Florida Gulf Coast University OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Florida Gulf Coast University hires F-1 students on OPT across education, research, and administrative roles. As a public university, FGCU supports the OPT-to-H-1B visa transition for qualifying staff and is enrolled in E-Verify, making it a practical option for STEM OPT students seeking a 24-month extension.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Summary
The Ain Technology & Design Hub is a student-powered agency within the Rist Institute for Entrepreneurship that delivers AI integration, web development, digital marketing, and data solutions to Southwest Florida businesses and nonprofits. The Hub operates like a real business: student teams take on client work, deliver professional services, and are compensated for their contributions - all under faculty and staff oversight.
The Ain Technology & Design Hub Operations Manager keeps this business running. This person is the operational backbone of the Hub - responsible for managing the full client lifecycle from initial inquiry through project delivery, hiring and developing the student workforce, and maintaining the systems that allow the Hub to function at a professional standard. The role sits at the center of everything: clients, students, projects, and finances all flow through this position.
The ideal candidate is a strong operator who is energized by building systems, developing people, and keeping multiple workstreams moving in parallel. They bring working knowledge of the Hub's technology domains - enough to scope projects accurately, communicate credibly with clients, and support student teams when they get stuck - but their primary value is organizational and relational, not technical. They are equally comfortable onboarding a new client, coaching a student intern through a difficult deliverable, and processing a contract renewal.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Management (30%)
- Own the full project lifecycle for all active Hub engagements, from kickoff through final delivery and follow-up
- Maintain a clear picture of all active projects at any given time - timelines, deliverables, student assignments, and client status
- Build and manage project plans that account for student schedules, academic calendars, and client expectations
- Run regular project check-ins with student teams, removing blockers and escalating issues as needed
- Develop and maintain project templates, workflows, and standard operating procedures that improve consistency across engagements
- Track and report on project outcomes, building a library of case studies that demonstrate Hub impact
Client Onboarding & Relationship Management (25%)
- Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective and active clients, managing the full onboarding experience from initial inquiry through project launch
- Conduct discovery conversations with clients to understand their needs, set realistic expectations, and scope work appropriately
- Maintain ongoing communication with active clients, providing status updates and ensuring satisfaction throughout the engagement
- Develop and refine the Hub's client onboarding materials, intake processes, and service agreements
- Identify opportunities to deepen or expand client relationships over time
- Represent the Hub at community events and business association meetings to build pipeline and visibility
Student Hiring & Team Development (25%)
- Manage the full student hiring process, including posting positions, reviewing applications, coordinating interviews, and processing paperwork
- Develop and deliver structured onboarding and training programs for new Hub interns and team members
- Assign students to projects based on skills, availability, and learning goals
- Provide regular feedback and coaching to student team members, supporting their professional development alongside their project contributions
- Maintain accurate records of student hours, compensation, and performance
- Build a Hub culture that feels like a real workplace - professional standards, clear expectations, and genuine accountability
Financial Operations & Administration (20%)
- Generate and process client invoices, track payments, and follow up on outstanding balances
- Draft, review, and manage service contracts and client agreements in coordination with university Legal Affairs
- Maintain organized financial records for Hub operations and prepare summary reports for leadership
- Coordinate with university Finance, HR, and other administrative units to keep operational processes moving smoothly
- Monitor Hub budget and flag any variances or concerns to the Faculty Director and Rist Institute leadership
- Maintain the Hub's internal documentation, knowledge base, and operational records
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, or a related field preferred (or in progress)
Experience
- Demonstrated experience managing projects with multiple stakeholders, deadlines, and concurrent workstreams
- Experience managing, mentoring, or supervising others - including the ability to hold people accountable with care
- Client-facing experience with a track record of building and maintaining professional relationships
- Familiarity with invoicing, contracts, or basic financial record-keeping in a business or organizational setting
- Working knowledge of AI tools and digital marketing fundamentals - enough to scope projects, speak credibly with clients, and support student work
- Experience developing or improving operational processes, documentation, or systems in a team environment
Skills
- Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Clear, professional written and verbal communication across multiple audiences - students, clients, university administrators, and community partners.
- A natural instinct for systems - you look at a messy process and immediately start thinking about how to fix it.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the emotional intelligence to work effectively with students, clients, and colleagues.
- Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to figure things out in an environment that does not always have a playbook.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Claude.AI, OpenAI – ChatGPT, and Replit.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in an agency, studio, or service-delivery environment
- Background in entrepreneurship, startups, or university-affiliated programs
- Familiarity with project management tools (Asana, Monday.com, Notion, or similar)
- Experience with AI implementation, web development, or digital marketing in a client context
- Established relationships within the Southwest Florida business community
- Prior experience in a university environment, particularly with student-facing programs or experiential learning
- Exposure to contract management and business operations in a professional services context
ABOUT THE AIN TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN HUB
The Ain Technology & Design Hub is a student-powered agency within the Rist Institute for Entrepreneurship at FGCU's Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship. Made possible by a landmark gift from the late Mark Ain, founder and former CEO of Kronos Incorporated, the Hub delivers technology services and education to Southwest Florida businesses and nonprofits while giving students real professional experience on real client work.
Active service areas include AI integration, workshop programming, web development, and data solutions - with a trajectory toward hardware development, blockchain applications, and other emerging technology disciplines as capabilities grow. Past work includes the Sanibel Solutions AI-powered community recovery dashboard, regional AI education programming that has trained 400+ business professionals, and client engagements across healthcare technology, manufacturing, luxury real estate, and community associations. The Hub received the Bridge Builder Award from the Charitable Foundation of the Islands for its community impact work.
FGCU is a State University System of Florida member and an Equal Opportunity and Equal Access employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Job Summary
The Ain Technology & Design Hub is a student-powered agency within the Rist Institute for Entrepreneurship that delivers AI integration, web development, digital marketing, and data solutions to Southwest Florida businesses and nonprofits. The Hub operates like a real business: student teams take on client work, deliver professional services, and are compensated for their contributions - all under faculty and staff oversight.
The Ain Technology & Design Hub Operations Manager keeps this business running. This person is the operational backbone of the Hub - responsible for managing the full client lifecycle from initial inquiry through project delivery, hiring and developing the student workforce, and maintaining the systems that allow the Hub to function at a professional standard. The role sits at the center of everything: clients, students, projects, and finances all flow through this position.
The ideal candidate is a strong operator who is energized by building systems, developing people, and keeping multiple workstreams moving in parallel. They bring working knowledge of the Hub's technology domains - enough to scope projects accurately, communicate credibly with clients, and support student teams when they get stuck - but their primary value is organizational and relational, not technical. They are equally comfortable onboarding a new client, coaching a student intern through a difficult deliverable, and processing a contract renewal.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Management (30%)
- Own the full project lifecycle for all active Hub engagements, from kickoff through final delivery and follow-up
- Maintain a clear picture of all active projects at any given time - timelines, deliverables, student assignments, and client status
- Build and manage project plans that account for student schedules, academic calendars, and client expectations
- Run regular project check-ins with student teams, removing blockers and escalating issues as needed
- Develop and maintain project templates, workflows, and standard operating procedures that improve consistency across engagements
- Track and report on project outcomes, building a library of case studies that demonstrate Hub impact
Client Onboarding & Relationship Management (25%)
- Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective and active clients, managing the full onboarding experience from initial inquiry through project launch
- Conduct discovery conversations with clients to understand their needs, set realistic expectations, and scope work appropriately
- Maintain ongoing communication with active clients, providing status updates and ensuring satisfaction throughout the engagement
- Develop and refine the Hub's client onboarding materials, intake processes, and service agreements
- Identify opportunities to deepen or expand client relationships over time
- Represent the Hub at community events and business association meetings to build pipeline and visibility
Student Hiring & Team Development (25%)
- Manage the full student hiring process, including posting positions, reviewing applications, coordinating interviews, and processing paperwork
- Develop and deliver structured onboarding and training programs for new Hub interns and team members
- Assign students to projects based on skills, availability, and learning goals
- Provide regular feedback and coaching to student team members, supporting their professional development alongside their project contributions
- Maintain accurate records of student hours, compensation, and performance
- Build a Hub culture that feels like a real workplace - professional standards, clear expectations, and genuine accountability
Financial Operations & Administration (20%)
- Generate and process client invoices, track payments, and follow up on outstanding balances
- Draft, review, and manage service contracts and client agreements in coordination with university Legal Affairs
- Maintain organized financial records for Hub operations and prepare summary reports for leadership
- Coordinate with university Finance, HR, and other administrative units to keep operational processes moving smoothly
- Monitor Hub budget and flag any variances or concerns to the Faculty Director and Rist Institute leadership
- Maintain the Hub's internal documentation, knowledge base, and operational records
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, or a related field preferred (or in progress)
Experience
- Demonstrated experience managing projects with multiple stakeholders, deadlines, and concurrent workstreams
- Experience managing, mentoring, or supervising others - including the ability to hold people accountable with care
- Client-facing experience with a track record of building and maintaining professional relationships
- Familiarity with invoicing, contracts, or basic financial record-keeping in a business or organizational setting
- Working knowledge of AI tools and digital marketing fundamentals - enough to scope projects, speak credibly with clients, and support student work
- Experience developing or improving operational processes, documentation, or systems in a team environment
Skills
- Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Clear, professional written and verbal communication across multiple audiences - students, clients, university administrators, and community partners.
