes, and other critical information.
Review and process a high volume of vendor invoices, ensuring they align with service agreements and policy guidelines, and assist with budget tracking and accruals.
Ensure strict compliance with international labor laws, immigration regulations, and tax requirements in all host countries where we operate.
Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders, including HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, and business leaders.
Administer cross-cultural and language training programs to better prepare employees and their families for their new cultural and business environment.
Contribute to the continuous improvement of global mobility policies, processes, and programs by providing feedback and suggesting enhancements based on case experience.
Generate and analyze key mobility metrics and reports to track program effectiveness, costs, and employee satisfaction, presenting findings to leadership.
Manage the exceptions request process, evaluating cases with a balanced perspective on employee experience and policy integrity, and providing recommendations.
Act as a subject matter expert on a variety of assignment types, including long-term and short-term assignments, permanent transfers, and commuter arrangements.
Coordinate with global payroll teams to ensure accurate and timely delivery of expatriate compensation, including allowances and deductions.
Support emergency situations and duty of care protocols for our internationally mobile population, such as medical or security-related incidents.
Participate in vendor performance reviews and selection processes to ensure we partner with the best-in-class providers for our mobility services.
Create and maintain educational resources, process documentation, and FAQs for employees, managers, and HR partners to promote self-service and understanding.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc reporting and exploratory data analysis to inform mobility strategy.
Contribute to cross-functional HR projects that have a global mobility component.
Assist in developing communication plans and materials for program updates and rollouts.
Participate in industry forums and networking events to stay current on trends and best practices in global mobility.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep knowledge of global mobility principles, including common policy types, assignment structures, and best practices.
Strong understanding of core immigration processes and visa requirements for key international locations (e.g., US, UK, EU, APAC).
Familiarity with expatriate tax concepts, such as tax equalization, hypothetical tax, and social security totalization agreements.
Proficiency in managing external vendors, including monitoring service level agreements (SLAs) and performance.
Experience with HRIS systems, particularly Workday, for managing employee data and assignment transactions.
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel for creating cost estimates, balance sheets, and data analysis reports.
Ability to interpret and apply complex policy and legal documents related to immigration, tax, and employment law.
Experience with global mobility technology platforms (e.g., Equus AssignmentPro, Topia) for case management and reporting.
Financial acumen with the ability to manage budgets, process invoices, and perform cost-benefit analysis for mobility cases.
Project management skills to handle multiple complex cases simultaneously from initiation to completion.

Soft Skills

Exceptional cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust with a diverse, global population.
High degree of empathy and emotional intelligence, essential for supporting employees and families through a significant life transition.
Superior problem-solving abilities and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset to navigate complex and ambiguous situations.
Impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills to manage a high volume of data, deadlines, and documentation accurately.
Strong stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to influence and collaborate effectively with partners at all levels.
Resilience and composure when handling sensitive, confidential information and navigating stressful employee situations.
A strong sense of ownership and accountability, taking initiative to drive cases forward and ensure a positive outcome.
Discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential employee information and policy exceptions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree in Human Resources, International Business, or a related field.
Global Mobility Specialist (GMS®) certification is highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Human Resources
International Business
Law/Paralegal Studies

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of direct experience in a global mobility, immigration, or international HR role.

Preferred: Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth corporate environment, managing a significant caseload of international assignments. Experience working with both in-house and outsourced mobility models.