Academy Sports + Outdoors OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Academy Sports + Outdoors hires OPT students across e-commerce, merchandising, supply chain, and corporate technology roles. The company's retail and digital operations create recurring openings suited to F-1 graduates, and its track record of transitioning OPT hires into longer-term visa sponsorship makes it a practical target for international students.
See All Academy Sports + Outdoors JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 75+ Academy Sports + Outdoors OPT Eligible Jobs USA


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?
See all 75+ Academy Sports + Outdoors OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Academy Sports + Outdoors OPT Eligible Jobs USA.
Get Access To All Jobs
INTRODUCTION
Come work at a place where we take pride in creating a workplace environment that values hard work, commitment, and growth.
At Academy Sports + Outdoors, our Purpose is to make it easier for everyone to enjoy more sports and outdoors. The Sales Manager position is responsible for the overall management and execution of operational excellence for the entire store, with additional specific focus on supervision and management of team members in Hardlines and Softlines Sales (which include Camping, Fishing & Hunting, Outdoor, Firearms, Apparel, Footwear and Team Sports). It directs and coordinates activities through subordinate team leads and other team members. It is a leadership position and is expected to effectively drive the overall performance of the store through the effective supervision, communication and coordination of the team members. Through this important work, the Sales Manager leads the team and drives the goals that directly impact customer satisfaction, store profitability, and Academy’s Purpose.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
WORK EXPERIENCES
- At least three years of relevant work experience required.
- Demonstrated success in leading overall departments of up to 40 people to drive operational excellence and sales targets.
SKILLS
- Exceptional supervisory and management skills; ability to effectively coach department members on store policies, protocols and expectations; leads by example and effectively drives the performance of team members.
- Excellent customer service orientation.
- Effective problem solving and communication with customers and team members.
- Strong business acumen with an understanding of business implications of decisions, knowledge of market and competition and an orientation to profitability and established targets.
- Reads, analyzes and interprets general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
- Speaks clearly, positively and persuasively and demonstrates active listening in a variety of situations with team members, customers, business partners and the general public.
- Writes reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
- Effectively presents information and responds to questions from groups of team members, business partners, customers and the general public.
- Applies common sense understanding and reasoning to make appropriate, timely decisions.
- Working knowledge of inventory software, order processing systems, payroll systems and Microsoft Office products such as Word and Excel.
- Proficiently uses basic mathematical computations and applies common sense understanding to carry out instructions in written, oral or diagram form.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Full-time position averaging 45-50 hours/week.
- Overall management responsibility for the execution and operational excellence of the entire store.
- Management responsibility for Hardlines and Softlines Sales and actively participates in the personnel decisions of team members, including, but not limited to, employee selection, training, discipline, termination and development.
- Provides departmental direction to the Hardlines and Softlines Sales team and daily supervisory oversight to Team Leads and team members to ensure that exceptional customer service is the priority of interaction with customers.
- Develops and implements strategy for achieving weekly and monthly operational goals and completing tasks assigned to the store. This includes the development, analysis and implementation of the sales, staffing, training, payroll hours and scheduling of team members.
- Manages workforce productivity, efficiency and process improvement projects and initiatives.
- Responsible for holding team members accountable for compliance with established sales, safety and security practices and procedures in conjunction with local, state and federal regulations.
- Ensures the completion of departmental zoning and adherence to department, store and Company standards.
- Responsible for supervising the execution of various assignments as delegated by the Store Director in Playbook.
- Actively participates in floor walks with Regional Vice President, District Manager, and Store Director and creates an implementation plan to make changes based on feedback provided in store walks.
- Audits firearm sales in compliance with federal and state law, including properly completing ATF Form 4473 and conducting background checks, and signs off as final approver.
- Required to complete Firearms Sales Certification training.
- Required to complete Power Industrial Truck Certification training.
- Successful completion of Academy Leadership University.
- Provides supervisory oversight to the team member talent lifecycle including hiring, onboarding, developing and coaching team members.
- Required to learn, understand and enforce company policies, procedures and safety rules.
