Area Director Jobs for OPT Students
Area Director roles sit at the intersection of operations leadership and regional strategy, making them a strong fit for OPT students with backgrounds in business administration, management, or operations. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B transition. Your 12-month OPT window, extendable to 36 months with a STEM extension, gives you meaningful time to prove your value at scale.
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INTRODUCTION
Creative Solutions in Healthcare, the largest provider of senior healthcare services in Texas, is looking for an Area Director of Operations to assist with directing the day-to-day operations of assigned communities. This position is responsible for identifying and evaluating current community systems as well as implementing all company standards, policies, and procedures in compliance with state and federal nursing facility regulations. The Area Director of Operations plans, implements, and reports all aspects of territory operations to the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Our company operates over 180 facilities throughout the state of Texas. We deliver a wide array of services to our residents and their families, including respite care, memory care, inpatient rehabilitation, and assisted and skilled nursing. We consider it our highest honor to care for your extended family with a tremendous responsibility to you and your loved ones.
The Area Director of Operations is a “road warrior" and spends 4 – 5 days a week in facilities to mentor and train Administrators, as well as troubleshoot concerns with management, residents, family members and may travel to and from their assigned territory, based on the business needs.
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year college or university and current, unrestricted licensure as a Texas Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator, with 3-5 years progressive experience managing multiple facilities; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
KNOWLEDGE BASE:
- Provide leadership, direction, control, and promote teamwork for assigned facilities and area consultants.
- Significant technical experience and demonstrated leadership/management skills.
- Restorative care philosophy, excellent professional skill (both assessment and hands-on), and good communication and organization skills.
- Working knowledge of local, state, and federal nursing home regulations.
- Ensure facilities are meeting the company’s expectations in the following areas: operationally, customer service, departmentally, cleanliness, clinically, and financially, including formulate budgets, monitor spending, maximize revenue, marketing, census building, collections, and facilitate teamwork within the facilities.
- Monitor facility compliance by onsite visits, review facility reports, company reports, consultant reports, and timely follow up on identified issues.
- Review facility functions in regard to Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Admissions, and related day-to-day facility operations.
- Replace/Recruit new administrators as necessary to ensure proper management at each facility.
- Act as a liaison between Corporate management and area facilities.
- Support facility Administrators in implementing required company policy.
- Interview residents and families for satisfaction with facility and staff/assist in correcting family or resident grievances.
- Facilitate support for the administrators/facilities by being a resource and manager.
- Ability to travel extensively and flexibly to meet the needs of the area assigned.
Responsibilities:
- Effective management of Company’s Sales and Marketing efforts to achieve established metrics and corresponding census growth and maintenance objectives.
- Oversight of expense management of labor, food and all other cost centers to assure compliance with budgeted levels adjusted as necessary for actual census and acuity levels.
- Manage all operational and financial aspects in a manner to deliver positive leverage annually, i.e., rate of revenue growth exceeds the rate of expense growth.
- Oversees the management of each department to assure that each department is operating within the state regulatory guidelines and meets or exceeds standards established for each department, including those relating specifically to Executive Director Standards.
- Maintains outreach and education within the community at large, creating positive relationships and marketing opportunities. Works closely with the Community Relations Director to develop and review marketing plans, meet sales goals, and be aware of upcoming move-ins and move-outs.
- Creates positive employee relations through staff appreciation programs, recognition of excellent performance, and retention through regular performance feedback systems and promotional incentive programs.
- Assures the healthiest possible residents by monitoring the care of the residents to assure all needs are being met, and that proper documentation is being performed for their care needs as well as their medicine management.
- Manages labor through department head involvement so that all labor dollars are within operating budget as tied to census and acuity. Utilizes staffing models to guide scheduling within each department, daily/weekly time and attendance reports to monitor labor use and overtime, and bi-weekly labor reports to review hours used.
- Manages budgets for each department to within given budget parameters utilizing spend-down sheets provided from each department head.
- Allows no accounts receivable charge-offs by reviewing A/R aging weekly and following up on all unpaid accounts, charging late fees as needed, and issuing move-out letters by the 10th of the 2nd month. Assure that the assessment given to the resident matches the billing spreadsheet.
- Minimizes Worker’s Compensation claims by providing in-services in high-risk areas and proactively working with Risk Management to reduce dollar costs when claims do occur. Directs employees in need of health care to the most appropriate level of care, listed on our Worker’s Compensation list of approved doctors and hospitals.
- Provides conflict resolution among residents, staff and families to assure no problems go unaddressed, using all available tools such as the Resident Satisfaction Survey, resident council meetings, suggestion boxes, etc.
- Hold monthly Quality Assurance/Safety meetings to analyze issues within the community, including reviewing incident reports, safety rounds, worker’s compensation claims, etc.
- Ensures that all weekly and monthly documents are forwarded to the Support Center in a timely fashion, including properly coded accounts receivables, time sheets, incident reports, and other reports as requested or required.
- Reviews Routine Maintenance calendar with the Maintenance Director monthly to ensure the building stays in good operating condition. Receives documentation from the Maintenance Director that the routine maintenance for the month was performed as outlined in the Policy and Procedure manual, making notes of exceptions.
- Is fully knowledgeable of the fire evacuation and disaster policy of the community and participates as assigned in fire and disaster drills.
Benefits:
Our company provides an extensive benefits package, including health/dental/vision insurance available immediately, a generous bonus package for meeting and exceeding company targets, tuition reimbursement, complimentary CEUs, immediate 401(k) eligibility, paid time off, a company-sponsored life insurance, transfer and promotion opportunities, and extensive company training.
About us:
Our company philosophy is simple - we believe that serving the senior community is our calling. This extends to our company culture, where we make it our top priority to care for seniors with the respect, compassion and dignity they deserve. We are the largest provider of long-term care in the state of Texas, with over 150 facilities throughout Texas.
We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

INTRODUCTION
Creative Solutions in Healthcare, the largest provider of senior healthcare services in Texas, is looking for an Area Director of Operations to assist with directing the day-to-day operations of assigned communities. This position is responsible for identifying and evaluating current community systems as well as implementing all company standards, policies, and procedures in compliance with state and federal nursing facility regulations. The Area Director of Operations plans, implements, and reports all aspects of territory operations to the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Our company operates over 180 facilities throughout the state of Texas. We deliver a wide array of services to our residents and their families, including respite care, memory care, inpatient rehabilitation, and assisted and skilled nursing. We consider it our highest honor to care for your extended family with a tremendous responsibility to you and your loved ones.
The Area Director of Operations is a “road warrior" and spends 4 – 5 days a week in facilities to mentor and train Administrators, as well as troubleshoot concerns with management, residents, family members and may travel to and from their assigned territory, based on the business needs.
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year college or university and current, unrestricted licensure as a Texas Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator, with 3-5 years progressive experience managing multiple facilities; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
KNOWLEDGE BASE:
- Provide leadership, direction, control, and promote teamwork for assigned facilities and area consultants.
- Significant technical experience and demonstrated leadership/management skills.
- Restorative care philosophy, excellent professional skill (both assessment and hands-on), and good communication and organization skills.
- Working knowledge of local, state, and federal nursing home regulations.
- Ensure facilities are meeting the company’s expectations in the following areas: operationally, customer service, departmentally, cleanliness, clinically, and financially, including formulate budgets, monitor spending, maximize revenue, marketing, census building, collections, and facilitate teamwork within the facilities.
- Monitor facility compliance by onsite visits, review facility reports, company reports, consultant reports, and timely follow up on identified issues.
- Review facility functions in regard to Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Admissions, and related day-to-day facility operations.
- Replace/Recruit new administrators as necessary to ensure proper management at each facility.
- Act as a liaison between Corporate management and area facilities.
- Support facility Administrators in implementing required company policy.
- Interview residents and families for satisfaction with facility and staff/assist in correcting family or resident grievances.
- Facilitate support for the administrators/facilities by being a resource and manager.
- Ability to travel extensively and flexibly to meet the needs of the area assigned.
Responsibilities:
- Effective management of Company’s Sales and Marketing efforts to achieve established metrics and corresponding census growth and maintenance objectives.
- Oversight of expense management of labor, food and all other cost centers to assure compliance with budgeted levels adjusted as necessary for actual census and acuity levels.
- Manage all operational and financial aspects in a manner to deliver positive leverage annually, i.e., rate of revenue growth exceeds the rate of expense growth.
- Oversees the management of each department to assure that each department is operating within the state regulatory guidelines and meets or exceeds standards established for each department, including those relating specifically to Executive Director Standards.
- Maintains outreach and education within the community at large, creating positive relationships and marketing opportunities. Works closely with the Community Relations Director to develop and review marketing plans, meet sales goals, and be aware of upcoming move-ins and move-outs.
- Creates positive employee relations through staff appreciation programs, recognition of excellent performance, and retention through regular performance feedback systems and promotional incentive programs.
- Assures the healthiest possible residents by monitoring the care of the residents to assure all needs are being met, and that proper documentation is being performed for their care needs as well as their medicine management.
- Manages labor through department head involvement so that all labor dollars are within operating budget as tied to census and acuity. Utilizes staffing models to guide scheduling within each department, daily/weekly time and attendance reports to monitor labor use and overtime, and bi-weekly labor reports to review hours used.
- Manages budgets for each department to within given budget parameters utilizing spend-down sheets provided from each department head.
