CEO Jobs for OPT Students
CEO roles on OPT are rare but not impossible, especially at early-stage startups where a founder-operator with a technical or business degree can qualify. Your OPT period runs up to 12 months, with a 24-month STEM extension available if your degree qualifies and the role meets STEM OPT reporting requirements.
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At SCA Health, we believe health care is about people – the patients we serve, the physicians we support and the teammates who push us forward. Behind every successful facility, procedure or innovation is a team of 15,000+ professionals working together, learning from each other and living out the mission, vision and values that define our organization.
As part of Optum, SCA Health is redefining specialty care by developing more accessible, patient-centered practice solutions for a network of more than 370 ambulatory surgical centers, over 400 specialty physician practice clinics and numerous labs and surgical hospitals. Our work spans a broad spectrum of services, all designed to support physicians, health systems and employers in delivering efficient, value-based care to patients without compromising quality or autonomy.
What sets SCA Health apart isn’t just what we do, it’s how we do it. Each decision we make is rooted in seven core values:
* Clinical quality
* Integrity
* Service excellence
* Teamwork
* Accountability
* Continuous improvement
* Inclusion
Our values aren’t empty words – they inform our attitudes, actions and culture. At SCA Health, your work directly impacts patients, physicians and communities. Here, you’ll find opportunities to build your career alongside a team that values your expertise, invests in your success, and shares a common mission to care for patients, serve physicians and improve health care in America.
At SCA Health, we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support your health, well-being, and financial future. Our offerings include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k plan with company match, paid time off, life and disability insurance, and more. Please visit, https://careers.sca.health/why-sca, to learn more about our benefits.
Your ideas should inspire change. If you join our team, they will.
Role Summary: Accountable for executing the growth strategy, direct P&L responsibility and overall goal execution of one SCAH facility.
Key Roles:
* Clinical Quality and Patient Safety: Champion SCAH's HRO Journey with responsibility to ensure leaders, teams, and physicians achieve clinical excellence and drive zero harm through adoption and standardization of Clinical Quality standards
* Facility Partnership Performance: Leads, mentors and develops a high performing facility team of clinical and operational professionals focused on clinical quality outcomes, volume growth drivers, labor efficiencies and operational excellence
* Support Teammates: Leads, mentors and develops a high performing facility team of clinical and operational professionals focused on clinical quality outcomes, volume growth drivers, labor efficiencies and operational excellence
Key Responsibilities:
* Drive Excellent Clinical Quality
- Effectively drives and sustains a zero patient harm culture
- Proactively collaborates with physicians to meet patient needs and exceed patient expectations
- Effectively builds and manages a team of high-performing clinicians to deliver excellent patient care
- Leads and/or partners with Medical Executive Committee, Governing Body, and Board of Managers in developing clinical guidelines and implementing the center’s response to the changing healthcare needs of the community. A CEO (Practice Administrator) leads and develops teams.
- Leads, mentors, and develops a team of clinical and business professionals, focused on clinical quality outcomes, volume growth drivers, labor efficiencies, supply chain management, and revenue cycle optimization consistent with SCA’s mission, vision and values
- Utilizes effective hiring and development processes combined with sound judgment and decision making to ensure a high performing team is in place
- Provides teammates with the authority, accountability, training, information and resources to achieve their full potential and successfully drive the center’s performance
- Strong interpersonal skills and communication style that will develop confidence in the team they lead and keep the attention of the broader organization and ensure that clear expectations are communicated
- Creates a vision, momentum, and process that leads others to embrace change
- Drives organizational capability by building a highly committed and capable management team at center
- Assesses, attracts, retains and develops internal personnel to meet performance expectations and future infrastructure expansion needs
- Emotional maturity and ability to create change in an environment where the structure may evolve rapidly
- Serves as on-site personnel director and ensures fair and prompt resolution of teammate complaints, grievances and operating problems
* Drive top-line growth & cultivate strong physician relationships.
- Owns and is accountable for organic top-line growth via increased volume, strategic service line growth, new physician recruitment, and increasing volume from existing physicians
- Designs and executes physician recruitment and marketing programs designed to drive case volume growth via partnerships with physicians, medical groups, health system partners, local employers and third-party payers
- Initiates, develops and maintains strong physician relationships to support top line growth, governance, board/partnership interests, and trust/confidence in SCA as a preferred partner and management company
- Recommends, develops and executes short- and long-term strategic plans that drive best in class clinical, financial, and operational results
- Partners with Regional Lead and other SCA leaders to design and implement various growth initiatives and operational effectiveness opportunities
* Leads operational excellence.
