OPT Chief Operating Officer Jobs
Chief Operating Officer roles on OPT are rare but not impossible. Most COO positions require extensive leadership experience, so F-1 students pursuing this path typically hold STEM OPT extensions and target high-growth startups where operational leadership opens earlier. Your 12 to 36 months of work authorization needs to convert to long-term sponsorship fast.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Assistant Director of Housing Operations at Davidson College is a full-time, twelve-month, salaried position reporting to the Associate Director of Housing Operations and Facilities. The Assistant Director leads the day-to-day administration of residential housing operations, including assignments, occupancy management, housing systems, student support, transitional housing, and process improvement. The position serves as the departmental subject matter expert for StarRez and housing-related data and directly supervises the Coordinator of Housing & Facilities. The Assistant Director collaborates with Residence Life, Physical Plant, Technology & Innovation, and other campus partners to ensure effective, efficient, and student-centered housing operations.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Housing Operations, Assignments, and Process Improvement — 30%
- Lead day-to-day housing operations and assignment processes, including applications, housing selection, transfers, returns from leave, and room changes.
- Direct and support the Coordinator of Housing & Facilities in assigned operational responsibilities.
- Develop and maintain housing policies, procedures, timelines, communications, forms, and resources.
- Monitor assignments, vacancies, capacity, and housing needs; collaborate with the Associate Director to address operational challenges.
- Identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, communication, and student service.
Supervision, Collaboration, and Leadership — 25%
- Directly supervise the Coordinator of Housing & Facilities and provide day-to-day leadership and oversight.
- Establish priorities, assign responsibilities, monitor performance, and provide coaching and professional development.
- Collaborate with Physical Plant, Technology & Innovation, Campus Police, CatCard Services, Student Accounts, Academic Access & Disability Resources, and other campus partners.
- Represent Housing Operations on committees, initiatives, and special projects as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned.
Housing Systems and Data Management — 20%
- Serve as the primary departmental resource and subject matter expert for StarRez and housing-related systems.
- Lead StarRez administration, configuration, testing, maintenance, and continuous improvement.
- Manage system functions supporting applications, assignments, room selection, room changes, accommodations, occupancy, communications, and reporting.
- Develop and analyze housing reports and data to support assignments, occupancy planning, assessment, and decision-making.
- Train and support staff and campus partners in StarRez, housing processes, reporting, and data practices.
Housing Operations, Student Support, and Occupancy Planning — 15%
- Coordinate approved housing accommodations with Academic Access & Disability Resources and campus partners.
- Monitor occupancy, capacity, vacancies, assignment trends, and residential inventory.
- Develop occupancy projections and identify housing challenges and opportunities.
- Use housing data to support occupancy decisions and effective use of residential spaces.
Summer and Transitional Housing Operations — 10%
- Lead housing operations related to early arrivals, late stays, move-over processes, summer housing, and other transitional needs.
- Provide guidance regarding access, keys, occupancy, and move-in/move-out requirements.
- Coordinate with the Associate Director on significant summer housing needs and operational decisions.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
- Three to five years of full-time professional experience in housing, residence life, student affairs, housing operations, or a related field.
- Experience with housing management, database, or student information systems; StarRez experience strongly preferred.
- Experience with housing assignments, occupancy management, housing operations, student support, or data management.
- Demonstrated supervisory or team leadership experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
- Experience managing complex housing situations and resolving operational challenges.
- Experience leading housing operations and implementing process improvements.
- Experience with StarRez, housing data analysis, or residential facilities coordination.
INTRODUCTION
The Assistant Director of Housing Operations at Davidson College is a full-time, twelve-month, salaried position reporting to the Associate Director of Housing Operations and Facilities. The Assistant Director leads the day-to-day administration of residential housing operations, including assignments, occupancy management, housing systems, student support, transitional housing, and process improvement. The position serves as the departmental subject matter expert for StarRez and housing-related data and directly supervises the Coordinator of Housing & Facilities. The Assistant Director collaborates with Residence Life, Physical Plant, Technology & Innovation, and other campus partners to ensure effective, efficient, and student-centered housing operations.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Housing Operations, Assignments, and Process Improvement — 30%
- Lead day-to-day housing operations and assignment processes, including applications, housing selection, transfers, returns from leave, and room changes.
- Direct and support the Coordinator of Housing & Facilities in assigned operational responsibilities.
- Develop and maintain housing policies, procedures, timelines, communications, forms, and resources.
- Monitor assignments, vacancies, capacity, and housing needs; collaborate with the Associate Director to address operational challenges.
- Identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, communication, and student service.
Supervision, Collaboration, and Leadership — 25%
- Directly supervise the Coordinator of Housing & Facilities and provide day-to-day leadership and oversight.
- Establish priorities, assign responsibilities, monitor performance, and provide coaching and professional development.
- Collaborate with Physical Plant, Technology & Innovation, Campus Police, CatCard Services, Student Accounts, Academic Access & Disability Resources, and other campus partners.