- A natural instinct for systems - you look at a messy process and immediately start thinking about how to fix it.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the emotional intelligence to work effectively with students, clients, and colleagues.
- Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to figure things out in an environment that does not always have a playbook.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Claude.AI, OpenAI – ChatGPT, and Replit.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in an agency, studio, or service-delivery environment
- Background in entrepreneurship, startups, or university-affiliated programs
- Familiarity with project management tools (Asana, Monday.com, Notion, or similar)
- Experience with AI implementation, web development, or digital marketing in a client context
- Established relationships within the Southwest Florida business community
- Prior experience in a university environment, particularly with student-facing programs or experiential learning
- Exposure to contract management and business operations in a professional services context
ABOUT THE AIN TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN HUB
The Ain Technology & Design Hub is a student-powered agency within the Rist Institute for Entrepreneurship at FGCU's Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship. Made possible by a landmark gift from the late Mark Ain, founder and former CEO of Kronos Incorporated, the Hub delivers technology services and education to Southwest Florida businesses and nonprofits while giving students real professional experience on real client work.
Active service areas include AI integration, workshop programming, web development, and data solutions - with a trajectory toward hardware development, blockchain applications, and other emerging technology disciplines as capabilities grow. Past work includes the Sanibel Solutions AI-powered community recovery dashboard, regional AI education programming that has trained 400+ business professionals, and client engagements across healthcare technology, manufacturing, luxury real estate, and community associations. The Hub received the Bridge Builder Award from the Charitable Foundation of the Islands for its community impact work.
FGCU is a State University System of Florida member and an Equal Opportunity and Equal Access employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Florida Gulf Coast University OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Target roles that align with your degree
At FGCU, OPT authorization must tie directly to your field of study. Review posted positions in departments matching your degree before applying. A research coordinator role won't satisfy OPT requirements for a computer science graduate, regardless of job title.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting
STEM OPT's 24-month extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Verify FGCU's enrollment status with HR before signing an offer, since your DSO needs this confirmation to file your STEM OPT extension request with USCIS.
Research FGCU's H-1B filing history on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to review FGCU's H-1B and EB filing history by department and job title. This tells you which roles have a realistic path beyond OPT, helping you target positions where long-term sponsorship is an established pattern, not a long shot.
Time your application around FGCU's hiring cycles
Universities like FGCU typically post faculty and staff roles on fixed academic-year timelines, with peaks in spring and early fall. Applying outside these windows often means fewer open positions and longer decision timelines, which can compress your available OPT work period.
Submit your OPT EAD before your start date
USCIS recommends filing your OPT application up to 90 days before your program end date. Your EAD must be in hand before your first day at FGCU. HR cannot onboard you without it, and delays in USCIS processing won't extend your authorized start window.
Ask HR explicitly about post-OPT sponsorship intent
During the offer stage, ask FGCU HR whether the department has sponsored H-1B or PERM for the same role previously. Education employers sometimes assume OPT is a fixed endpoint rather than a bridge. Clarifying this early saves you from a gap in status later.
Florida Gulf Coast University OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Florida Gulf Coast University sponsor OPT visas?
FGCU does not sponsor OPT directly. OPT is work authorization granted by USCIS to eligible F-1 students, not a visa that employers file for. What FGCU does is hire students who already hold an OPT EAD. For STEM OPT extensions, FGCU's E-Verify enrollment is required and must be confirmed with HR before your DSO files the extension request.
Which departments at FGCU typically hire OPT students?
FGCU hires OPT students most frequently in research, IT, academic advising, and administrative support roles across its colleges. STEM graduates often find stronger post-OPT pathways in departments like engineering, computer science, and environmental studies, where the university has established H-1B filing patterns for continuing staff.
How do I start the OPT process if I receive a job offer from FGCU?
Your DSO at your student institution initiates the OPT process, not FGCU. Once your DSO issues a new I-20 recommending OPT, you file Form I-765 with USCIS. FGCU HR will need your EAD before your start date. File early since USCIS processing can take several weeks, and your authorized start date cannot be moved.
What is the typical timeline from job offer to first day at FGCU on OPT?
Plan for at least 90 days between receiving your offer and your intended start date if you haven't yet filed your OPT application. USCIS processing for Form I-765 currently runs several months in many cases. FGCU HR will confirm your start date only after seeing your EAD, so early filing is critical to avoid delaying onboarding.
How do I know if FGCU will sponsor me for H-1B after my OPT ends?
FGCU doesn't guarantee H-1B sponsorship as part of an OPT hire. You can research their historical H-1B and EB filing patterns by role and department using Migrate Mate before you accept an offer. Asking HR directly during negotiations whether the department has previously sponsored the same position is also a practical step before committing.
How does Florida Gulf Coast University hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Florida Gulf Coast University 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 Florida Gulf Coast University's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.