Immigration & Government Relations Specialist, Orthopedics

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com . As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit. Job Function: Communications & Corporate/External Affairs Job Sub Function: Government Affairs & Policy Job Category: Professional All Job Posting Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Job Description: About MedTech Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments. Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech Immigration & Government Relations Specialist, Orthopedics Location: Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) Contract: full-time About Orthopaedics Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments. Are you passionate about improving and expanding the possibilities of Orthopaedics? Ready to join a team that s reimagining how we heal? Our Orthopaedics teams help keep more than 6 million people moving each year while delivering clinical and economic value to surgeons and healthcare systems. Our teams build solutions for joint reconstruction; trauma and craniomaxillofacial; sports, extremities, and elective foot and ankle; spine; and robotics and digital surgery. Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech

About the Role

Immigration & Government Relations Specialist is responsible for managing all immigration, foreign workforce, and government compliance activities for the company in Saudi Arabia. The role ensures full compliance with Saudi immigration regulations, maintains valid work authorization for foreign employees, manages government platform requirements, and coordinates with relevant ministries and authorities to support the employment and mobility of foreign nationals.

You will be responsible for:

Immigration & Foreign Workforce Management

• Manage the end-to-end immigration process for foreign employees working in Saudi Arabia.
• Arrange and maintain employment contracts for non-Saudi employees in compliance with local regulations.
• Obtain, renew, and monitor work permits and residency permits (Iqama) for foreign employees.
• Coordinate with relevant government authorities and ministries regarding immigration-related payments, renewals, and approvals.
• Ensure continuous work authorization for all sponsored foreign employees and proactively prevent any gaps in legal work status.

International Recruitment & Work Visa Processing

• Manage the immigration process for foreign hires recruited from outside Saudi Arabia.
• Coordinate work visa applications and ensure alignment of visa categories with employees' educational qualifications and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare employment contracts and obtain required attestations from the Chamber of Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Process electronic authorizations and supporting documentation required for overseas recruitment.
• Liaise with government entities and external agencies to facilitate successful visa issuance and onboarding of foreign employees.

Sponsorship Transfer Management

• Manage sponsorship transfer (Kafala transfer) processes for foreign employees.
• Submit sponsorship transfer requests through relevant government systems.
• Coordinate with employees, current sponsors, and government authorities to obtain all required approvals.
• Monitor cases through completion and ensure all associated fees and regulatory requirements are fulfilled.

Government Platforms & Regulatory Compliance

• Serve as administrator and key point of contact for labour and immigration-related government platforms, including:

• QIWA

• GOSI (where immigration-related coordination is required)

• Training and workforce compliance platforms

• Other Ministry of Human Resources and governmental systems

• Ensure compliance with governmental requirements that impact workforce eligibility, immigration sponsorship, and company licensing status.

• Complete mandatory submissions, updates, and reporting requirements to maintain uninterrupted access to government services.

Employee Mobility & Travel Authorization

• Process and issue exit, re-entry, and related travel permits for employees as required.

• Monitor validity of travel permissions and immigration documents.

• Support employees and business stakeholders with immigration-related guidance regarding travel and work authorization requirements.

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Saudi national (mandatory), in line with local Saudization requirements.

• Fluent in both Arabic and English (written and spoken) is required.

• Previous experience in Immigration and Government Relations within Saudi Arabia, with a strong understanding of local immigration processes, government regulations, and workforce compliance requirements.

• Hands-on experience working with Saudi government platforms, including QIWA and GOSI.

• Proven experience managing immigration processes for expatriate employees, including:

• Business visa issuance

• Work visa processing

• Exit and re-entry visas

• Work permit and residency permit (Iqama) renewals

• Renewal of company registrations and documentation with relevant government authorities (e.g. Ministry of Commerce).

• Experience working in a multinational organization, with the ability to navigate an international business environment and collaborate effectively across diverse cultures and stakeholders.

Please note: For candidates applying to the Saudi Arabia location, this role is open to Saudi nationals only, in line with local Saudization requirements.

Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes .