OPT Assistant Director Jobs
Assistant Director roles in higher education, film, nonprofit, and theater are open to F-1 OPT students with relevant degrees in communications, arts administration, education, or management. Your 12-month OPT window is enough to demonstrate leadership impact, and STEM OPT extension may apply if your program qualifies.
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Athletics
Compensation
$45,000.00 to Negotiable Annual
The Assistant Director, Photography will oversee the visual brand direction and serve as the primary photographer of the North Florida Athletics department. The position will lead the athletic department’s photography staff in the management of content for North Florida Athletics, which includes, but is not limited to, the official athletics website and social channels.
Responsibilities:
- Primary photographer for the North Florida Athletics department, responsible for all studio, game/event and specialty photography assignments.
- Oversee the cultivation, mentorship and management of the part-time, internship and student assistant staffs to ensure schedule and assignment coverage for home and away events, in addition to other external specialty requests.
- Manage the direction and development of the visual style guide for the staff to maintain consistency across the department.
- Supervise the digital asset management system to properly archive content for season and historical use.
- Assist in the overall management, content creation and strategy of North Florida Athletics social media platforms.
- Travel as needed for selected sports and various postseason events.
- Serve as the point of contact for outside photo and freelance requests.
- In conjunction with the Associate A.D., Communications and/or Assistant A.D., Creative Strategy, the position will meet with internal and external personnel to determine multimedia project needs, requirements and timelines.
- The position is expected to work various nights and weekends.
- The position will take on other duties as assigned by the Associate A.D., Communications and/or Assistant A.D., Creative Strategy.
Required Qualifications
Master's and 2+ years of relevant experience or Bachelor's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219.
Statement(s) of Understanding
This position requires a background check. In conjunction with the University's policy, this position may also require a credit check.
The holder of this position is designated as a “Responsible Employee” pursuant to their role under Title IX. Therefore, the incumbent must promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse by or against any student, employee, contractor, or visitor to the University’s Title IX Administrator or any divisional Title IX Coordinator.
Equal Opportunity
The University of North Florida (UNF) is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In building this environment, we strive to attract students, faculty and staff from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. The University of North Florida does not commit or permit discrimination or harassment on the basis of genetic information, race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, marital status, national origin, or veteran status in any educational, employment, social, recreational program or activity that it offers. In addition, UNF will not commit or permit retaliation against an individual who reports discrimination or harassment or an individual who cooperates in an investigation of an alleged violation of university regulation.
Carnegie
UNF is a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution. This designation celebrates the University’s collaboration with community partners from the local to the global level. It reflects UNF’s mission to contribute to the public good and prepare educated, engaged citizens.
Department
Athletics
Compensation
$45,000.00 to Negotiable Annual
The Assistant Director, Photography will oversee the visual brand direction and serve as the primary photographer of the North Florida Athletics department. The position will lead the athletic department’s photography staff in the management of content for North Florida Athletics, which includes, but is not limited to, the official athletics website and social channels.
Responsibilities:
- Primary photographer for the North Florida Athletics department, responsible for all studio, game/event and specialty photography assignments.
- Oversee the cultivation, mentorship and management of the part-time, internship and student assistant staffs to ensure schedule and assignment coverage for home and away events, in addition to other external specialty requests.
- Manage the direction and development of the visual style guide for the staff to maintain consistency across the department.
- Supervise the digital asset management system to properly archive content for season and historical use.
- Assist in the overall management, content creation and strategy of North Florida Athletics social media platforms.
- Travel as needed for selected sports and various postseason events.
- Serve as the point of contact for outside photo and freelance requests.
- In conjunction with the Associate A.D., Communications and/or Assistant A.D., Creative Strategy, the position will meet with internal and external personnel to determine multimedia project needs, requirements and timelines.
- The position is expected to work various nights and weekends.
- The position will take on other duties as assigned by the Associate A.D., Communications and/or Assistant A.D., Creative Strategy.
Required Qualifications
Master's and 2+ years of relevant experience or Bachelor's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219.