- Adheres to company work hours, policies, procedures and rules applicable to management-level employees.
- Duties may change and Sales Manager may be required to perform other duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & ATTENDANCE
- Regularly required to talk or hear; frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
- Occasionally climb or balance, or stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this role include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate with regard to employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.
Job Roles at Academy Sports + Outdoors
See all 75+ Academy Sports + Outdoors Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Academy Sports + Outdoors roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Academy Sports + Outdoors OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Align your degree to retail tech roles
Academy Sports + Outdoors fills OPT roles most consistently in e-commerce systems, data analytics, and supply chain operations. Map your degree field to these functions before applying, because hiring managers screen for direct alignment between your coursework and the role's technical requirements.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting
STEM OPT's 24-month extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Before signing an offer, ask HR directly whether Academy Sports + Outdoors is registered. An E-Verify gap discovered after you start will force a status change you can't easily reverse.
Use Migrate Mate to check Academy's H-1B history
Knowing whether Academy Sports + Outdoors has a pattern of converting OPT hires to H-1B tells you whether the company is a credible long-term sponsor. Migrate Mate surfaces the company's DOL Labor Condition Application filing history by role, so you can evaluate sponsorship depth before your first interview.
Submit your EAD start date in writing early
OPT authorization runs from the USCIS-approved start date on your EAD card, not your employment start date. Share the exact date with Academy's HR team in writing before onboarding so payroll and I-9 records reflect your authorized period accurately from day one.
Target corporate roles over seasonal store positions
Academy Sports + Outdoors's OPT hires concentrate in corporate and distribution center functions rather than hourly retail floor positions. Apply directly to the Katy, Texas headquarters or distribution-center operations teams, where specialty occupation roles in logistics tech and digital merchandising are more likely to support longer-term visa transitions.
Benchmark your offer against OFLC Wage Search data
Before negotiating your offer, look up the prevailing wage for your job title and location using the OFLC Wage Search. Academy's compensation for OPT roles must meet or exceed this threshold for any future H-1B Labor Condition Application, so identifying a shortfall now protects your sponsorship eligibility later.
Academy Sports + Outdoors OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Academy Sports + Outdoors sponsor OPT visas?
Academy Sports + Outdoors doesn't sponsor OPT directly, because OPT is work authorization USCIS grants to F-1 students, not something employers file for. What Academy does is hire students who already hold a valid OPT EAD. The company has a documented history of bringing on F-1 graduates in corporate and e-commerce roles and supporting the subsequent H-1B visa transition.
Which departments at Academy Sports + Outdoors hire OPT students?
OPT hires at Academy Sports + Outdoors tend to cluster in e-commerce operations, supply chain and logistics technology, data analytics, and corporate IT. These functions generate roles that meet the specialty occupation standard required for a future H-1B petition, making them the most practical entry points for F-1 graduates targeting long-term sponsorship.
How do I know if Academy Sports + Outdoors supports STEM OPT extension?
STEM OPT's 24-month extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask Academy Sports + Outdoors's HR team directly before accepting an offer. You can also cross-reference the company's recent H-1B Labor Condition Application filings through Migrate Mate to gauge whether it has an active track record of supporting international employees through multi-year visa transitions.
How do I prepare my application for an OPT role at Academy Sports + Outdoors?
Lead with technical skills directly relevant to Academy's e-commerce or supply chain functions, and include your OPT EAD start and end dates clearly in your application materials. Address STEM OPT eligibility in your cover letter if your degree qualifies. Confirm your I-20 reflects a current program end date, and have your DSO's contact information available for HR's I-9 verification questions.
What is the typical timeline from OPT hire to H-1B sponsorship at Academy Sports + Outdoors?
Standard OPT provides 12 months of work authorization, with a potential 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies and Academy is E-Verify enrolled. H-1B registration opens each March for an October 1 start date, so a hire early in your OPT period gives you the most runway. Discuss sponsorship intent with your manager and HR contact well before your EAD expiration to keep the transition on track.
How does Academy Sports + Outdoors hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Academy Sports + Outdoors can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Academy Sports + Outdoors's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.