- Responsible for the center’s P&L, including managing financial controls and reporting
- Implements and maintains annual strategic business plans that best serve the partnership and the local market dynamics
- Proactively collaborates with SCA corporate departments in order to identify and implement best practices related to clinical quality, volume growth, and operational excellence
- Safeguards the Center's assets and ensures that Center's building and/or tenant improvements and equipment are maintained in good working order and in compliance with local, state and federal regulations
- Oversees facility management, life safety codes and environment of care requirements and is proactive in managing the facility operations
- Maintains center operations in compliance with regulatory requirements and accrediting body standards at all times
- Provide support including (but not limited to): Medical Records, Credentialing, Admissions/Intake, Accounts Payable, Billing, Collections, Insurance Verification, Transaction, Posting, Clinical Logs and other duties as needed
Education Requirements: A Bachelor’s Degree is preferred, or equivalent work experience will be considered.
Years of Experience: The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 1-3 years of experience in healthcare, 2+ years of leadership experience.
Preferred Experience: Preference will be given to candidates with experience in ASC, outpatient, surgical site, and multi-site healthcare settings.

At SCA Health, we believe health care is about people – the patients we serve, the physicians we support and the teammates who push us forward. Behind every successful facility, procedure or innovation is a team of 15,000+ professionals working together, learning from each other and living out the mission, vision and values that define our organization.
As part of Optum, SCA Health is redefining specialty care by developing more accessible, patient-centered practice solutions for a network of more than 370 ambulatory surgical centers, over 400 specialty physician practice clinics and numerous labs and surgical hospitals. Our work spans a broad spectrum of services, all designed to support physicians, health systems and employers in delivering efficient, value-based care to patients without compromising quality or autonomy.
What sets SCA Health apart isn’t just what we do, it’s how we do it. Each decision we make is rooted in seven core values:
* Clinical quality
* Integrity
* Service excellence
* Teamwork
* Accountability
* Continuous improvement
* Inclusion
Our values aren’t empty words – they inform our attitudes, actions and culture. At SCA Health, your work directly impacts patients, physicians and communities. Here, you’ll find opportunities to build your career alongside a team that values your expertise, invests in your success, and shares a common mission to care for patients, serve physicians and improve health care in America.
At SCA Health, we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support your health, well-being, and financial future. Our offerings include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k plan with company match, paid time off, life and disability insurance, and more. Please visit, https://careers.sca.health/why-sca, to learn more about our benefits.
Your ideas should inspire change. If you join our team, they will.
Role Summary: Accountable for executing the growth strategy, direct P&L responsibility and overall goal execution of one SCAH facility.
Key Roles:
* Clinical Quality and Patient Safety: Champion SCAH's HRO Journey with responsibility to ensure leaders, teams, and physicians achieve clinical excellence and drive zero harm through adoption and standardization of Clinical Quality standards
* Facility Partnership Performance: Leads, mentors and develops a high performing facility team of clinical and operational professionals focused on clinical quality outcomes, volume growth drivers, labor efficiencies and operational excellence
* Support Teammates: Leads, mentors and develops a high performing facility team of clinical and operational professionals focused on clinical quality outcomes, volume growth drivers, labor efficiencies and operational excellence
Key Responsibilities:
* Drive Excellent Clinical Quality
- Effectively drives and sustains a zero patient harm culture
- Proactively collaborates with physicians to meet patient needs and exceed patient expectations
- Effectively builds and manages a team of high-performing clinicians to deliver excellent patient care
- Leads and/or partners with Medical Executive Committee, Governing Body, and Board of Managers in developing clinical guidelines and implementing the center’s response to the changing healthcare needs of the community. A CEO (Practice Administrator) leads and develops teams.
- Leads, mentors, and develops a team of clinical and business professionals, focused on clinical quality outcomes, volume growth drivers, labor efficiencies, supply chain management, and revenue cycle optimization consistent with SCA’s mission, vision and values
- Utilizes effective hiring and development processes combined with sound judgment and decision making to ensure a high performing team is in place
- Provides teammates with the authority, accountability, training, information and resources to achieve their full potential and successfully drive the center’s performance
- Strong interpersonal skills and communication style that will develop confidence in the team they lead and keep the attention of the broader organization and ensure that clear expectations are communicated
- Creates a vision, momentum, and process that leads others to embrace change
- Drives organizational capability by building a highly committed and capable management team at center
- Assesses, attracts, retains and develops internal personnel to meet performance expectations and future infrastructure expansion needs
- Emotional maturity and ability to create change in an environment where the structure may evolve rapidly
- Serves as on-site personnel director and ensures fair and prompt resolution of teammate complaints, grievances and operating problems
* Drive top-line growth & cultivate strong physician relationships.