Statement(s) of Understanding
This position requires a background check. In conjunction with the University's policy, this position may also require a credit check.
The holder of this position is designated as a “Responsible Employee” pursuant to their role under Title IX. Therefore, the incumbent must promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse by or against any student, employee, contractor, or visitor to the University’s Title IX Administrator or any divisional Title IX Coordinator.
Equal Opportunity
The University of North Florida (UNF) is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In building this environment, we strive to attract students, faculty and staff from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. The University of North Florida does not commit or permit discrimination or harassment on the basis of genetic information, race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, marital status, national origin, or veteran status in any educational, employment, social, recreational program or activity that it offers. In addition, UNF will not commit or permit retaliation against an individual who reports discrimination or harassment or an individual who cooperates in an investigation of an alleged violation of university regulation.
Carnegie
UNF is a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution. This designation celebrates the University’s collaboration with community partners from the local to the global level. It reflects UNF’s mission to contribute to the public good and prepare educated, engaged citizens.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Assistant Director
Target OPT-friendly sectors first
Higher education institutions and nonprofits hire Assistant Directors regularly and have established international student hiring pipelines. These employers understand OPT authorization and are far less likely to withdraw offers over visa paperwork than private-sector employers without prior experience.
Lead your resume with management scope
Assistant Director roles require demonstrated leadership. Quantify how many people you supervised, what budgets you managed, and what programs you oversaw. Hiring managers screen for organizational authority quickly, so surface those details in your first three bullet points.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Know your OPT start date, end date, and STEM extension eligibility before every application. Employers hiring for long-term leadership roles want confidence you can stay. Being specific about your authorization window builds trust rather than raising uncertainty.
Frame sponsorship as a future step, not a current burden
Many Assistant Director roles transition into H-1B visa sponsorship after one to two years. Position yourself as a long-term hire from the start. Employers who see leadership potential are far more willing to sponsor H-1B status down the line than those hiring for entry-level roles.
Highlight cross-functional coordination experience
Assistant Directors are expected to align departments, manage external partners, and report to senior leadership. If you coordinated between teams during a graduate assistantship, research project, or internship, describe that scope explicitly. It directly mirrors what employers expect in this role.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for OPT-sponsoring employers
Not every employer who posts an Assistant Director opening is open to OPT or future visa sponsorship. Migrate Mate surfaces employers with a verified sponsorship history so you spend your application time on roles that are actually accessible given your authorization status.
Assistant Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Assistant Director on F-1 OPT?
Yes, if the role is directly related to your field of study. OPT authorizes F-1 students to work in positions that align with their degree. An Assistant Director role in higher education administration, film production, nonprofit program management, or arts organizations can qualify depending on your major. Your job offer should reflect that connection clearly.
Does an Assistant Director role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It can, but only if your degree is in a STEM-designated field and the role has a STEM component. An Assistant Director of data operations or research program management at a qualifying employer may support a STEM OPT extension. Pure arts administration or theater roles typically do not qualify. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before applying.
Will employers sponsor H-1B for Assistant Director positions?
Many do, particularly in higher education and large nonprofits, which have experience sponsoring international staff. The role's seniority and the employer's prior sponsorship history both matter. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you identify which employers have a documented track record of sponsoring work visas, so you can prioritize applications accordingly.
How do I explain my OPT status to an employer during the hiring process for this role?
Be direct and prepared. State your OPT authorization period, confirm you're work-authorized without requiring immediate employer action, and mention your STEM extension eligibility if applicable. For Assistant Director roles, which often involve multi-year planning cycles, employers appreciate knowing your timeline. Framing it as a bridge to long-term sponsorship keeps the conversation forward-looking.
What degree fields most commonly lead to Assistant Director roles on OPT?
Higher education administration, public administration, communications, arts management, film and media studies, social work, and business management are the most common pathways. Graduate degrees are frequently preferred for Assistant Director titles. If your master's or professional degree aligns with the functional area of the role, your OPT eligibility and career fit work together naturally.