OPT Center Director Jobs
Center Director jobs can work well for F-1 OPT students with degrees in education, nonprofit management, child development, or public administration. Most roles require direct STEM or non-STEM OPT authorization, and employers in this sector often support H-1B visa or EB-based sponsorship for strong long-term candidates.
Find OPT Center Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 81+ Center Director jobs
See all 81+ Center Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Center Director roles.
Get Access To All JobsDescription
The Assistant Director Engineering Career Center will provide individual career advising and internship readiness advising to School of Engineering students and alumni. This individual will develop and present internship readiness curriculum/workshops, coordinate recruitment programming such as interview days, information sessions, and site visits between employer recruitment partners and students, and attend to student correspondence and questions in a timely manner. Track engineering student participation in internship readiness workshops and internship/co-op placements including employer name and start date. Communicate with engineering students about career advising resources, upcoming career-related events, and job postings. Collaborate with faculty and staff colleagues and students on internship readiness and career programming. Supervise the engineering peer career mentor student worker(s) supporting career advising. Advocate on behalf of engineering students to internship and co-op employer partners and manage the distribution of School of Engineering student/candidate information to internship/co-op partners via the Guaranteed Internship Program.
Key Duties Responsibilities:
-
Provide career advising to School of Engineering students and alumni.
-
Develop and present internship readiness workshops and recruitment programming.
-
Track engineering student participation in internships/co-ops and internship readiness workshops.
-
Communicate with engineering students about career advising resources, upcoming career-related events, and job postings.
-
Advocate for engineering student intern/co-op placements and distribute candidate information to recruitment partners.
-
Supervise engineering peer career mentor team.
Salary
$43,890 - $71,320
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field and three (3) years of related experience required. Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirement.
UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.
Primary Location: University
Job Category: Professional & Managerial
Organization: 440000000 School of Engineering Dean's Office
Employee Status: Regular
Shift: Day/1st Shift
Work Arrangement (final schedule to be determined by the department/hiring manager): Onsite
Description
The Assistant Director Engineering Career Center will provide individual career advising and internship readiness advising to School of Engineering students and alumni. This individual will develop and present internship readiness curriculum/workshops, coordinate recruitment programming such as interview days, information sessions, and site visits between employer recruitment partners and students, and attend to student correspondence and questions in a timely manner. Track engineering student participation in internship readiness workshops and internship/co-op placements including employer name and start date. Communicate with engineering students about career advising resources, upcoming career-related events, and job postings. Collaborate with faculty and staff colleagues and students on internship readiness and career programming. Supervise the engineering peer career mentor student worker(s) supporting career advising. Advocate on behalf of engineering students to internship and co-op employer partners and manage the distribution of School of Engineering student/candidate information to internship/co-op partners via the Guaranteed Internship Program.
Key Duties Responsibilities:
-
Provide career advising to School of Engineering students and alumni.
-
Develop and present internship readiness workshops and recruitment programming.
-
Track engineering student participation in internships/co-ops and internship readiness workshops.
-
Communicate with engineering students about career advising resources, upcoming career-related events, and job postings.
-
Advocate for engineering student intern/co-op placements and distribute candidate information to recruitment partners.
-
Supervise engineering peer career mentor team.
Salary
$43,890 - $71,320
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field and three (3) years of related experience required. Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirement.
UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.
Primary Location: University
Job Category: Professional & Managerial
Organization: 440000000 School of Engineering Dean's Office
Employee Status: Regular
Shift: Day/1st Shift
Work Arrangement (final schedule to be determined by the department/hiring manager): Onsite
See all 81+ OPT Center Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Center Director Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Center Director
Lead with your degree field alignment
Center Director roles typically require a bachelor's or master's in education, nonprofit management, or child development. Open your application by connecting your degree directly to the role so hiring managers see your OPT eligibility as straightforward, not a complication.
Address your OPT timeline upfront
Center Director hiring often takes 60 to 90 days. Know your OPT end date and communicate it confidently. If your STEM OPT extension applies, say so clearly. Employers are more willing to sponsor when they see a clear authorization runway ahead of them.
Target mission-driven organizations
Nonprofits, community health centers, early childhood programs, and federally funded education organizations are more experienced with work authorization processes than small private employers. These organizations have HR infrastructure and genuine motivation to retain qualified program leadership long term.
Quantify your program management impact
Center Directors oversee staff, budgets, compliance, and outcomes. Employers sponsoring a visa need confidence you can deliver results. Use specific numbers in your resume: staff size managed, program enrollment growth, grant compliance records, or accreditation achievements tied to your leadership.
Raise sponsorship during the offer stage, not before
Wait until an employer has decided they want you before discussing visa sponsorship. Framing it as a straightforward H-1B visa petition at the offer stage, rather than a risk upfront, keeps the conversation focused on your value rather than your immigration status.
Verify specialty occupation eligibility for your specific role
H-1B sponsorship for Center Director roles depends on whether the position requires a specific bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Roles requiring general management degrees may face scrutiny. Confirm the job description clearly ties the role to a qualifying specialty occupation before pursuing sponsorship.
Center Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Center Director on F-1 OPT?
Yes, if the role is directly related to your degree field. A Center Director position tied to a degree in education, child development, nonprofit management, or public administration typically qualifies. Your OPT authorization must match the job's field. If your degree is unrelated, the role may not satisfy OPT requirements and could jeopardize your status.
Where can I find Center Director jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job seekers. You can browse Center Director roles and filter by employers who have a history of sponsoring work visas. This saves significant time compared to screening general job postings that rarely disclose sponsorship willingness upfront.
Does STEM OPT apply to Center Director roles?
Only if your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field and the role qualifies as directly related to that field. Most Center Director positions are tied to education or social sciences degrees, which are not STEM-designated. Students with degrees in data science, public health informatics, or similar STEM fields may qualify if the role has a strong analytical or technical component.
Do Center Director employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
It varies significantly by organization. Federally funded nonprofits, large early childhood education networks, and community health organizations are more likely to have H-1B sponsorship experience than small private centers. The role must qualify as a specialty occupation, meaning a specific bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required, not just preferred. Confirm this before relying on sponsorship as your long-term plan.
What counts as a valid OPT employer for a Center Director role?
A valid OPT employer is any organization that offers paid, degree-related work in a role qualifying under your authorized field. For Center Director positions, the employer must be a legitimate organization, the role must require skills from your degree program, and you must work at least 20 hours per week. Volunteer-only or unpaid arrangements do not satisfy OPT employment requirements.