OPT Category Manager Jobs
Category Manager jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in supply chain, business analytics, or marketing. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship, and employers in retail, e-commerce, and CPG regularly hire OPT candidates with STEM OPT extensions available for quantitative-focused positions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.
SUMMARY
The Procurement Category Manager will focus on establishing a long-term (1-3 year) strategic category plan for MRO initiatives across Simplot’s global manufacturing locations. He / She will be expected to drive value across the enterprise for the assigned category through stakeholder relationship management, sourcing activities, supplier relationship management, and savings targets. The strategy development work is done in partnership with various business unit stakeholders across all global manufacturing facilities. Category strategies include spend analysis/mapping, external market analysis, “should cost” analysis, and vendor and supply management. He / She will also lead sourcing projects based on the category strategy and on-demand projects from the respective stakeholders.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop category plan for global MRO category with mid to high-level complexity.
- Build strong stakeholder relationships to prioritize and deliver on portfolio projects.
- Lead sourcing projects including RFI, RFP, RFQ.
- Lead negotiations and contract development.
- Manage strategic vendor relationships and performance to ensure delivery of service, quality, cost and supply commitments.
TYPICAL EDUCATION
Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from 4-year college or university
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- 3+ years of experience in MRO category management
- Knowledge/experience in a commercial/procurement role
- 3+ years of experience Category Management and Sourcing activities
- Knowledge working in business or functional unit supported by the category
- Good sales, presentation, negotiation, and market/data analytic skills
- MS Office Suite Proficiency, Ariba/SAP and JDE experience a plus
- Strong communication and relationship building
- “Should Cost” modeling
- Experience in corporate MRO programs
- Lean / 6Sigma implementation and experience
- Understanding of Procurement inventory controls and optimization tools
- Strategic Cost Management
OTHER INFORMATION
- Domestic and/or International Travel up to 25% as needed
- This role reports full-time onsite at Simplot HQ (Boise, ID)
Job Requisition ID: 27179
Travel Required: Less than 10%
Location(s): Simplot Headquarters - Boise
Country: United States
The Simplot Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status.
If the Simplot Company decides to offer you this position, such offer will be conditioned on your satisfactory completion of a post-offer criminal background check. For Washington Job Applicants, see the Washington State Attorney General’s Washington Fair Chance Act Guide and RCW 49.94.010 for more information.
INTRODUCTION
The Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.
SUMMARY
The Procurement Category Manager will focus on establishing a long-term (1-3 year) strategic category plan for MRO initiatives across Simplot’s global manufacturing locations. He / She will be expected to drive value across the enterprise for the assigned category through stakeholder relationship management, sourcing activities, supplier relationship management, and savings targets. The strategy development work is done in partnership with various business unit stakeholders across all global manufacturing facilities. Category strategies include spend analysis/mapping, external market analysis, “should cost” analysis, and vendor and supply management. He / She will also lead sourcing projects based on the category strategy and on-demand projects from the respective stakeholders.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop category plan for global MRO category with mid to high-level complexity.
- Build strong stakeholder relationships to prioritize and deliver on portfolio projects.
- Lead sourcing projects including RFI, RFP, RFQ.
- Lead negotiations and contract development.
- Manage strategic vendor relationships and performance to ensure delivery of service, quality, cost and supply commitments.
TYPICAL EDUCATION
Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from 4-year college or university
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- 3+ years of experience in MRO category management
- Knowledge/experience in a commercial/procurement role
- 3+ years of experience Category Management and Sourcing activities
- Knowledge working in business or functional unit supported by the category
- Good sales, presentation, negotiation, and market/data analytic skills
- MS Office Suite Proficiency, Ariba/SAP and JDE experience a plus
- Strong communication and relationship building
- “Should Cost” modeling
- Experience in corporate MRO programs
- Lean / 6Sigma implementation and experience
- Understanding of Procurement inventory controls and optimization tools
- Strategic Cost Management
OTHER INFORMATION
- Domestic and/or International Travel up to 25% as needed
- This role reports full-time onsite at Simplot HQ (Boise, ID)
Job Requisition ID: 27179
Travel Required: Less than 10%
Location(s): Simplot Headquarters - Boise
Country: United States
The Simplot Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status.
If the Simplot Company decides to offer you this position, such offer will be conditioned on your satisfactory completion of a post-offer criminal background check. For Washington Job Applicants, see the Washington State Attorney General’s Washington Fair Chance Act Guide and RCW 49.94.010 for more information.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Category Manager
Target employers with H-1B sponsorship history
Large retailers, e-commerce companies, and CPG firms like Target, Amazon, and Procter and Gamble have consistent H-1B visa filing records for category management roles. Prioritize these over smaller buyers where sponsorship infrastructure is less established.
Frame your analytics skills front and center
Category Managers who demonstrate proficiency in demand forecasting, pricing analysis, or SQL-based reporting are easier to sponsor under specialty occupation criteria. Quantitative skills also improve your odds of qualifying for a STEM OPT extension.
Clarify your OPT timeline early in interviews
Tell hiring managers your OPT end date and whether you qualify for a 24-month STEM extension. Knowing your full authorization window lets employers plan H-1B sponsorship around the next lottery cycle without feeling rushed.
Pursue roles with a defined degree requirement
Category Manager positions that explicitly require a bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, or a related field are far easier to sponsor. Avoid listings where any degree satisfies the requirement, as those may not qualify as specialty occupations.
Get your EAD card and I-20 paperwork current before applying
Employers will verify your work authorization before extending an offer. Having a current EAD, valid I-20 with OPT authorization, and a clear start date removes friction and signals you are ready to begin without administrative delays.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly category management roles
Migrate Mate filters job listings by visa sponsorship willingness, so you can focus on employers already open to OPT candidates. Browsing by industry lets you target retail, grocery, or e-commerce firms with active category management hiring.
Category Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Category Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Category Manager positions generally qualify as specialty occupations when the role requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as supply chain management, business administration, or marketing. Roles that rely heavily on data analysis or merchandising strategy are easier to support. Generic management titles where any degree suffices are harder to sponsor, so the job description wording matters significantly.
Can F-1 OPT students work as Category Managers without employer sponsorship initially?
Yes. Your F-1 OPT EAD card authorizes you to work for any U.S. employer in a role related to your degree, including Category Manager positions, without the employer filing any immigration petition. Sponsorship only becomes necessary when your OPT period ends and you need to transition to a longer-term visa such as the H-1B.
Do Category Manager jobs qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
It depends on your degree, not just the job title. If you hold a degree in a STEM-designated field such as statistics, operations research, or information systems, and your Category Manager role involves substantial quantitative work, your DSO may authorize the extension. A general business or marketing degree typically does not qualify, even if the role is analytical.
Where can I find Category Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsoring employers, so you can browse Category Manager listings filtered by sponsorship openness. This saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a company does not support work visa holders.
What industries hire Category Managers and regularly sponsor work visas?
Retail chains, grocery companies, e-commerce platforms, and consumer packaged goods manufacturers are the most active hirers of Category Managers and have established legal teams for H-1B sponsorship. Healthcare distributors and wholesale companies also hire for this role. Smaller specialty retailers may offer the title but lack the infrastructure to sponsor visa transitions reliably.