J-1 Visa Program Director Jobs
Program Director roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 visa under the Specialist or Trainee category, depending on your experience level. Securing sponsorship requires a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019, separate from your host employer. No lottery or annual cap applies.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Higher Education Design Lab invites applications for a Program Manager / Associate Research Scholar at the NYU Marron Institute starting in November 2026. The Program Manager / Associate Research Scholar position is focused on research evaluation, project management, stakeholder engagement, and communications.
ABOUT THE HIGHER EDUCATION DESIGN LAB
Launched in January 2026, the Higher Education Design Lab (HEDL) is a landmark research partnership between New York University and the State University of New York to evaluate and accelerate innovations in higher education that shape student outcomes. HEDL is a research and evaluation platform focused on measurement, evidence, and learning that is grounded in self-reflection and open inquiry, designed to inform decisions, and build towards long-term sector-wide learning. The HEDL is committed to evaluating what works – for whom, in what context, and why – and translating evidence into actionable insight for institutional leaders with the aim of strengthening student readiness for leadership in a rapidly changing world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Program Manager / Associate Research Scholar can expect to focus on the following:
Evaluation, Research, and Data Management
- Conduct and continually refresh relevant environmental scans and literature reviews, synthesize research, and summarize learning.
- Draft, update and support implementation of evaluation frameworks for pre-evaluation activities, evaluation design and execution.
- Interface with evaluation pilots, advisors, and HEDL leadership regarding quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Manage and analyze large data sets in service of evaluation pilots.
Project Management and Stakeholder Engagement
- Assist with facilitating communication and coordination among HEDL leaders and interest holders including relevant faculty, institutes, and external partners. Help develop, manage, and participate in meetings, peer-to-peer learning engagements, and special convenings, both virtual and in-person.
- Develop internal and external facing project deliverables including briefs, progress reports, strategic executive memos, and presentations.
Collaboration, Communication, and Development
- Provide project planning and project management support.
- Serve as a point of contact across teams and stakeholders, supporting efficient internal and external communications.
- Support development through grant writing and creation of collateral materials.
MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years work experience in education, applied statistics, social sciences or a related field.
- Project and performance management experience overseeing complex projects.
- Experience monitoring and evaluating intervention programs, especially related to education.
- Experience managing and analyzing large datasets, and partnering to merge quantitative with qualitative findings.
- Experience using programming (e.g., R) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau) to transform complex data into navigable dashboards, research briefs, decks and reports.
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible and responsive to change and to problem solve.
- Highly organized and detail oriented while not losing sight of the big picture.
- Able to thrive in a fast-paced work environment.
- Curiosity and willingness to learn new skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree and/or additional experience working in related fields.
- Interest in the role higher education plays in shaping future leaders and communities.
- Familiarity with cloud-based productivity tools like Google Docs and Google Drive.
COMPENSATION
In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the compensation for this position is $80,000 - $90,000 USD. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.
To apply, please submit the following:
- CV and cover letter
- Contact information for three (3) professional references
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT
NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability
INTRODUCTION
The Higher Education Design Lab invites applications for a Program Manager / Associate Research Scholar at the NYU Marron Institute starting in November 2026. The Program Manager / Associate Research Scholar position is focused on research evaluation, project management, stakeholder engagement, and communications.
ABOUT THE HIGHER EDUCATION DESIGN LAB
Launched in January 2026, the Higher Education Design Lab (HEDL) is a landmark research partnership between New York University and the State University of New York to evaluate and accelerate innovations in higher education that shape student outcomes. HEDL is a research and evaluation platform focused on measurement, evidence, and learning that is grounded in self-reflection and open inquiry, designed to inform decisions, and build towards long-term sector-wide learning. The HEDL is committed to evaluating what works – for whom, in what context, and why – and translating evidence into actionable insight for institutional leaders with the aim of strengthening student readiness for leadership in a rapidly changing world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Program Manager / Associate Research Scholar can expect to focus on the following:
Evaluation, Research, and Data Management
- Conduct and continually refresh relevant environmental scans and literature reviews, synthesize research, and summarize learning.
- Draft, update and support implementation of evaluation frameworks for pre-evaluation activities, evaluation design and execution.
- Interface with evaluation pilots, advisors, and HEDL leadership regarding quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Manage and analyze large data sets in service of evaluation pilots.
Project Management and Stakeholder Engagement
- Assist with facilitating communication and coordination among HEDL leaders and interest holders including relevant faculty, institutes, and external partners. Help develop, manage, and participate in meetings, peer-to-peer learning engagements, and special convenings, both virtual and in-person.
