J-1 Visa Devops Lead Jobs
DevOps Lead roles in the U.S. are accessible to qualified professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Research Scholar category, depending on your background. A State Department-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019, while your U.S. employer serves as the host organization. There is no lottery or annual cap.
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About Kerry
At Kerry we’re obsessed with food and an ambition to provide 2 billion people access to more sustainable nutrition. Kerry is the world’s leading taste and nutrition company for food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers’ most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.
The Kerry Leadership Development Program is a 24-month rotational program, which will begin on July 12, 2027.
Manufacturing Overview
You will have responsibility to co-ordinate and drive the delivery of operational targets, initiatives and improvements at one of our manufacturing facilities. You will be required to support department managers in delivering factory performance improvements through the facilitation of Site teams using lean tools and techniques. Initially with a very hands-on approach to developing capability and leadership skills, you will develop into a People Manager with potential Shift Management responsibility. You will have specific project tasks related to driving the introduction of aspects of strategic change as the business continues to grow. Your direct line manager will be the Production Manager, but you may also receive instruction from the Operations Manager or other Managers as appropriate. You will have real opportunity to engage right across the business and make a difference early in your career. You will be supported and work alongside one of the most experienced food manufacturing teams in the world.
Key Responsibilities
What you'll do
- Support the Site Strategic Agenda and the successful implementation and maintenance of the Kerry Manufacturing Standard (Site Audit Standard)
- Identify, manage, and execute initiatives to deliver significant improvements in the areas of: Safety, Quality, Delivery / Service, Operating efficiency, People Management, Materials control and efficiency
- Facilitate and support management teams (and other teams) involved in major transformational projects (e.g. re-engineering the major Site business processes)
- Ensure all direct reports are fully trained and equipped with the necessary skills to operate in an environment that promotes safety and well-being
- Support site programs to ensure the effective training and deployment of the principles, projects, tools and techniques (as appropriate) and KPIs etc.
- Maintain awareness of best practice and modern improvement techniques
- Ensure familiarity is achieved with Kerry’s preferred method of problem solving (root cause, 8 steps etc.)
- Actively live the Kerry values of Courage, Ownership, Inclusiveness, Open-mindedness, & Enterprising Spirit
Qualifications and Skills
What you'll need to be successful
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university in Food Science Technology, Process Engineering, Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering, or Chemical/BioChemical Engineering with an expected graduation date between December 2026 – May 2027
- Exceptional problem-solving skills
- Motivated self-starter with the determination and drive to succeed
- Strong interpersonal skills with the proven ability to communicate effectively to all levels of an organization
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
- A curious mindset
- Willingness to travel
- Relocation for the second rotation is required
Compensation Data
The pay range for this position is $65,000 - $70,000 in Annual Salary. Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition, this position is also eligible to earn a performance-based incentive compensation. Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement. Accepting applications on a continuous basis until 2027 cohort is full. This job posting is anticipated to expire on March 31, 2027.
We may use artificial intelligence tools to support the review and assessment of applications and assist with scheduling interviews. We do not use AI to make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams.
Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. Additional information can be found at Know Your Rights Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).
Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.
Nearest Major Market: Milwaukee
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Devops Lead
Align your training plan to DevOps disciplines
Your DS-2019 requires a detailed training plan tied to specific technical objectives. Map it to DevOps competencies like CI/CD pipeline architecture, infrastructure-as-code, and container orchestration so your designated sponsor can substantiate the exchange program purpose.
Verify your J-1 category before applying
DevOps Leads with a relevant degree and under five years of post-graduation experience typically qualify under the Trainee category. Those with advanced research or academic backgrounds may qualify as Research Scholars. Applying under the wrong category delays your DS-2019 issuance significantly.
Search Migrate Mate for J-1-compatible host employers
Not every U.S. tech employer has experience hosting J-1 visa exchange visitors. Use Migrate Mate to identify companies that have historically engaged international professionals, so you approach hosts already familiar with the designation and training plan requirements.
Confirm your host can sign the training agreement
Your host employer must co-sign the training plan with the designated sponsor. Before accepting an offer, confirm that HR or legal can commit to that obligation. Employers unfamiliar with the host role often stall at this step, delaying your program start date.
Document your DevOps experience for the two-year rule review
Some J-1 Trainees are subject to the two-year home residency requirement depending on citizenship and funding source. Gather employment records, project documentation, and academic credentials before your visa interview so consular officers can assess your situation accurately.
Request your DS-2019 well before your start date
Designated sponsors like CIEE or Cultural Vistas require processing time after both parties sign the training plan. Build at least six to eight weeks into your timeline between offer acceptance and your intended program start date to avoid gaps in authorization.
Devops Lead J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to a DevOps Lead role?
Most DevOps Lead candidates qualify under the Trainee category, which is designed for foreign nationals who have a degree or professional certificate and at least one year of relevant experience outside the U.S. Candidates with an advanced academic or research background attached to a university or research institute may qualify under Research Scholar instead. The designated sponsor determines your category based on your credentials and the proposed training plan.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa if a company wants to hire me?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the employer. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019 form, monitors your compliance throughout the program, and serves as the official point of contact with the State Department. The U.S. company that wants to hire you is called the host organization. The host co-signs the training plan but does not hold sponsorship status independently.
How do I find U.S. employers open to hosting J-1 DevOps professionals?
Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. employers and DevOps roles that align with J-1 sponsorship structures. Because the J-1 host relationship requires the employer to co-sign a formal training plan, targeting companies already experienced with international exchange programs saves significant time. Filtering for roles where the employer has engaged international talent before narrows your search to hosts likely to cooperate with the designated sponsor process.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect DevOps professionals?
It can. The two-year home residency requirement applies to J-1 participants whose program is funded by their home government or the U.S. government, or whose home country skills are deemed in short supply. DevOps and cloud infrastructure expertise appears on several home-country skills lists. If the requirement applies, you must return home for two years before changing to most other U.S. visa categories, unless you obtain a waiver through channels like a no-objection statement from your home government.
What does a J-1 training plan need to include for a DevOps Lead position?
The training plan, typically submitted on Form DS-7002, must outline specific technical and professional objectives tied to your DevOps role, a weekly schedule of activities, supervision arrangements, and measurable performance goals. For a DevOps Lead, this often means detailing exposure to pipeline automation, cloud platform governance, incident response protocols, and cross-functional team leadership. Your designated sponsor reviews and approves the plan before issuing your DS-2019, so vague or generic descriptions will be sent back for revision.