Program Assistant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Program assistant roles in Illinois span universities like the University of Chicago and Northwestern, nonprofits across Chicago, and state agencies in Springfield. Employers in healthcare, education, and policy regularly sponsor international candidates. Chicago's concentration of research institutions and global organizations makes it one of the stronger markets for program assistant visa sponsorship in the Midwest.
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INTRODUCTION
The Student Program Assistant provides administrative and program support for student appointments within the Computing, Environment and Life Sciences (CELS) Shared Services Human Resources Support team. Under general supervision, the assistant follows established procedures to support recruitment, onboarding, appointment changes, extensions, and offboarding activities. This role works with HR team members, hiring managers, students, and other stakeholders to gather information, prepare documentation, update systems and tracking tools, and respond to routine questions about student program processes.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities include:
- Coordinate administrative activities for student recruitment, onboarding, appointment extensions and changes, and offboarding, following established procedures.
- Prepare, review, route, and maintain student appointment documents, templates, forms, and compliance materials; identify missing or incomplete information and resolve or escalate as appropriate.
- Track student appointments, deadlines, required documentation, and onboarding/offboarding status using established systems, spreadsheets, and procedures.
- Coordinate routine onboarding and offboarding activities, including new-hire communications, gate pass requests, termination notifications, and related process steps.
- Enter and update student-related information in Workday and other business systems.
- Process routine foreign national assignment requests in accordance with established procedures.
- Maintain master spreadsheets, electronic files, and records to support accurate student program administration and reporting.
- Gather and compile routine information from multiple sources to support student program tracking and assigned administrative requests.
- Provide information and guidance to students, hiring managers, and internal stakeholders on established student program procedures and administrative requirements.
- Support HR-related projects and other administrative requests as assigned by the HR Team Lead.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- The role requires regular in-person presence to support student program operation in Lemont, Illinois.
- This position description documents the general nature and level of work but is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, and responsibilities required of the job incumbent. Consequently, the job incumbent may be required to perform other duties as assigned.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Knowledge, skills, and experience required:
- PA2: Minimum of a Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of experience, or equivalent.
- High school diploma and four or more years of related administrative support experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Working knowledge of administrative support practices, office procedures, records management, and data-entry processes.
- Experience supporting administrative processes that require accuracy, organization, and attention to deadlines.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Adobe Acrobat, and database software applications.
- Ability to prepare, edit, format, track, and maintain documents and electronic records, including converting documents to PDF when needed.
- Familiarity with electronic mail systems, electronic data management, and Mac and/or PC computer environments.
- Ability to follow established procedures, prioritize assigned work, and manage multiple routine assignments and deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide clear information and interact professionally, tactfully, and diplomatically with individuals at all levels within and outside the Laboratory.
- Ability to identify routine issues, use established procedures to resolve them, and escalate non-routine matters appropriately.
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment and maintain professional, respectful interactions with colleagues, students, and internal stakeholders.
- Ability to adapt to updated procedures, systems, and technology.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to complete work accurately and on time.
- Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supporting student programs, academic programs, HR operations, or similar administrative functions.
- Familiarity with Workday or a comparable human resources information system.
- Experience using spreadsheets and tracking tools to monitor appointments, deadlines, and required documentation.
- Demonstrated interest in and initiative toward ongoing professional development and human resources administration.
- Familiarity with Laboratory policies and procedures.
JOB FAMILY
Support Administrative (SA)
JOB PROFILE
Administrative Support 2
WORKER TYPE
Regular
TIME TYPE
Full time
The expected hiring range for this position is $20.78 - $32.41.
Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.
All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.
Program Assistant Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Program Assistant Jobs in IllinoisProgram Assistant Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies and organizations sponsor visas for program assistants in Illinois?
Universities are among the most consistent sponsors, with the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and University of Illinois system regularly filing H-1B visa petitions for program and research assistant roles. Large nonprofits, healthcare systems like Northwestern Medicine, and international organizations headquartered in Chicago also sponsor. Government contractors working with federal agencies in the state occasionally sponsor as well, particularly for policy or program coordination positions.
Which visa types are most common for program assistant roles in Illinois?
The H-1B is the most common visa for program assistant roles where the position requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field, such as public health, social work, or international development. Some university-affiliated roles qualify for cap-exempt H-1B petitions, bypassing the annual lottery. J-1 visa exchange visitor visas are also common in research or academic program contexts, particularly at Illinois universities with established exchange programs.
Which cities in Illinois have the most program assistant visa sponsorship jobs?
Chicago accounts for the majority of program assistant sponsorship activity in Illinois, driven by its density of universities, hospitals, nonprofits, and corporate headquarters. Evanston sees hiring through Northwestern University. Champaign-Urbana is active for academic and research program roles tied to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Springfield has some state agency positions, though sponsorship there is less frequent than in the Chicago metropolitan area.
How to find program assistant visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, so you can search program assistant roles in Illinois without sorting through positions that don't sponsor. The platform is useful for identifying which Chicago-area nonprofits, universities, and research organizations are actively hiring international candidates. Filtering by Illinois and program assistant role type surfaces opportunities that match both your location and sponsorship needs.
Are there any Illinois-specific factors that affect program assistant visa sponsorship?
Illinois employers sponsoring H-1B workers must meet Department of Labor prevailing wage requirements for the specific occupation and geographic area, which in Chicago reflects a higher cost of living than downstate regions. University and nonprofit employers in Illinois often have in-house immigration counsel experienced with cap-exempt petitions, which can simplify the process. Candidates with degrees from Illinois institutions may also find warmer reception from in-state employers already familiar with those credential pipelines.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored program assistant jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.