Head of Global Mobility & Immigration

PayPal•San Jose, CA

About The Position

Develop and execute a comprehensive global mobility and immigration strategy that supports business growth. Ensure compliance with international immigration laws, Oversee global transfers, expatriate assignments, and repatriation processes to enhance the employee experience. Partner with tax advisors and finance teams to ensure compliance with global tax laws and compensation structures for mobile employees. Design, update, and enforce global mobility and immigration policies that address market trends and regulatory requirements. Manage relationships with external vendors, including relocation service providers, immigration attorneys, and tax advisors. Partner with HR and talent teams to develop programs that enhance employee retention and career development through mobility opportunities. Monitor changes in immigration and tax laws to mitigate risks and ensure corporate compliance. Stakeholder Collaboration: Act as a key advisor to senior leadership, providing insights on mobility trends, workforce planning, and regulatory changes. Data & Reporting: Use analytics to assess program effectiveness, identify trends, and drive continuous improvement. Implement robust controls to mitigate PE (Permanent Establishment), corporate tax, employment law, immigration, payroll, data privacy (GDPR & data localization), and security risks. Own business traveler compliance and shadow payroll programs; maintain auditable records and operate to SOX standards where applicable. Establish policy governance with defined thresholds and approval pathways. Deliver data driven insights and dashboards on utilization, cycle times, compliance, attrition/retention of critical talent, and ROI of mobility initiatives. Provide due diligence and integration leadership on mobility and immigration risks/costs in M&A; support new entity standups, workforce transitions, and country launches.

Requirements

10+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
Significant experience as a Global Mobility leader for a large company.
Program management, policy design, and implementation required.
In-depth understanding of global immigration, tax compliance, and relocation processes.

Nice To Haves

Experience in fintech, technology, or other regulated/global enterprises.
Familiarity with Workday, ServiceNow, mobility platforms and travel/payroll integrations.
Professional certifications: GMST (Worldwide ERC), SHRMSCP/SPHR, or equivalent

Responsibilities

Establish and chair a cross functional Mobility & Immigration Governance Council (People, Legal, Tax, Payroll, Finance/FP&A, Talent Acquisition, Equity, Privacy/Security, Real Estate/Travel).
Serve as a senior advisor to the People Leadership Team and business executives on strategic moves, location strategy, remote and distributed workforce models, and risk/cost tradeoffs.
Lead a high performing global team of senior program managers; attract, develop, and retain top talent
Own end-to-end program design and policies for all mobility populations: permanent transfers, long/short term assignments, cross border commuters, business travelers, early career/rotational programs, and compliant cross border remote/flexible work.
Define globally consistent frameworks with regional/local adaptability covering relocation benefits, tax & social security, allowances, cost of living (COLA), housing, education, spousal/partner support, and duty of care.
Partner with Total Rewards on compensation, equity, and benefits on the alignment for mobile populations.
Set the global immigration strategy and governance model for work authorization, sponsorship, and permanent residence (e.g., U.S. H1B, L1, TN, O1, PERM; UK Skilled Worker; EU Blue Card/ICT; APAC regimes).
Oversee complex, high-profile cases and contingency planning; manage RFE/escalation strategy and government liaison via outside counsel.
Ensure right-to-work and identity compliance (e.g., I9, eVerify where applicable), posted worker notifications/A1 certificates, and export controls/sanctions attestations in partnership with Legal/Trade.
Lead largescale transformation (policy modernization, vendor transitions, tool implementation, and org redesign) with structured change management.
Create clear, empathetic communications for leaders and employees; partner with DEI and ERGs to ensure equitable access and outcomes.