Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA) is looking for a
Sr. Global Mobility Specialist to join our team. This is a hybrid role based out of our
Houston, TX HQ office in the
Galleria District.SCOPE:The Senior Global Mobility Specialist & Expat Support serves as MHIA's subject matter expert and primary point of contact for global mobility, expatriate, international assignment, and employment-based immigration programs. This role leads the end-to-end coordination of assignment lifecycle activities, including immigration, relocation, compensation, benefits, tax, payroll, onboarding, employee support, repatriation, and vendor management.
Serving as a trusted bilingual English/Japanese advisor, the position partners with employees, managers, Japan headquarters, affiliate companies, external service providers, and internal stakeholders to ensure compliant, efficient, and employee-focused mobility practices. The role also drives process improvement, policy development, governance, reporting, and program standardization across MHIA and participating affiliates.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIESGlobal Mobility Program Management- Lead the end-to-end administration and delivery of expatriate, rotational assignment, international hire, and short-and long-term global mobility programs.
- Serve as MHIA's senior point of contact and subject-matter expert for employees, managers, HR partners, and affiliate companies regarding global assignment policies, relocation processes, compensation and benefit coordination, and assignment-related issues.
- Independently assess complex or nonstandard mobility cases, identify business and employee implications, and recommend solutions or policy exceptions to HR leadership.
- Lead global assignment onboarding, ongoing assignment support, repatriation, transfer, and offboarding activities in partnership with HR, Payroll, Benefits, Finance, Legal, Tax, and external vendors.
- Provide bilingual English/Japanese consultation and facilitate clear communication among U.S.-based stakeholders, headquarters in Japan, expatriate employees, rotational assignees, and affiliate companies.
- Coordinate closely with Japan-based stakeholders to align assignment terms, documentation, timing, employee support, approvals, communications, and escalation needs.
Immigration and Visa Coordination- Manage employment-based immigration processes in partnership with external counsel, including case initiation, document collection, employee communications, status tracking, and issue resolution.
- Monitor visa expirations, work authorization requirements, filing deadlines, and related compliance obligations.
- Coordinate visa petitions, extensions, amendments, transfers, dependent matters, and business travel reviews while identifying and escalating compliance risks.
- Maintain accurate immigration records, reporting, and documentation in accordance with company requirements.
Tax, Compensation and Vendor Coordination- Coordinate assignment-related tax, cross-border payroll, permanent establishment, compensation, benefits, relocation, and compliance matters with Finance, Payroll, Legal, Tax, and external advisors.
- Manage relationships with immigration, tax, relocation, and mobility vendors, including service delivery, issue resolution, performance monitoring, and process improvements.
- Review assignment data, payroll instructions, invoices, and vendor deliverables to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
Policy, Governance and Process Improvement- Interpret and apply global mobility policies, U.S. requirements, and organizational guidelines to complex employee and business circumstances.
- Lead the development, documentation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of global mobility policies, processes, workflows, templates, controls, tools, procedures, service standards, and training resources.
- Identify gaps or inconsistencies in mobility practices and recommend scalable solutions aligned with global requirements and local business needs.
- Prepare analyses, recommendations, and decision materials for HR leadership regarding significant mobility matters.
Employee Experience & HR Partnership- Support expatriate employees and managers throughout the assignment lifecycle by providing guidance on cultural integration, workplace expectations, available resources, and assignment-related concerns.
- Partner with HR teams and business leaders to resolve complex employee matters, share best practices, and strengthen the overall mobility experience.
- Serve as an escalation resource and provide functional guidance on mobility-related processes and programs.
Global HR Initiatives Management- Lead the implementation of global HR initiatives across MHIA and affiliate companies in the Americas.
- Partner with global and regional stakeholders to align business, compliance and HR objectives.
- Develop implementation plans, communications, timelines, and governance for assigned programs.
- Advise affiliates on program requirements, process changes, and issue resolution.
- Coordinate regional HR programs, including compensation surveys, global policies, travel safety, IRTM and HR forums.
- Analyze regional data, identify trends and risks, and provide recommendations to HR leadership.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS- Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, International Relations, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience: At least seven (7) years of HR experience, including at least four (4) years of direct global mobility, expatriate program, international assignment, or employment-based immigration experience.
- Advanced working knowledge of global mobility practices, international assignment life cycles, immigration coordination, Form I-9 compliance, relocation, tax coordination, and assignment-related compensation and benefit considerations.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex global mobility, immigration, relocation and expatriate matters while exercising sound judgment and independent decision-making.
- Strong consulting, stakeholder management, analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving internal stakeholders, external vendors, and professional service providers.
- Any special skills/training/certifications:
- Bilingual English/Japanese required.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and manage sensitive, complex employee situations.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to navigate multicultural environments.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with high attention to detail
- Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills.
- Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
Preferred Qualifications:- Experience managing employment-based immigration, relocation, and global mobility programs in partnership with external counsel and service providers.
- Experience coordinating expatriate tax, cross-border payroll, benefits, and compliance matters with Finance, Tax, Legal, and external advisors.
- Experience supporting Japanese expatriate populations and partnering with Japan headquarters on international assignment programs.
- Experience leading enterprise-wide HR and global mobility initiatives, including program governance, procedures, controls, metrics, and vendor management.
WORKING CONDITIONS:- Travel: Up to 10%
- Standard Monday through Friday work week. Occasional evening or weekend work as needed for global time zone coordination.
- Lifting/Physical Requirements: Regularly required to sit for long periods, stand, walk, talk and/or hear. Frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Why Should You Apply?- Excellent Wellness Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision & 401K Matching)
- Company-provided STD and LTD
- Parental Leave
- Company-Provided Life Insurance and AD&D
- Paid time off: vacation, sick leave (granted at the beginning of the year).
- 15 holidays
- Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Behavioral health support
Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external ( https://mhicareers.com/) career sites.
MHIA regrets that it is unable to sponsor employment Visas or consider individuals on time-limited Visa status for this position.
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