- Develop internal and external facing project deliverables including briefs, progress reports, strategic executive memos, and presentations.
Collaboration, Communication, and Development
- Provide project planning and project management support.
- Serve as a point of contact across teams and stakeholders, supporting efficient internal and external communications.
- Support development through grant writing and creation of collateral materials.
MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years work experience in education, applied statistics, social sciences or a related field.
- Project and performance management experience overseeing complex projects.
- Experience monitoring and evaluating intervention programs, especially related to education.
- Experience managing and analyzing large datasets, and partnering to merge quantitative with qualitative findings.
- Experience using programming (e.g., R) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau) to transform complex data into navigable dashboards, research briefs, decks and reports.
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible and responsive to change and to problem solve.
- Highly organized and detail oriented while not losing sight of the big picture.
- Able to thrive in a fast-paced work environment.
- Curiosity and willingness to learn new skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree and/or additional experience working in related fields.
- Interest in the role higher education plays in shaping future leaders and communities.
- Familiarity with cloud-based productivity tools like Google Docs and Google Drive.
COMPENSATION
In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the compensation for this position is $80,000 - $90,000 USD. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.
To apply, please submit the following:
- CV and cover letter
- Contact information for three (3) professional references
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT
NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Program Director
Align your credentials with DS-2019 requirements
Your DS-2019 application must document how your Program Director experience ties directly to your proposed U.S. training objectives. Gather performance evaluations, program portfolios, and organizational charts showing your leadership scope before approaching any designated sponsor.
Distinguish Specialist from Trainee category early
Seasoned Program Directors with five or more years of demonstrated program leadership typically qualify as Specialists. Those under two years post-graduation fit Trainee. Applying under the wrong category delays your DS-2019 issuance and can trigger sponsor rejection.
Search for J-1-aligned roles using Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter U.S. Program Director openings by employers who have hosted J-1 visa exchange visitors before. Host history signals familiarity with training plan requirements and the DS-2019 process, reducing onboarding friction.
Confirm host employer willingness before sponsor outreach
Designated sponsors like Cultural Vistas or CIEE issue DS-2019 forms only after your host employer signs a training plan. Secure a formal offer or letter of intent from the host organization before contacting any sponsor, or the application stalls at the first step.
Map your training plan to measurable program outcomes
Designated sponsors scrutinize whether your Specialist or Trainee placement advances skills you cannot acquire at home. Frame your training plan around specific program management methodologies, stakeholder engagement models, or evaluation frameworks tied to defined milestones.
Verify the two-year home residency requirement before accepting
Program Directors sponsored under government-funded categories or coming from countries on the Exchange Visitor Skills List may face the two-year home residency requirement after program completion. Confirm your country and funding source with your sponsor before signing any offer letter.
Program Director J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 category fits a Program Director role?
Most experienced Program Directors qualify under the Specialist category, which is designed for professionals with specialized knowledge or skills coming to the U.S. to share expertise with a host organization. Early-career professionals within 12 months of graduation may qualify under the Trainee category instead, provided the placement focuses on structured skill development rather than independent program leadership.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa as a Program Director?
Your visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your host employer. Organizations such as Cultural Vistas, CIEE, or IIE review your qualifications, approve your training plan, and issue the DS-2019 form that authorizes your exchange visitor status. Your host employer, the organization where you direct programs day to day, signs the training plan but does not hold sponsor authority.
How do I find U.S. employers open to hosting a J-1 Program Director?
Migrate Mate lets you search Program Director openings and filter by employers with J-1 hosting history. Host familiarity matters because the employer must sign a detailed training plan before any designated sponsor can issue a DS-2019. Organizations that have navigated this process before move faster and make fewer compliance errors during onboarding.
What goes into the training plan for a Program Director placement?
The training plan, typically form DS-7002 for Trainees, must detail each phase of your exchange activity, the skills you will develop, supervision arrangements, and evaluation checkpoints. For Program Director roles, sponsors expect concrete descriptions of program design, stakeholder coordination, or evaluation frameworks you will learn or apply, with timelines tied to measurable outcomes.
Can a Program Director on J-1 status change host organizations mid-program?
You can change host organizations, but only with your designated sponsor's prior approval. The sponsor must issue an amended DS-2019 reflecting the new host and updated training plan before you begin work there. Starting at a new host without this step violates the terms of your exchange visitor status and can result in program termination.