OPT Brand Designer Jobs
Brand Designer roles sit comfortably within OPT's specialty occupation framework, making them a strong fit for F-1 students with degrees in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field. Most employers expect a portfolio-forward hiring process, so having yours ready before your OPT start date matters.
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Get Access To All JobsJOB TITLE: Brand Manager, Graphic Designer
CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, Salaried
REPORTS TO: Director of Marketing and Events
DEPT: WCSG
LOCATION: WCSG Building, Grand Rapids MI
SUMMARY
The Brand Manager and Graphic Designer is responsible for growing brand awareness for WCSG by creating graphic design elements for marketing materials, donor communications, business partnerships, and radio-sponsored and co-sponsored events. This person will also assist in the development and maintenance of the WCSG Brand and is the Webmaster for WCSG.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Visual Brand Manager
- Maintains the WCSG brand manual and overall brand standards
- Designs all external facing visuals for WCSG
- Files and maintains WCSG trademarks
- Assists the Director of Marketing and Events with any major brand changes
- Selects and designs WCSG merch and apparel for listener giveaways, donors and sales
- Maintaining the brand on the WCSG Website and App
- Creating graphics for web and app
- Creating webpages
- Updating pages and navigation
- Making improvements to SEO, AEO, and accessibility
- Developing an ecommerce site; experience with Shopify or Printful (or other print-on-demand) would be helpful
- Teams project manager for Marketing and Events
- Setting asset timelines
- Using Microsoft Planner to assign tasks to various team members for cross-departmental projects/campaigns
- Working with vendors for print, billboards and WCSG merch: getting quotes, approving proofs, troubleshooting when issues arise
Develops Graphic Design for:
- Marketing materials for WCSG
- Digital and print materials needed for sponsored activities, events, contests, and service projects
- Donor development and business partner communication and marketing materials
- Billboard campaigns
- Social media campaigns
- Emails
Other Duties as Assigned
- Work at WCSG sponsored events such as the Father Daughter Banquet, Back to School Celebration, Ice Cream stops, and concerts
- Represent WCSG at CU events and activities
- Assist in developing events that also serve as non-traditional revenue opportunities as needed
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, or marketing or related field and/or a minimum of 1-2 years’ experience in graphic design/marketing work
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Canva, and Microsoft Teams
- People-oriented team player
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Highest standard of personal and professional integrity
- Self-motivated
- Ministry/service orientation
- Strong organizational and planning skills
- Understanding of social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) is helpful
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- A personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an active Christian commitment
- A theology that supports the values and mission of Cornerstone University core commitments evidenced by an ability to affirm and sign the university’s doctrinal statement, “The Cornerstone Confession”
- Four other foundational pillars, along with the university’s mission and confession, form Cornerstone’s Core Commitments.
- The Cornerstone Christian World View
- The Cornerstone Academic Vision
- The Cornerstone Beautiful Christian Community
- The Marriage and Human Sexuality Position Statement
These core commitments convey who we are, what we believe and how we live and work together in community. Employees are expected to faithfully attend an evangelical and biblical church whose core beliefs and practices are consistent with Cornerstone’s confession and core commitments.
JOB TITLE: Brand Manager, Graphic Designer
CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, Salaried
REPORTS TO: Director of Marketing and Events
DEPT: WCSG
LOCATION: WCSG Building, Grand Rapids MI
SUMMARY
The Brand Manager and Graphic Designer is responsible for growing brand awareness for WCSG by creating graphic design elements for marketing materials, donor communications, business partnerships, and radio-sponsored and co-sponsored events. This person will also assist in the development and maintenance of the WCSG Brand and is the Webmaster for WCSG.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Visual Brand Manager
- Maintains the WCSG brand manual and overall brand standards
- Designs all external facing visuals for WCSG
- Files and maintains WCSG trademarks
- Assists the Director of Marketing and Events with any major brand changes
- Selects and designs WCSG merch and apparel for listener giveaways, donors and sales
- Maintaining the brand on the WCSG Website and App
- Creating graphics for web and app
- Creating webpages
- Updating pages and navigation
- Making improvements to SEO, AEO, and accessibility
- Developing an ecommerce site; experience with Shopify or Printful (or other print-on-demand) would be helpful
- Teams project manager for Marketing and Events
- Setting asset timelines
- Using Microsoft Planner to assign tasks to various team members for cross-departmental projects/campaigns
- Working with vendors for print, billboards and WCSG merch: getting quotes, approving proofs, troubleshooting when issues arise
Develops Graphic Design for:
- Marketing materials for WCSG
- Digital and print materials needed for sponsored activities, events, contests, and service projects
- Donor development and business partner communication and marketing materials
- Billboard campaigns
- Social media campaigns
- Emails
Other Duties as Assigned
- Work at WCSG sponsored events such as the Father Daughter Banquet, Back to School Celebration, Ice Cream stops, and concerts
- Represent WCSG at CU events and activities
- Assist in developing events that also serve as non-traditional revenue opportunities as needed
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, or marketing or related field and/or a minimum of 1-2 years’ experience in graphic design/marketing work
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Canva, and Microsoft Teams
- People-oriented team player
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Highest standard of personal and professional integrity
- Self-motivated
- Ministry/service orientation
- Strong organizational and planning skills
- Understanding of social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) is helpful
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- A personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an active Christian commitment
- A theology that supports the values and mission of Cornerstone University core commitments evidenced by an ability to affirm and sign the university’s doctrinal statement, “The Cornerstone Confession”
- Four other foundational pillars, along with the university’s mission and confession, form Cornerstone’s Core Commitments.
