OPT Associate Director Field Medical Affairs Jobs
Associate Director Field Medical Affairs jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with advanced degrees in life sciences, pharmacy, or medicine. These roles typically qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship, and many large pharmaceutical and biotech employers have established OPT and visa sponsorship pipelines.
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Summary:
The Program Manager Health Plans Regulatory Affairs role is to assist in the implementation and maintenance of the CHRISTUS Health Compliance Program. This job assists the Regulatory Affairs team in the execution of established work priorities and plans, management, and monitoring of operational compliance related tasks. These tasks are to include internal auditing and monitoring activities, external audit coordination, and regulatory training and education.
Responsibilities:
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Review and research laws and regulations both on a reactive and proactive basis to ensure an effective and accurate response to legal and regulatory compliance for Medicare Advantage and Health Exchange lines of business.
- Monitors Health Plan progress in resolution of issues identified through the Risk Assessment and Monitoring Work Plan and internal and external audit findings.
- Analyze and periodically report on risk-related trends to the Compliance Committee to ensure organizational awareness of potential noncompliance.
- Perform ongoing internal monitoring/audits based on risk level.
- Support implementation of consistent processes to enhance compliance within day-to-day health plan operations.
- Provide specialized education and development of materials as requested.
- Follow up with Action items necessary related to various audit requests and compliance related issues.
- Work with the regulatory affairs team to develop streamlined approaches between lines of business.
- Cross-train the regulatory affairs team on compliance related tasks to ensure operational compliance goals are met.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with regular interaction and communication with the Senior Leadership team and other associates within the organization.
- Ability to facilitate the resolution of issues and concerns that create barriers to a high-performing team and work environment.
- Ability to manage project/monitoring work plans for achieving project goals and objectives.
- Coordinates assigned projects, including monitoring projects to present to leadership and regulatory bodies.
- Serves as Project Manager on external compliance audits conducted by regulatory bodies.
- Serves as a resource in regulatory guidance for Health Exchange and Medicare Lines of Business.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
Education/Skills
- Bachelor's Degree in Related Field of Study and or equivalent years of work experience required
Experience
- 4 - 6 years of related experience preferred
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- None required
In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.
Work Schedule:
8AM - 5PM Monday-Friday
Work Type:
Full Time
Description
Summary:
The Program Manager Health Plans Regulatory Affairs role is to assist in the implementation and maintenance of the CHRISTUS Health Compliance Program. This job assists the Regulatory Affairs team in the execution of established work priorities and plans, management, and monitoring of operational compliance related tasks. These tasks are to include internal auditing and monitoring activities, external audit coordination, and regulatory training and education.
Responsibilities:
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Review and research laws and regulations both on a reactive and proactive basis to ensure an effective and accurate response to legal and regulatory compliance for Medicare Advantage and Health Exchange lines of business.
- Monitors Health Plan progress in resolution of issues identified through the Risk Assessment and Monitoring Work Plan and internal and external audit findings.
- Analyze and periodically report on risk-related trends to the Compliance Committee to ensure organizational awareness of potential noncompliance.
- Perform ongoing internal monitoring/audits based on risk level.
- Support implementation of consistent processes to enhance compliance within day-to-day health plan operations.
- Provide specialized education and development of materials as requested.
- Follow up with Action items necessary related to various audit requests and compliance related issues.
- Work with the regulatory affairs team to develop streamlined approaches between lines of business.
- Cross-train the regulatory affairs team on compliance related tasks to ensure operational compliance goals are met.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with regular interaction and communication with the Senior Leadership team and other associates within the organization.
- Ability to facilitate the resolution of issues and concerns that create barriers to a high-performing team and work environment.
- Ability to manage project/monitoring work plans for achieving project goals and objectives.
- Coordinates assigned projects, including monitoring projects to present to leadership and regulatory bodies.
- Serves as Project Manager on external compliance audits conducted by regulatory bodies.
- Serves as a resource in regulatory guidance for Health Exchange and Medicare Lines of Business.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
Education/Skills
- Bachelor's Degree in Related Field of Study and or equivalent years of work experience required
Experience
- 4 - 6 years of related experience preferred
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- None required
In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.
Work Schedule:
8AM - 5PM Monday-Friday
Work Type:
Full Time
See all 166+ OPT Associate Director Field Medical Affairs Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Associate Director Field Medical Affairs Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Associate Director Field Medical Affairs
Target large pharma and biotech employers
Companies like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca have structured medical affairs teams and documented H-1B sponsorship histories. Larger organizations are more likely to have immigration support infrastructure and experience hiring OPT candidates.
Lead with your scientific and clinical expertise
Field Medical Affairs roles require deep therapeutic area knowledge. Highlight your PharmD, MD, or PhD credentials prominently. Employers in this space expect advanced degrees, which strengthens your H-1B specialty occupation case significantly.
Address OPT timing early in the process
Associate Director roles often have longer hiring cycles. Confirm your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility before applying, so you can communicate your authorization timeline clearly to recruiters without creating uncertainty late in the process.
Focus on therapeutic areas with strong hiring demand
Oncology, rare disease, and neurology consistently see high field medical hiring activity. Positioning yourself in a high-demand therapeutic area gives you more employer options and increases the likelihood of finding OPT-friendly sponsorship opportunities.
Understand the MSL-to-AD career path
Many Associate Director Field Medical Affairs hires come from Medical Science Liaison roles. If you have MSL experience or training, emphasize it. Employers filling AD roles want candidates who understand field medical operations from the ground up.
Request STEM OPT extension if your degree qualifies
PharmD, life sciences, and biomedical degrees often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. This gives employers a longer authorization window and meaningfully improves your sponsorship prospects before the H-1B filing deadline arrives.
Associate Director Field Medical Affairs OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Associate Director Field Medical Affairs?
Yes. Associate Director Field Medical Affairs roles typically require an advanced degree in a scientific field, which aligns directly with F-1 OPT eligibility requirements. Your OPT work authorization must be in a role directly related to your field of study, and life sciences or clinical degrees map cleanly to medical affairs positions.
Do Associate Director Field Medical Affairs employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Many do, particularly large pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. These organizations hire internationally trained PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs regularly and often have established immigration programs. Smaller regional employers may be less experienced with sponsorship, so it's worth confirming willingness early in the interview process. Migrate Mate lists Associate Director Field Medical Affairs jobs with sponsorship history, so you can filter and apply more strategically.
Does a PharmD or MD degree qualify for STEM OPT extension in this field?
PharmD degrees often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because pharmacy programs typically appear on the DHS STEM designated degree list under CIP codes for pharmaceutical sciences. MD degrees from U.S. institutions may also qualify depending on the specific CIP code. Confirm your degree's STEM designation with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
What makes Associate Director Field Medical Affairs a strong OPT-to-H-1B transition role?
The role requires a specific advanced degree in a scientific or clinical field, which is the foundation of an H-1B specialty occupation petition. Employers in medical affairs are accustomed to sponsoring international hires, the role commands compensation well above prevailing wage thresholds, and the specialty occupation argument is straightforward for immigration attorneys to support.
How should I address my OPT status with employers during the interview process?
Be direct and factual. State your current OPT authorization period, whether you qualify for a STEM extension, and when you would need H-1B sponsorship. Employers at the Associate Director level expect candidates to understand their own situation. Presenting this information clearly and early signals professionalism and reduces uncertainty on the employer's side.