J-1 Visa Operations Team Lead Jobs
Operations Team Lead roles in the U.S. are most commonly available to exchange visitors through the J-1 Trainee or Intern program category, depending on your experience level. Designated sponsors issue your DS-2019 and oversee compliance, while your host employer runs day-to-day operations. No lottery or annual cap applies, making J-1 sponsorship a direct path for qualified candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsGelber Group – Software Engineer Internship (Technical Operations Team) - Summer 2026
Gelber Group -- Passion for Trading. Powered by Technology.
Headquartered in Chicago with offices across the United States and Europe, Gelber has set the bar as one of the industry’s innovative and enduring proprietary trading firms for more than 40 years. Our collaborative and entrepreneurial culture empowers each member of our team to have a meaningful impact from the start. We pride ourselves on a flat organizational structure and focus on meritocracy. If you flourish in a fast-paced environment, have a strong work ethic, and enjoy solving real problems with real users, Gelber is right for you.
As a Technical Operations Intern, you will join a team responsible for the internal tools and systems that enable daily trading and operational workflows. Early in the internship, you’ll learn how our Ops and Trading teams use internal applications, how production support works in a trading environment, and the standards we use to keep critical tools reliable. You’ll then take ownership of a modernization project for a production web portal used daily by operations staff and traders.
This internship will begin in June 2026 and last 10 weeks. We are considering candidates that are graduating between December 2026 up until August 2027 or recent graduates. This position will require in-person presence in our Chicago office located in River West right next to the Merchandise Mart and convenient to public transportation.
Position Overview
We are seeking highly motivated individuals to participate in a summer program in which they will plan and execute a project that modernizes a legacy internal web tool (“OpsWeb”). The project focuses on improving maintainability, usability, and reliability while partnering with daily end users to ensure changes are practical and non-disruptive.
We will teach you the context and tools you need to demonstrate your ability, and we will give you meaningful problems that require thoughtful engineering and stakeholder collaboration.
What You’ll Do
- Experience hands-on learning and gain exposure to how a proprietary trading firm operates day-to-day from a systems and tooling perspective
- Work directly with Technical Operations engineers and partner with Operations stakeholders who use these tools daily
- Take ownership of a real modernization effort on a production web portal
- Design and implement a shared templating approach across 15–20 pages to reduce HTML duplication and improve maintainability
- Improve UX and collaboration by enabling shareable, URL-driven views (GET + query params)
- Remove broken or low-value features safely, with careful change management and UAT
- Produce high-quality documentation for both developers and end users, and present results at the end of the internship
Goals
- Deliver a measurable improvement to a production internal application used daily
- Learn to refactor legacy systems without disrupting critical workflows
- Build strong habits around code quality, incremental rollout, stakeholder feedback, and documentation
- Determine if you enjoy Technical Operations / internal platform work in a high-performance trading environment
Qualifications
- Progress toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science or related field (Junior standing or higher preferred)
- Curiosity, self-motivation, and strong communication skills—especially when gathering feedback from non-engineering stakeholders
- Strong problem-solving ability and comfort working in a codebase you didn’t build
- Experience with Python required, JavaScript/TypeScript and C# would be nice to have (web development experience is a plus)
- Familiarity with basic web concepts (HTTP methods like GET/POST, HTML/CSS)
- Interest in financial markets is helpful, but not required—interest in building reliable tools for fast-paced teams is a must
The approximate hourly rate for this position in Chicago, IL is $25/hr. This is a temporary role and is not eligible for employee benefits.
Why Intern at Gelber?
- Brand new office in the heart of Chicago’s River North neighborhood, attached to the Merchandise Mart and “EL” stop and a short walk from both Ogilvie and Union Train Stations
- Comprehensive 10-week program, running from June to August 2026
- Catered lunch provided Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursdays and stocked pantry daily
- Social events and work/life balance that will allow you time to enjoy the Chicago summer
- Office amenities including a golf simulator, pool table, and company paid on-site gym
- Casual, relaxed dress code
- Comprehensive benefits package available for full-time employees
Gelber Group – Software Engineer Internship (Technical Operations Team) - Summer 2026
Gelber Group -- Passion for Trading. Powered by Technology.
Headquartered in Chicago with offices across the United States and Europe, Gelber has set the bar as one of the industry’s innovative and enduring proprietary trading firms for more than 40 years. Our collaborative and entrepreneurial culture empowers each member of our team to have a meaningful impact from the start. We pride ourselves on a flat organizational structure and focus on meritocracy. If you flourish in a fast-paced environment, have a strong work ethic, and enjoy solving real problems with real users, Gelber is right for you.
As a Technical Operations Intern, you will join a team responsible for the internal tools and systems that enable daily trading and operational workflows. Early in the internship, you’ll learn how our Ops and Trading teams use internal applications, how production support works in a trading environment, and the standards we use to keep critical tools reliable. You’ll then take ownership of a modernization project for a production web portal used daily by operations staff and traders.
This internship will begin in June 2026 and last 10 weeks. We are considering candidates that are graduating between December 2026 up until August 2027 or recent graduates. This position will require in-person presence in our Chicago office located in River West right next to the Merchandise Mart and convenient to public transportation.
Position Overview
We are seeking highly motivated individuals to participate in a summer program in which they will plan and execute a project that modernizes a legacy internal web tool (“OpsWeb”). The project focuses on improving maintainability, usability, and reliability while partnering with daily end users to ensure changes are practical and non-disruptive.
