J-1 Visa Project Director Jobs
Project Director roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 visa Trainee or Specialist program category, both requiring a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor to issue your DS-2019. Securing J-1 sponsorship means pairing a qualifying host employer with an approved sponsor organization before your program start date.
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Get Access To All JobsAPPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
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CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
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CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
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If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Penn State’s Office of the Physical Plant Design & Construction Department is seeking Project Management Interns for Spring 2027 and Summer 2027. The Design & Construction Department manages the planning, design, and construction of capital improvement, renovation, and major maintenance projects across the University. Our mission is to provide responsive, high-quality project delivery that supports Penn State’s educational, research, and outreach missions through responsible stewardship of the University’s physical assets.
Based on applicants’ backgrounds and interests, successful candidates will assist project managers with a variety of tasks, including:
- Supporting project planning, coordination, and execution activities
- Participating in project meetings, design reviews, and construction conferences
- Assisting with project documentation, records management, and report preparation
- Updating project schedules, action item logs, and project tracking systems
- Supporting budget tracking, procurement, and construction administration activities
- Conducting site visits and construction observations
- Collaborating with customers, architects, engineers, contractors, and University stakeholders
- Assisting with Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) and data management efforts
Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills are important. Experience with Microsoft Office applications and an interest in project management, construction, engineering, architecture, or facilities management is preferred. Students pursuing degrees in construction management, architectural engineering, engineering, project management, business, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and two reference letters. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2027.
During the fall and spring semesters, interns may work up to 20 hours a week. During the summer, interns are expected to work 40 hours a week. Internship is located at University Park with compensation of $16 per hour for undergraduate and $17 per hour for graduate.
This job may require that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid US driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check may be required in addition to standard background checks.
Questions regarding the OPP Intern Program please contact OPP Intern Committee at OPPInternCommittee@psu.edu.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
-
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
-
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
-
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Penn State’s Office of the Physical Plant Design & Construction Department is seeking Project Management Interns for Spring 2027 and Summer 2027. The Design & Construction Department manages the planning, design, and construction of capital improvement, renovation, and major maintenance projects across the University. Our mission is to provide responsive, high-quality project delivery that supports Penn State’s educational, research, and outreach missions through responsible stewardship of the University’s physical assets.
Based on applicants’ backgrounds and interests, successful candidates will assist project managers with a variety of tasks, including:
- Supporting project planning, coordination, and execution activities
- Participating in project meetings, design reviews, and construction conferences
- Assisting with project documentation, records management, and report preparation
- Updating project schedules, action item logs, and project tracking systems
- Supporting budget tracking, procurement, and construction administration activities
- Conducting site visits and construction observations
- Collaborating with customers, architects, engineers, contractors, and University stakeholders
- Assisting with Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) and data management efforts
Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills are important. Experience with Microsoft Office applications and an interest in project management, construction, engineering, architecture, or facilities management is preferred. Students pursuing degrees in construction management, architectural engineering, engineering, project management, business, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and two reference letters. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2027.
During the fall and spring semesters, interns may work up to 20 hours a week. During the summer, interns are expected to work 40 hours a week. Internship is located at University Park with compensation of $16 per hour for undergraduate and $17 per hour for graduate.
This job may require that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid US driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check may be required in addition to standard background checks.
Questions regarding the OPP Intern Program please contact OPP Intern Committee at OPPInternCommittee@psu.edu.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
See all 36+ J-1 Visa Project Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Project Director Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Project Director
Document your leadership credentials precisely
Designated sponsors evaluate your prior experience against your proposed training objectives. Compile performance reviews, org charts showing your reporting structure, and project outcome summaries that demonstrate progressively senior project management responsibility before you apply.
Identify host employers with international program infrastructure
Target organizations that have previously hosted J-1 Trainee or Specialist participants. Federal contracting firms, multinational construction companies, and research institutions already understand DS-2019 timelines and training plan requirements, reducing friction during the offer stage.
Search verified roles using Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter U.S. Project Director postings by employers familiar with exchange visitor sponsorship. Narrowing your search this way surfaces host organizations whose hiring processes already account for DS-2019 lead times and training plan submissions.
Align your training plan with the J-1 Specialist category
If your background is in a specialized field like infrastructure, public health, or environmental management, the Specialist category may fit better than Trainee. Your designated sponsor will need a training plan that maps your project oversight duties to skills not replicable in your home country.
Verify the 2-year home residency requirement early
Some J-1 participants, particularly those funded by their home government or working in fields on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, must return home for two years after their program. Confirm with your designated sponsor whether this applies before negotiating a long-term role with a host employer.
Negotiate offer terms before DS-2019 issuance
Once your host employer submits your training plan to the designated sponsor for DS-2019 issuance, changing your job title, compensation structure, or program dates triggers an amendment process. Finalize all material offer terms in writing before the sponsor initiates the DS-2019.
Project Director J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Project Director role?
Most Project Director candidates qualify under the Trainee or Specialist category. Trainee applies if you have a degree plus at least one year of relevant work experience, or five or more years of professional experience without a degree. Specialist is appropriate when your expertise is in a narrowly defined field and your training objectives require a host organization with specialized facilities or programs unavailable in your home country.
Who actually sponsors a J-1 visa for a Project Director, the employer or a separate organization?
The J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas, AIPT, or IIE, not the hiring employer. The employer functions as your host organization and provides the substantive work environment. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, approves your training plan, and monitors program compliance throughout your exchange. You need both a willing host employer and an approved designated sponsor before your program can begin.
How far in advance should a Project Director begin the J-1 sponsorship process?
Plan for a minimum of eight to twelve weeks between your host employer's training plan submission and your program start date. Designated sponsors need time to review your application, issue the DS-2019, and allow you to schedule a consular appointment. Complex Specialist applications or roles involving government-funded programs can take longer. Starting the process only after a written offer is accepted is a common mistake that delays program start.
Can I find Project Director host employers that already understand J-1 requirements?
Use Migrate Mate to search for Project Director roles posted by U.S. employers with exchange visitor program experience. Hosts familiar with DS-2019 timelines, training plan formats, and the 30-day grace period that follows program completion are significantly easier to work with than employers encountering J-1 requirements for the first time.
Does the 2-year home residency requirement apply to Project Directors on a J-1 visa?
It depends on your specific circumstances. The requirement applies if your J-1 program was financed by your home government or the U.S. government, if your home country appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for your field, or if your program falls into certain government-to-government categories. Your designated sponsor reviews these factors during application processing and will note any applicable requirement on your DS-2019 and visa stamp.