- Represent Housing Operations on committees, initiatives, and special projects as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned.
Housing Systems and Data Management — 20%
- Serve as the primary departmental resource and subject matter expert for StarRez and housing-related systems.
- Lead StarRez administration, configuration, testing, maintenance, and continuous improvement.
- Manage system functions supporting applications, assignments, room selection, room changes, accommodations, occupancy, communications, and reporting.
- Develop and analyze housing reports and data to support assignments, occupancy planning, assessment, and decision-making.
- Train and support staff and campus partners in StarRez, housing processes, reporting, and data practices.
Housing Operations, Student Support, and Occupancy Planning — 15%
- Coordinate approved housing accommodations with Academic Access & Disability Resources and campus partners.
- Monitor occupancy, capacity, vacancies, assignment trends, and residential inventory.
- Develop occupancy projections and identify housing challenges and opportunities.
- Use housing data to support occupancy decisions and effective use of residential spaces.
Summer and Transitional Housing Operations — 10%
- Lead housing operations related to early arrivals, late stays, move-over processes, summer housing, and other transitional needs.
- Provide guidance regarding access, keys, occupancy, and move-in/move-out requirements.
- Coordinate with the Associate Director on significant summer housing needs and operational decisions.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
- Three to five years of full-time professional experience in housing, residence life, student affairs, housing operations, or a related field.
- Experience with housing management, database, or student information systems; StarRez experience strongly preferred.
- Experience with housing assignments, occupancy management, housing operations, student support, or data management.
- Demonstrated supervisory or team leadership experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
- Experience managing complex housing situations and resolving operational challenges.
- Experience leading housing operations and implementing process improvements.
- Experience with StarRez, housing data analysis, or residential facilities coordination.
See all 1,391+ OPT Chief Operating Officer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Chief Operating Officer
Target startups over established corporations
Early-stage companies promote operational leaders faster and sponsor visas more flexibly than large enterprises. A Series A or B startup actively scaling needs operational talent and is more willing to invest in sponsorship for the right person.
Build your case around measurable operational impact
COO hiring decisions hinge on outcomes, not credentials. Document specific metrics: revenue growth you drove, costs reduced, headcount scaled. Concrete numbers replace the experience gap that OPT students often face at this seniority level.
Get your employer started on H-1B sponsorship early
The H-1B lottery registration opens in March for October starts. If your OPT expires mid-year, timing matters enormously. Raise sponsorship in the offer negotiation stage, not after you have started working, to avoid authorization gaps.
Position yourself as a specialist, not a generalist
COO roles at the OPT stage are usually functional, not company-wide. Titles like Head of Operations or VP of Operations lead there. Specializing in supply chain, product ops, or growth ops makes you a stronger visa sponsorship candidate.
Engage immigration-friendly industries strategically
Technology, healthcare operations, and logistics companies file the most H-1B petitions for operational leadership roles. Prioritizing these sectors improves your odds of finding an employer already comfortable with visa sponsorship processes.
Use your OPT period to demonstrate leadership, not just execution
Sponsors back people who show they can run things independently. Take on cross-functional projects, manage budgets, and lead teams during OPT. That track record is what converts a current employer into a long-term visa sponsor.
Chief Operating Officer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as a Chief Operating Officer in the United States?
Yes. F-1 OPT authorizes full-time employment in any role directly related to your field of study, including executive positions like Chief Operating Officer. The key requirement is that your COO duties connect to your degree field. Business, management, engineering, and computer science graduates can reasonably make this connection, particularly in operationally complex industries.
Which visa is most commonly used to sponsor Chief Operating Officer roles after OPT?
The H-1B is the most common long-term path for COO roles, provided the position qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Some COO candidates also pursue the O-1A visa, which requires demonstrating extraordinary ability through awards, media coverage, high compensation relative to peers, or significant contributions to their industry.
How can I find Chief Operating Officer jobs that offer OPT sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is the recommended starting point. It surfaces employer-sponsored roles specifically for F-1 OPT and international students, filtering out listings where sponsorship is unlikely. COO-level roles on OPT are uncommon, so searching for operational leadership titles like Head of Operations, Director of Operations, or VP of Operations and building toward the COO level is often more practical.
Does a COO role qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree. If you graduated from a STEM-designated program and your COO responsibilities apply STEM knowledge directly, such as overseeing engineering operations, technical product delivery, or data-driven growth functions, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. Your DSO and the employer's HR team should confirm eligibility before filing.
What makes it harder to get OPT sponsorship for senior executive roles like COO?
Employers sponsoring executive roles face the same visa costs and timelines as any hire, but the stakes are higher. COO positions require demonstrated leadership experience that most recent graduates cannot show. Additionally, the H-1B lottery introduces uncertainty that can disqualify a candidate from the role. Companies willing to sponsor tend to be startups where the candidate has already proven themselves internally during the OPT period.