We will teach you the context and tools you need to demonstrate your ability, and we will give you meaningful problems that require thoughtful engineering and stakeholder collaboration.
What You’ll Do
- Experience hands-on learning and gain exposure to how a proprietary trading firm operates day-to-day from a systems and tooling perspective
- Work directly with Technical Operations engineers and partner with Operations stakeholders who use these tools daily
- Take ownership of a real modernization effort on a production web portal
- Design and implement a shared templating approach across 15–20 pages to reduce HTML duplication and improve maintainability
- Improve UX and collaboration by enabling shareable, URL-driven views (GET + query params)
- Remove broken or low-value features safely, with careful change management and UAT
- Produce high-quality documentation for both developers and end users, and present results at the end of the internship
Goals
- Deliver a measurable improvement to a production internal application used daily
- Learn to refactor legacy systems without disrupting critical workflows
- Build strong habits around code quality, incremental rollout, stakeholder feedback, and documentation
- Determine if you enjoy Technical Operations / internal platform work in a high-performance trading environment
Qualifications
- Progress toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science or related field (Junior standing or higher preferred)
- Curiosity, self-motivation, and strong communication skills—especially when gathering feedback from non-engineering stakeholders
- Strong problem-solving ability and comfort working in a codebase you didn’t build
- Experience with Python required, JavaScript/TypeScript and C# would be nice to have (web development experience is a plus)
- Familiarity with basic web concepts (HTTP methods like GET/POST, HTML/CSS)
- Interest in financial markets is helpful, but not required—interest in building reliable tools for fast-paced teams is a must
The approximate hourly rate for this position in Chicago, IL is $25/hr. This is a temporary role and is not eligible for employee benefits.
Why Intern at Gelber?
- Brand new office in the heart of Chicago’s River North neighborhood, attached to the Merchandise Mart and “EL” stop and a short walk from both Ogilvie and Union Train Stations
- Comprehensive 10-week program, running from June to August 2026
- Catered lunch provided Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursdays and stocked pantry daily
- Social events and work/life balance that will allow you time to enjoy the Chicago summer
- Office amenities including a golf simulator, pool table, and company paid on-site gym
- Casual, relaxed dress code
- Comprehensive benefits package available for full-time employees
See all 43+ Operations Team Lead jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Operations Team Lead
Document your operational supervision experience clearly
Designated sponsors assess whether your background justifies a Trainee versus Intern classification. Collect performance reviews, org charts, and project summaries that show team oversight, KPI ownership, and cross-functional coordination before you approach any host employer.
Confirm the host employer has an approved training plan
J-1 Trainee placements require a Form DS-7002 training plan signed by both you and the host employer. Ask prospective employers early whether they have worked with a designated sponsor before, since first-time hosts face a longer onboarding process.
Search Migrate Mate to find U.S. employers open to J-1 exchange visitors
Operations Team Lead roles at companies unfamiliar with J-1 logistics are hard to convert into placements. Use Migrate Mate to identify host employers who have a demonstrated history of working with international exchange visitors in operations and management roles.
Verify whether your role triggers the two-year home residency rule
Trainees and Research Scholars funded by their home government or placed in shortage-occupation fields sometimes carry a two-year home residency requirement. Check your DS-2019 and your home country's bilateral exchange agreements with the U.S. State Department before accepting an offer.
Align your job title to O*NET occupational codes before filing
Designated sponsors cross-reference your proposed role against O*NET when reviewing DS-7002 training plans. An Operations Team Lead title is often mapped to industrial or logistics management codes, so confirm that alignment in writing with your sponsor before your host employer commits to the position.
Clarify wage compliance obligations with your host employer upfront
J-1 Trainees must receive the same compensation as U.S. workers in comparable roles. Use the OFLC Wage Search to identify the prevailing wage for operations supervisory roles in your host employer's geographic area and confirm the offer meets that threshold before your sponsor submits paperwork.
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Find Operations Team Lead JobsOperations Team Lead J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits an Operations Team Lead role?
The Trainee category fits most Operations Team Lead candidates who hold a degree and have at least one year of post-graduation work experience in operations, logistics, or management. Current students or recent graduates with less than one year of experience typically qualify under the Intern category instead. Your designated sponsor makes the final classification call based on your background and the host employer's training plan.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa for an Operations Team Lead position?
Your J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your host employer. Organizations such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT issue your DS-2019 form, review your training plan, and monitor compliance throughout your program. The company where you work is your host employer, a separate party that agrees to carry out the approved training objectives.
How do I find U.S. companies that will host a J-1 Trainee in an operations leadership role?
Most Operations Team Lead positions are not explicitly advertised as J-1 placements, so standard job boards won't filter for host-employer willingness. Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. employers and roles that align with J-1 sponsorship, narrowing your list to companies that have relevant exchange visitor experience in operations and management functions.
Does the J-1 Trainee program have a cap or lottery for operations roles?
No. Unlike the H-1B, the J-1 has no annual numerical cap and no lottery system. Placements are approved on a rolling basis as long as your designated sponsor certifies the training plan and your host employer meets program requirements. This means you can target any start date rather than waiting for a single annual filing window.
What is the two-year home residency requirement and does it apply to Operations Team Lead trainees?
The two-year home residency requirement mandates that certain J-1 exchange visitors return to their home country for two years before applying for an H-1B, L-1, or immigrant visa. It applies when your program is funded by your home or the U.S. government, or when your home country designated your field as a shortage area. Operations management is not universally listed, but you should verify your status on the DS-2019 and with your designated sponsor before accepting a host employer offer.
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