- Owns and is accountable for organic top-line growth via increased volume, strategic service line growth, new physician recruitment, and increasing volume from existing physicians
- Designs and executes physician recruitment and marketing programs designed to drive case volume growth via partnerships with physicians, medical groups, health system partners, local employers and third-party payers
- Initiates, develops and maintains strong physician relationships to support top line growth, governance, board/partnership interests, and trust/confidence in SCA as a preferred partner and management company
- Recommends, develops and executes short- and long-term strategic plans that drive best in class clinical, financial, and operational results
- Partners with Regional Lead and other SCA leaders to design and implement various growth initiatives and operational effectiveness opportunities
* Leads operational excellence.
- Responsible for the center’s P&L, including managing financial controls and reporting
- Implements and maintains annual strategic business plans that best serve the partnership and the local market dynamics
- Proactively collaborates with SCA corporate departments in order to identify and implement best practices related to clinical quality, volume growth, and operational excellence
- Safeguards the Center's assets and ensures that Center's building and/or tenant improvements and equipment are maintained in good working order and in compliance with local, state and federal regulations
- Oversees facility management, life safety codes and environment of care requirements and is proactive in managing the facility operations
- Maintains center operations in compliance with regulatory requirements and accrediting body standards at all times
- Provide support including (but not limited to): Medical Records, Credentialing, Admissions/Intake, Accounts Payable, Billing, Collections, Insurance Verification, Transaction, Posting, Clinical Logs and other duties as needed
Education Requirements: A Bachelor’s Degree is preferred, or equivalent work experience will be considered.
Years of Experience: The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 1-3 years of experience in healthcare, 2+ years of leadership experience.
Preferred Experience: Preference will be given to candidates with experience in ASC, outpatient, surgical site, and multi-site healthcare settings.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in CEO
Position yourself as a founder, not just a job seeker
CEO roles on OPT are most accessible at startups you co-founded or joined at the ground level. Emphasize equity ownership, board relationships, and operational scope. Employers and USCIS both scrutinize whether the role is genuine and not fabricated.
Ensure the role qualifies as a specialty occupation
For OPT to apply, your CEO position must be directly related to your degree field. A business, engineering, or computer science degree with a clear connection to the company's operations strengthens your case with USCIS if you later need H-1B sponsorship.
Document your employer relationship carefully
OPT requires a legitimate employer-employee relationship. If you have a significant ownership stake, work with an immigration attorney to confirm your structure qualifies under USCIS guidelines before accepting the role or signing employment agreements.
Target venture-backed startups with immigration experience
Early-stage companies that have previously hired international talent understand OPT and H-1B processes. Focus on firms backed by institutional investors, as they are more likely to have HR infrastructure and legal resources to support your work authorization.
Keep your STEM OPT reporting obligations current
If you're on a 24-month STEM extension, you must report to your DSO every six months and update your employer information promptly. CEO roles at multiple companies or with changed responsibilities must be reported to maintain valid work authorization status.
CEO jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a CEO on OPT?
Yes, but the role must be directly related to your degree field and constitute at least 20 hours of work per week. USCIS and your DSO will expect a clear connection between your academic background and your responsibilities as CEO. Self-employment structures require extra documentation to confirm a legitimate employer-employee relationship.
Does working as a CEO at my own startup count for OPT?
It can, but USCIS requires a verifiable employer-employee relationship even for founders. You generally need a board of directors or investors who have the authority to hire and fire you. Sole proprietorships with no oversight structure typically do not satisfy OPT employment requirements. Consult an immigration attorney before proceeding.
Where can I find CEO or executive-level jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists roles filtered specifically for F-1 OPT candidates, including early-stage and startup positions where executive roles are more accessible to international students. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you filter by work authorization type so you can identify companies that actively support OPT without wasting time on applications that won't move forward.
Can I qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension as a CEO?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM field and your CEO role is directly tied to that field. A computer science graduate leading a software company, for example, has a defensible connection. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify, which is required for all STEM OPT extensions regardless of company size or role.
What happens to my OPT if I leave one CEO role and join another?
You must report any change in employment to your DSO within 10 days. There is no grace period for gaps in STEM OPT employment beyond a cumulative 150 days across the entire post-completion OPT period. Starting a new CEO role does not reset the clock, so timing transitions carefully is critical to maintaining valid status.
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