OPT Acquisition Specialist Jobs
Acquisition Specialist jobs on OPT involve procurement, contract management, and vendor negotiations, fields where your F-1 OPT period gives you 12 months of work authorization, with a 24-month STEM extension available if your role aligns with a qualifying degree in business, supply chain, or a related field.
Find OPT Acquisition Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 153+ Acquisition Specialist jobs
See all 153+ Acquisition Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Acquisition Specialist roles.
Get Access To All JobsAbout us
Shannon & Wilson is a 350-person, employee-owned consulting firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. We provide integrated geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, environmental, and natural resources services with a commitment to technical excellence and high-quality client service. Since 1954, we have delivered comprehensive engineering and environmental solutions for many challenging planning, design, permitting, and construction projects. Across our 14 offices nationwide, our employees advance meaningful, innovative scientific practices while improving communities and preserving the environment. We build lasting relationships through trust, responsiveness, and the value we bring to every project.
Job Summary
Shape how Shannon & Wilson attracts the people who drive our success. As our Talent Acquisition Partner, you will lead recruiting across 14 offices, partner with company leaders, develop creative sourcing strategies, and build strong talent pipelines for current and future workforce needs. This is an opportunity to influence hiring strategy, elevate the candidate experience, and connect exceptional professionals with meaningful careers at an employee-owned engineering consulting firm. The ideal candidate brings exceptional recruiting skills and thorough knowledge of personnel policies, procedures, and applicable employment laws.
Responsibilities:
- Own the end-to-end full cycle recruiting efforts from intake, calibration, sourcing strategy, assessment design, interview process, offer review and closing.
- Develop and lead hiring and attraction strategies across all job functions and 14 office locations, with an emphasis on building pipelines of highly qualified talent.
- Partner with leaders on workforce planning, hiring priorities, talent availability, external market conditions, and recommended sourcing and selection strategies.
- Lead resolution of complex hiring issues and stakeholder escalations while maintaining a high standard of customer and candidate experience.
- Analyze recruiting activity, source effectiveness, candidate conversion, time-to-fill, and other key metrics to identify trends and improve hiring outcomes.
- Evaluate candidates through sourcing, screening, and structured assessment, and present qualified candidates to hiring managers with clear recommendations.
- Build and maintain relationships with prospective candidates, universities, and professional associations to expand talent pipelines and strengthen awareness of Shannon and Wilson as an employer of choice.
- Collaborate with the hiring manager and/or other human resource staff during the offer process, identifying and recommending salary ranges, incentives, start dates, and other pertinent details.
- Evaluate and streamline recruiting processes to improve efficiency, strengthen the candidate and hiring manager experience, and deliver measurable results.
- Maintain accurate and timely applicant, interview, and disposition records in the Applicant Tracking System.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and company policies.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree plus 6 years of talent acquisition experience (i.e. recruiting and sourcing) required, or 9+ years of professional experience as a recruiter in lieu of degree.
- Experience working in the Architectural/Engineering/Construction industry is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience developing talent strategies, workforce plans, and hiring forecasts.
- Proficiency with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), candidate relationship management tools, and Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with good negotiation tactics.
- Ability to create and implement sourcing strategies for recruitment for a variety of roles.
- Proactive and independent with the ability to take initiative.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Familiarity with laws, regulations, and best practices applicable to hiring and recruitment.
- SHRM-CP and/or SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential is preferred.
- Ability to travel and attend some evening events.
- This role is a hybrid work schedule with the need for in office presence a minimum of 3 days per week.
- Frequent sitting, standing, and walking (with or without accommodations).
Level Placement:
Depending on applicant’s education, experience, and other qualifications they possess, and if they are a fit for the company, this position will be hired in at the Office Services IV or Senior Office Services with a salary range of $105,000-$135,000. In addition to base pay, all employees are also eligible for an annual year-end discretionary bonus. Exempt staff are eligible to accrue comp time in hours excess of 40 each week.
Shannon & Wilson is committed to providing a comprehensive total rewards package that includes the following benefits:
- Employee stock ownership
- Medical, prescription, vision, dental, long-term care and life insurance plans are offered to employees (and their families).