- Allows no accounts receivable charge-offs by reviewing A/R aging weekly and following up on all unpaid accounts, charging late fees as needed, and issuing move-out letters by the 10th of the 2nd month. Assure that the assessment given to the resident matches the billing spreadsheet.
- Minimizes Worker’s Compensation claims by providing in-services in high-risk areas and proactively working with Risk Management to reduce dollar costs when claims do occur. Directs employees in need of health care to the most appropriate level of care, listed on our Worker’s Compensation list of approved doctors and hospitals.
- Provides conflict resolution among residents, staff and families to assure no problems go unaddressed, using all available tools such as the Resident Satisfaction Survey, resident council meetings, suggestion boxes, etc.
- Hold monthly Quality Assurance/Safety meetings to analyze issues within the community, including reviewing incident reports, safety rounds, worker’s compensation claims, etc.
- Ensures that all weekly and monthly documents are forwarded to the Support Center in a timely fashion, including properly coded accounts receivables, time sheets, incident reports, and other reports as requested or required.
- Reviews Routine Maintenance calendar with the Maintenance Director monthly to ensure the building stays in good operating condition. Receives documentation from the Maintenance Director that the routine maintenance for the month was performed as outlined in the Policy and Procedure manual, making notes of exceptions.
- Is fully knowledgeable of the fire evacuation and disaster policy of the community and participates as assigned in fire and disaster drills.
Benefits:
Our company provides an extensive benefits package, including health/dental/vision insurance available immediately, a generous bonus package for meeting and exceeding company targets, tuition reimbursement, complimentary CEUs, immediate 401(k) eligibility, paid time off, a company-sponsored life insurance, transfer and promotion opportunities, and extensive company training.
About us:
Our company philosophy is simple - we believe that serving the senior community is our calling. This extends to our company culture, where we make it our top priority to care for seniors with the respect, compassion and dignity they deserve. We are the largest provider of long-term care in the state of Texas, with over 150 facilities throughout Texas.
We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Area Director
Target multi-unit operators with established sponsorship history
Franchise groups and regional operators managing 10 or more locations routinely sponsor H-1B visas for Area Directors. These employers have immigration counsel on retainer and process sponsorship as a standard part of senior operations hiring, not an exception.
Frame your degree against the specialty occupation standard
USCIS requires Area Director roles to demand a specific bachelor's degree field, not just any degree. Business administration, hospitality management, or operations management degrees map cleanly to this role. Lead with that alignment in every cover letter and interview.
Use P&L ownership as your sponsorship leverage
Area Directors who own regional budgets are harder to replace than those in oversight roles only. If your role includes direct P&L responsibility, make that explicit in sponsorship conversations. It strengthens the business necessity argument for retention and sponsorship.
Clarify your STEM extension eligibility before accepting offers
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field like business analytics, supply chain, or information systems, you may qualify for a 24-month OPT extension. That extension nearly doubles your runway and gives employers significantly more time before H-1B sponsorship is required.
Negotiate sponsorship intent into your offer conversation
Raise sponsorship before signing, not after your first year. Ask directly whether the company has sponsored Area Directors before and whether they would commit to filing when your OPT authorization approaches expiration. Ambiguity at this stage is a risk you can avoid.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Area Directors in the United States?
Yes. Area Director roles generally qualify as specialty occupations because they require a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as business administration, operations management, or hospitality management. F-1 students with valid OPT authorization can work in these roles without any additional employer filing during the OPT period itself. You can browse OPT-eligible Area Director openings directly on Migrate Mate.
Do Area Director jobs typically lead to H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, particularly with mid-size to large employers managing regional operations across multiple states. Area Directors are senior enough that replacing them is costly, which creates genuine sponsorship motivation. The strongest cases involve demonstrated P&L ownership and documented regional growth outcomes. Employers with existing H-1B sponsorship programs are your highest-probability targets.
How does the STEM OPT extension apply to Area Director roles?
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field, such as business analytics, supply chain management, or management information systems, you may qualify for a 24-month extension beyond your initial 12 months of OPT. The extension requires your employer to be E-Verify enrolled and to submit a formal training plan. Not all business degrees are STEM-designated, so verify your specific program against the Department of Homeland Security STEM list.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I change employers or move to a different region within the same company?
OPT is not employer-specific, so changing employers or transferring regions does not automatically jeopardize your authorization. However, you must report any employer change to your DSO within 10 days, and you cannot have more than 90 days of unemployment during your OPT period. An internal transfer within the same company typically does not count as a break in employment.
Is an Area Director role likely to qualify as a specialty occupation for future H-1B sponsorship?
Generally yes, provided the job description specifies a degree requirement in a particular field rather than accepting any bachelor's degree. The distinction matters because USCIS looks for a direct relationship between the degree field and the job duties. Roles with vague educational requirements face higher scrutiny. When evaluating offers, confirm the job posting specifies a field-specific degree requirement, not just a preference.
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