- The Cornerstone Christian World View
- The Cornerstone Academic Vision
- The Cornerstone Beautiful Christian Community
- The Marriage and Human Sexuality Position Statement
These core commitments convey who we are, what we believe and how we live and work together in community. Employees are expected to faithfully attend an evangelical and biblical church whose core beliefs and practices are consistent with Cornerstone’s confession and core commitments.
See all 74+ OPT Brand Designer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Brand Designer
Lead with your portfolio, not your resume
Brand Designer hiring decisions are portfolio-first. Build a concise case study collection showing brand identity work before applying. Employers who see strong strategic thinking in your work are far more likely to engage with your OPT timeline questions.
Target employers with an in-house brand function
Companies with dedicated brand or creative teams sponsor OPT more reliably than agencies, which often prefer contractors. Look for roles inside tech companies, consumer brands, and media organizations where brand design is a core internal function, not outsourced work.
Apply before your OPT start date whenever possible
Many employers hesitate when they hear you cannot start for 60 or 90 days. Applying three to four months before your EAD arrives gives hiring managers time to move through their process without feeling pressured by your authorization window.
Frame your international background as a brand asset
Multicultural perspective is genuinely valuable in brand work. When speaking with employers, connect your background directly to their audience or market positioning. This reframes OPT sponsorship from a complication into context for why you are the right hire.
Know your STEM OPT extension eligibility before you apply
If your degree qualifies under a STEM-designated CIP code, you may be eligible for a 24-month OPT extension. Confirming this before interviews lets you tell employers your total authorized window is up to three years, which significantly changes their calculus.
Prepare a one-paragraph OPT explainer for recruiters
Most recruiters outside large companies have never sponsored an OPT student. Draft a short, plain-language explanation of what OPT authorization involves, what the employer needs to do, and how simple it actually is. Sharing it proactively removes the biggest barrier.
Brand Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Brand Designer work qualify for OPT?
Yes. Brand Designer roles qualify for OPT because they require a theoretical and practical application of design principles typically gained through a bachelor's degree or higher in graphic design, visual communication, or a closely related field. USCIS treats this as a specialty occupation, which is the core requirement for OPT eligibility. Your degree field needs to be directly related to the role your employer is hiring you for.
How do I find Brand Designer jobs that sponsor OPT?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers that sponsor work authorization. Searching there saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a company will not work with OPT candidates. Focus your search on in-house brand roles at mid-size and larger companies, which are more likely to have HR processes in place for work authorization.
What does the employer actually have to do to hire me on OPT?
Employers hiring Brand Designers on OPT do not file a petition with USCIS or pay any government fees. They simply verify your Employment Authorization Document and record the employment information with your DSO for SEVP reporting. OPT is authorized by your school, not your employer, which makes it one of the least burdensome work authorization types for companies to accommodate.
Can I work as a freelance Brand Designer on OPT?
Yes, but with important limitations. Self-employment is permitted on OPT, but you must be actively running your own business, not simply working as a contractor for a single client who should otherwise be classifying you as an employee. You also cannot be unemployed for more than 90 days cumulatively on standard OPT, or 150 days on the STEM extension, so freelance work counts toward your authorized employment but needs to be consistent and documentable.
Does a STEM degree help when applying for Brand Designer roles on OPT?
It depends on how your program is classified. Some UX, interaction design, and digital media programs hold STEM-designated CIP codes, which would make you eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12 months. A traditional graphic design or fine arts degree typically does not qualify. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility, since this significantly affects how you should be positioning your authorization timeline with employers.