- Pre-tax health and daycare FSA
- Profit sharing and 401(k) plans with annual safe-harbor contributions
- 10 - 20 paid vacation days per year for full-time employees, based on years of experience (prorated for part-time employment)
- Sick leave accrues based on state requirements
- 9 paid holidays per year + 1 personal holiday
- Paid volunteer day
- Paid time off for bereavement and jury duty
- Two weeks of paid parental leave
- Lunch & Live wellness webinars and an Employee Assistance Program
- Mentorship Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Free parking
Shannon & Wilson is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Shannon & Wilson participates in the E-Verify program.
Please note that non-solicited resumes from external recruitment agencies will not be considered as introductions to our business, unless a preapproved agreement is in place and the external recruitment agency has been engaged to work on this specific vacancy.
About us
Shannon & Wilson is a 350-person, employee-owned consulting firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. We provide integrated geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, environmental, and natural resources services with a commitment to technical excellence and high-quality client service. Since 1954, we have delivered comprehensive engineering and environmental solutions for many challenging planning, design, permitting, and construction projects. Across our 14 offices nationwide, our employees advance meaningful, innovative scientific practices while improving communities and preserving the environment. We build lasting relationships through trust, responsiveness, and the value we bring to every project.
Job Summary
Shape how Shannon & Wilson attracts the people who drive our success. As our Talent Acquisition Partner, you will lead recruiting across 14 offices, partner with company leaders, develop creative sourcing strategies, and build strong talent pipelines for current and future workforce needs. This is an opportunity to influence hiring strategy, elevate the candidate experience, and connect exceptional professionals with meaningful careers at an employee-owned engineering consulting firm. The ideal candidate brings exceptional recruiting skills and thorough knowledge of personnel policies, procedures, and applicable employment laws.
Responsibilities:
- Own the end-to-end full cycle recruiting efforts from intake, calibration, sourcing strategy, assessment design, interview process, offer review and closing.
- Develop and lead hiring and attraction strategies across all job functions and 14 office locations, with an emphasis on building pipelines of highly qualified talent.
- Partner with leaders on workforce planning, hiring priorities, talent availability, external market conditions, and recommended sourcing and selection strategies.
- Lead resolution of complex hiring issues and stakeholder escalations while maintaining a high standard of customer and candidate experience.
- Analyze recruiting activity, source effectiveness, candidate conversion, time-to-fill, and other key metrics to identify trends and improve hiring outcomes.
- Evaluate candidates through sourcing, screening, and structured assessment, and present qualified candidates to hiring managers with clear recommendations.
- Build and maintain relationships with prospective candidates, universities, and professional associations to expand talent pipelines and strengthen awareness of Shannon and Wilson as an employer of choice.
- Collaborate with the hiring manager and/or other human resource staff during the offer process, identifying and recommending salary ranges, incentives, start dates, and other pertinent details.
- Evaluate and streamline recruiting processes to improve efficiency, strengthen the candidate and hiring manager experience, and deliver measurable results.
- Maintain accurate and timely applicant, interview, and disposition records in the Applicant Tracking System.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and company policies.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree plus 6 years of talent acquisition experience (i.e. recruiting and sourcing) required, or 9+ years of professional experience as a recruiter in lieu of degree.
- Experience working in the Architectural/Engineering/Construction industry is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience developing talent strategies, workforce plans, and hiring forecasts.
- Proficiency with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), candidate relationship management tools, and Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with good negotiation tactics.
- Ability to create and implement sourcing strategies for recruitment for a variety of roles.
- Proactive and independent with the ability to take initiative.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Familiarity with laws, regulations, and best practices applicable to hiring and recruitment.
- SHRM-CP and/or SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential is preferred.
- Ability to travel and attend some evening events.
- This role is a hybrid work schedule with the need for in office presence a minimum of 3 days per week.
- Frequent sitting, standing, and walking (with or without accommodations).
