Hiring and Sponsoring IT managers (SOC Code 2132)

IT Managers (SOC Code 2132) 

• Role Overview: IT Managers are essential professionals who oversee and direct an organization's IT and telecommunications services to ensure optimal effectiveness and efficiency.
• Key Responsibilities:
• • Planning & Coordination: Develops and implements strategies for IT and telecommunications provision, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
  • Stakeholder Liaison: Communicates with users, senior management, and both internal and external clients to assess and clarify their IT needs and development goals.
  • Management Oversight: Responsible for managing specific aspects of IT provision such as user support, network operations, service delivery, or quality assurance.
  • Team Supervision: Leads and supervises the technical team, ensuring they have the training and resources needed to perform effectively.
  • Monitoring & Reporting: Plans, monitors work schedules and maintenance activities, ensuring that agreed service levels are met and reports progress to senior management.
• Industry Context: With the increasing reliance on technology in every sector, the demand for skilled IT Managers continues to rise, further emphasizing the importance of effective IT management in driving organizational success.

This guide aims to assist HR professionals in understanding the hiring and sponsorship processes for IT Managers under the UK’s immigration regulations.

What is SOC Code 3411 for IT managers?

SOC Code 2132 refers to IT Managers who plan, coordinate, and manage an organization’s IT and telecommunications provision or a specific area of IT activity. Their responsibilities can include:

• IT Strategy Development: Formulating and implementing strategies to meet organizational IT objectives.
• User Liaison: Collaborating with users, senior staff, and internal/external clients to clarify IT and telecommunications requirements and development needs.
• Project Management: Taking responsibility for managing the development of aspects of IT and telecommunications provision, such as user support, network operations, service delivery, or quality control.
• Technical Supervision: Supervising the technical team and coordinating training initiatives to enhance skill sets.
• Work Scheduling: Planning and monitoring work and maintenance schedules to ensure agreed service levels are achieved.
• Reporting: Compiling reports on IT and telecommunications activities for senior management review.

IT Managers play a vital role in ensuring that an organization’s technology infrastructure operates efficiently, supports business objectives, and meets the needs of users.

Eligibility to Hire IT managers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

IT Managers seeking to lead and enhance the organization’s IT and telecommunications strategies must demonstrate their managerial and technical capabilities and meet certain qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Experience: Proven track record in IT management, with an emphasis on project coordination and team leadership.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in various IT disciplines such as network administration, software development, or cybersecurity.
• Education: A degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically required. Relevant certifications (e.g., ITIL, PMP) can be highly advantageous.
• Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal abilities to liaise effectively with users, senior staff, and external clients to clarify IT requirements and development needs.
• Team Leadership: Experience in supervising technical teams, coordinating training sessions, and ensuring that the team meets work and maintenance schedules to achieve agreed service levels.
• Reporting Skills: Ability to prepare comprehensive reports on IT and telecommunications activities for presentation to senior management.

Ensure that the job description aligns with SOC Code 2132 and that the IT Manager’s experience and capabilities meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring IT managers: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring IT managers under SOC Code 2132.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK IT managers, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas IT managers under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the IT managers. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for IT managers applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the IT managers’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the IT managers can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for IT managers

Before the IT managers begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the IT managers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the IT managers holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the IT managers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the IT managers’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future IT managerss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring IT managers

Sponsoring IT managers under SOC Code 2132 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring IT managers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring IT managers under SOC Code 2132 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.