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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This position is available only to enrolled American University students.
Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial Aid.
Important guidance for current American University employees: American University current employees, including those employed in student positions, must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into your employee Workday account and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may cause delays in a hire process.
Department:
School of Public Affairs
Time Type:
Part time
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Job Description:
Summary
The summer associate position will assist the Project on Civic Dialogue Director and Program Coordinator with projects undertaken outside of the school year. This may include collaborative work with the Deliberative Citizenship Network and more. The facilitators will design activities, assessment topics, and dialogues to be used in the 2026 - 2027 PCD courses and events.
Essential Functions:
- Drafting fact patterns.
- Identifying dialogue topics.
- Suggesting improvements for syllabi.
- Planning class presentations.
- Designing interactive activities for students in courses such as Government 352, the American Constitution, and First Amendment Moot Court.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
- Part-time.
- 10 hours per week.
Salary Range:
- $18.40 per hour.
Required Education and Experience:
This position requires previous experience with the Project on Civic Dialogue and/or completion of GOVT 184: Dialogue for Civic Engagement and GOVT-352 with Professor Lara Schwartz. The Summer Associate will also use PCD dialogue facilitation skills to review and revitalize the existing GOVT-352 course syllabus.
Other Details
This position is available only to enrolled American University students. Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. American University is an E-Verify employer. Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.
Current American University Employees
American University current employees (including those employed in student positions) must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.
Contact Us
For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.
Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and Contribute to Your University Community.
This position is available only to enrolled American University students.
Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial Aid.
Important guidance for current American University employees: American University current employees, including those employed in student positions, must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into your employee Workday account and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may cause delays in a hire process.
Department:
School of Public Affairs
Time Type:
Part time
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Job Description:
Summary
The summer associate position will assist the Project on Civic Dialogue Director and Program Coordinator with projects undertaken outside of the school year. This may include collaborative work with the Deliberative Citizenship Network and more. The facilitators will design activities, assessment topics, and dialogues to be used in the 2026 - 2027 PCD courses and events.
Essential Functions:
- Drafting fact patterns.
- Identifying dialogue topics.
- Suggesting improvements for syllabi.
- Planning class presentations.
- Designing interactive activities for students in courses such as Government 352, the American Constitution, and First Amendment Moot Court.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
- Part-time.
- 10 hours per week.
Salary Range:
- $18.40 per hour.
Required Education and Experience:
This position requires previous experience with the Project on Civic Dialogue and/or completion of GOVT 184: Dialogue for Civic Engagement and GOVT-352 with Professor Lara Schwartz. The Summer Associate will also use PCD dialogue facilitation skills to review and revitalize the existing GOVT-352 course syllabus.
Other Details
This position is available only to enrolled American University students. Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. American University is an E-Verify employer. Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.
Current American University Employees
American University current employees (including those employed in student positions) must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.
Contact Us
For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.
See all 281+ 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.