Level Placement:
Depending on applicant’s education, experience, and other qualifications they possess, and if they are a fit for the company, this position will be hired in at the Office Services IV or Senior Office Services with a salary range of $105,000-$135,000. In addition to base pay, all employees are also eligible for an annual year-end discretionary bonus. Exempt staff are eligible to accrue comp time in hours excess of 40 each week.
Shannon & Wilson is committed to providing a comprehensive total rewards package that includes the following benefits:
- Employee stock ownership
- Medical, prescription, vision, dental, long-term care and life insurance plans are offered to employees (and their families).
- Pre-tax health and daycare FSA
- Profit sharing and 401(k) plans with annual safe-harbor contributions
- 10 - 20 paid vacation days per year for full-time employees, based on years of experience (prorated for part-time employment)
- Sick leave accrues based on state requirements
- 9 paid holidays per year + 1 personal holiday
- Paid volunteer day
- Paid time off for bereavement and jury duty
- Two weeks of paid parental leave
- Lunch & Live wellness webinars and an Employee Assistance Program
- Mentorship Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Free parking
Shannon & Wilson is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Shannon & Wilson participates in the E-Verify program.
Please note that non-solicited resumes from external recruitment agencies will not be considered as introductions to our business, unless a preapproved agreement is in place and the external recruitment agency has been engaged to work on this specific vacancy.
See all 153+ OPT Acquisition Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Acquisition Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Acquisition Specialist
Target employers with active procurement pipelines
Federal contractors and large corporations with ongoing procurement cycles hire Acquisition Specialists regularly and are more experienced with OPT work authorization. Prioritize employers with established HR processes who have sponsored international employees before.
Align your degree to the role for STEM OPT
If your degree is in supply chain management, operations research, or business analytics, confirm it appears on the STEM OPT designated degree list. A qualifying degree can extend your OPT from 12 months to 36 months total.
Emphasize procurement certifications on your resume
Certifications like the Certified Federal Contracts Manager or CPCM signal specialized knowledge that goes beyond your degree. They reassure employers that you bring immediate value, which helps overcome hesitation about sponsoring an OPT candidate.
Be upfront about your OPT timeline early
Disclose your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility during early conversations. Employers who understand the timeline can plan around it. Surprises late in the hiring process cost you offers more often than honest early disclosure does.
Focus on government contracting firms for faster hiring
Defense and federal contracting firms frequently hire Acquisition Specialists and are familiar with international employees due to cleared workforce diversity. These employers tend to move faster on OPT candidates than those encountering work authorization for the first time.
Prepare to explain the employer's OPT obligations clearly
Many hiring managers do not know that OPT requires no employer petition or USCIS filing on their part. Walking them through the process calmly and accurately removes a major objection and positions you as organized and professional.
Acquisition Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Acquisition Specialist on OPT?
Yes, F-1 OPT work authorization allows you to work as an Acquisition Specialist provided the role is directly related to your field of study. Degrees in supply chain management, business administration, operations research, or procurement are typically accepted as qualifying fields for acquisition and contracting roles.
Does an Acquisition Specialist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you hold a degree in a STEM-designated field such as operations research, management science, or supply chain management, and your Acquisition Specialist role uses those skills directly, you may be eligible for a 24-month STEM extension after your initial 12-month OPT period ends.
What do employers need to do to hire me on OPT as an Acquisition Specialist?
For standard OPT, the employer needs to do very little. There is no USCIS petition, no filing fee, and no government approval required from their side. They simply verify your EAD card, complete Form I-9, and for the STEM extension, enroll in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan. Most employers find the process straightforward once it is explained clearly.
Where can I find Acquisition Specialist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by visa sponsorship willingness. Browsing Acquisition Specialist roles on Migrate Mate lets you focus on employers already familiar with OPT work authorization, which significantly reduces the time you spend on applications that go nowhere due to visa concerns.
What happens to my OPT status if my Acquisition Specialist job ends before my EAD expires?
You have a 60-day grace period after your employment ends to find a new OPT-qualifying position. During that window you cannot work, but you remain in valid F-1 status. If you secure a new role within the 60 days, your OPT continues. If not, you must change status, depart the U.S., or begin a new academic program.